Fans first met Bachelor Nation star Serena Chew on Season 25 of “The Bachelor” and she returned to our screens for Season 7 of “Bachelor in Paradise.” Since her time on the shows, Serena has been continuing to share her journey with Bachelor Nation fans on social media.

Serena is known for posting everything from travel content to iconic fashion looks and everything in between!

She’s also kept in touch and frequently spends time with many of her fellow Bachelor Nation stars in New York City. Serena even lives with fellow Bachelor alum Pieper James.

Now, Serena is sitting down exclusively with BachelorNation.com to discuss all things travel, work, fashion, and more.

Check out Serena’s entire interview — including how Bachelor Nation changed how she approaches dating — below!

Bachelor Nation: Let’s start with your time on “The Bachelor” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” How have you processed your experience on the show now that it’s been a few months since you were last on TV?

Serena Chew: Overall, I look back at my time on the shows as just a really fun experience that I got to have. I was really fortunate to go through such a learning experience during a time when much of the world was in a negative headspace because of COVID. I was very fortunate to be able to have time off work as a flight attendant during the pandemic to have the experience on “The Bachelor.” It allowed me to deal with so many emotions and learn about myself in a new way. And since the shows, life has been pretty fun. I still work as a flight attendant, but I also get a lot more opportunities to attend events in New York City and meet really cool people. I’ve also been hanging out with a lot of people from the show. They are my genuine friends!

BN: Love to hear that! Did your time on “The Bachelor” impact how you move through the dating world now?

SC: When it comes to dating, I’ve learned that I don’t need to be falling in love with guys as quickly as I thought I would be on “The Bachelor” in real life. I’ve kind of had to remove that from my mind as I date in New York because I’ve run into some guys that are crazy love bombers, and after being on the show, I’m like, “Oh, this is totally normal and we’re going to be together forever!” Obviously, that’s not how it always works out and those people aren’t always normal. But on the other hand, the shows also helped me learn to better communicate what I’m looking for. Now, I have more serious conversations earlier on and don’t just settle for situation-ships or casual flings the way I used to before the show.

BN: That makes sense! With so many friends in Bachelor Nation, would you consider dating someone in the Bachelor Nation family?

SC: I actually don’t know. I feel like there have been a lot of opportunities because I’ve met some of the guys outside of “Paradise” and the show, but I’ve only gotten friend vibes so far. I haven’t met anyone from Bachelor Nation yet where I’ve had an instant romantic connection, but I’m okay with that! I just like being a part of the community and having them all as friends!

BN: Totally! What was it like getting back into your job as a flight attendant after being on the shows?

SC: It was actually really easy. I was able to jump right back into the swing of things after “The Bachelor.” Then after “Paradise,” my schedule got really busy and the early mornings were back so that was a bit more challenging, but for the most part it was seamless. And with the mask requirements on planes, I’m not recognized from the shows as often. When people do recognize me, it’s usually because of my hair and eyelashes and then I see them trying to read my name tag. They have all been super nice and say hello either after the flight or when I’m serving them.

BN: That’s right! It must be fun getting to meet Bachelor Nation fans while you travel for work. Do you have a favorite part of your job?

SC: The best part about my job is in a sense, getting to be my own boss. As long as I show up to my shifts, follow the rules, and do my job, I don’t have to really report to anyone. And with picking up extra shifts, there’s opportunities to make as much money as you want, depending on how much time you want to put in. Of course, the travel aspect of my job is also amazing. I can literally go anywhere and it’s been great when it comes to visiting my Bachelor Nation friends. I fly out to see them and hang with them when I’m in their cities. Like, I saw MJ in Ohio and Alana when I was in Texas. It’s been a fun way to stay connected with so many of my friends from the show across the country.

BN: Love that! What an awesome perk. Do you have a favorite place you’ve gotten to travel as a flight attendant?

SC: Anywhere international is the best. Last year, I got to go to Barcelona and the Caribbean Islands before I was furloughed due to COVID. The food was amazing! I also always love a Las Vegas layover. But it really was traveling that actually made me want to be a flight attendant in the first place. I’ve visited France, England, Germany, and more, and traveling inspired me to get into my line of work.

BN: It’s amazing that you love what you do so much! Have you ever met a celebrity on any of your flights?

SC: One time I was traveling on my benefits to Los Angeles and I sat behind A$AP Rocky for the entire fight. He’s so cute, so I just had to say hi. I think that was the most I’ve fangirled over someone. I’ve also been on a flight with James Franco. Oh, and funny enough, when I first became a flight attendant, before I ever applied to “The Bachelor,” I had Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo on one of my flights. They were flying to Miami!

BN: That’s so funny, what a small world! Have you ever seen anything dramatic or scandalous go down on a flight?

SC: The most scandalous thing that’s ever happened was when a passenger in first class accidentally AirDropped nudes to one of my fellow flight attendants. We were all hanging out at the front of the plane and she got a notification on her phone. After accepting the AirDrop, our jaws dropped, and I think he knew he messed up. It was really funny but also really awkward for the rest of the flight.

BN: Oh my gosh, that is crazy!

SC: It was! But on a more serious note, I’ve also dealt with a few emergencies, like passengers having seizures. Medical emergencies really get the adrenaline pumping. A lot of people don’t give flight attendants the credit that we deserve. Even if it’s not necessarily a medical emergency, just when anything is going wrong, people look to us. We really are safety professionals.

BN: Totally, that must be really scary when emergencies like that happen. Another thing Bachelor Nation fans love about you is your incredible sense of style. What fashion tips do you have for others trying to hone in on their style?

SC: Ooooh, fashion! My first tip for someone just getting into fashion is to just stick with neutrals and pieces that are timeless. That way you can get a bunch of items that may not be the same color, but the colors go together. You can mix and match those pieces and they will never go out of style. Then, once you get comfortable with your staple pieces, that’s when you can throw in a trendy purse or a pop of color that you can play around with. When it comes to style, wear what helps you feel your best and confident! And when it comes to fashion inspiration, I get most of mine from Instagram and other influencers. I take notice if a handful of influencers are wearing a similar style, design, or type of clothing. Like right now, I feel like puffer vests are coming back and flair leggings. Everything comes full circle about every 10 to 15 years, so when you have pieces that are timeless, they will always work and you can mix in the trends!

BN: Those are some great tips! We know you also love thrift shopping. Do you have any advice when it comes to buying second-hand?

SC: Thrifting can be crazy. I’ve found that it really is different in every state. In New York or L.A. thrift stores, you’re guaranteed to find a bunch of items because more fashion-forward people tend to donate their clothes and the quality is usually great. But I like to go thrift shopping wherever I am. Surprisingly, in Dallas I found a lot of great winter coats even though it doesn’t get too cold in Dallas. Overall, though, I would say it’s best to get your oversized clothes from thrift stores. Like if you want baggy jeans or an oversized sweater, those are easy to find at thrift stores and can be restyled.

BN: That’s a great call with the oversized clothes. Do you have any fashion tips for the holiday season?

SC: I feel like for this season, like, feathered trim and soft metallic pastel colors are going to be big. And then you have your staples. Like, satin is always in for Christmastime and sparkles are perfect for New Year’s Eve. But I always say for winter, you definitely need some type of boots. Right now I’m wearing knee-high boots with oversized dresses, blazers, and long coats. So boots and a trench coat are two winter items that everyone should have in their closet.

BN: Thank you, our fashion queen! We love all this advice. Last but not least, what are the biggest things you learned about yourself over this past year both from your time on “The Bachelor” and throughout the pandemic?