August 18, 2023 • bachelor insider
20 Questions with James: Find Out What He Learned on ‘Bachelorette’ and Who His BFFs Are
Learn more about this Bachelor Nation star!
Fans got to know James on Charity’s season of “The Bachelorette,” and now he’s opening up exclusively to BachelorNation.com, answering 20 rapid-fire questions.
Get to know James a little better below!
1. A taboo topic I love talking about is: I don’t know if it’s taboo, but I won’t shut up about this aquarium thing I’m building in my apartment. I never thought I’d have such strong opinions on sand and plants, but I guess that’s where my life has taken me now. If you ask me about it, be prepared for like an hour of explanations with time-lapse videos and descriptions of what type of shrimp I’m putting in it.
2. I think a celebrity couple that is the definition of #relationshipgoals is: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. They both do so much outside of acting that I think is really commendable and have been able to have a rock-solid relationship throughout.
3. My guilty pleasure is: Ice cream sandwiches. Like the really cheap ones that you get for a dollar a box. After we were done filming, I think I housed about seven in a day.
4. The best relationship advice I ever received was:My dad has always told me that when it’s the right person, it’s easy. And that if it’s not easy, it’s not right. Not to say relationships aren’t work! But the right person makes it worth it.
5. My zodiac sign is ___________ and my most [insert zodiac sign] trait would be: Taurus, and my most Taurus trait is that I’m actually an Aquarius. Psych! I’m a Pisces. I have no idea what they do.
6. My biggest pet peeve is: PEOPLE WALKING THREE ACROSS ON A SIDEWALK THAT WALK TOO SLOWLY FOR YOU TO PASS BUT TOO FAST TO GO AROUND THEM WITHOUT SPRINTING INTO THE STREET TO GET MULCHED BY A CTA BUS. I think we should cordon off slow walkers into a separate society. I’ve got places to go.
7. The first thing I do when I wake up is: Greet the morning light with a warm smile and a daily reading from my dream journal. Not really. I’m not a morning person. I wake up mad and mostly think about how nice it’ll be to sleep again.
8. My last meal on earth would be: Nice plate of brisket, corn on the cob slathered in butter, my mom’s blackberry cobbler for dessert. And apples.
9. The song that always gets me pumped up is:“Purple Hat,” Sofi Tukker.
10. My hidden talent is: I can tie balloon animals! I didn’t get a chance to do it for Charity, but I can make a pretty sweet rose.
11. The person that inspires me the most is: My mom. She has had to overcome some incredibly tough obstacles in her life and she is so accomplished and amazing. I look to her every day for advice and she has never failed to be there for me.
12. The movie I’ve rewatched the most is: “Napoleon Dynamite” got stuck in my mom’s minivan for a few years and we couldn’t get it out, so we kind of had to watch it on loop for a while.
13. The most famous person who has slid into my DMs/followed me on social media is: Warwick.
14. My favorite emoji is: The apple emoji!
15. My favorite part of being on “The Bachelorette” was: The brotherhood. You get this sense of being a part of something way bigger than yourself, and without the guys, I think I could’ve gotten lost in it all. Everyone that worked on the show was also wonderful. They’re extremely hardworking, and a lot of that isn’t seen in the final show.
16. Being on “The Bachelorette” taught me: It taught me a lot on how to express myself. I’m not a particularly emotional guy, and I’m still not, but being on the show showed me how to vocalize how I feel and how to express myself in ways I never would have been able to. I have so much more confidence in the man I am now.
17. My celebrity crush is: Blake Lively, but if she’s unavailable you can give my number to Ryan Reynolds as well.
18. If I had to hang out with only three people from Bachelor Nation for the rest of my life, it would be: It would be Xavier, Caleb B, and Tanner. And each one of them would have a backpack on. And in the backpacks would be Warwick, John B., and Michael. I love those guys. Can’t wait to see them again.
19. Something I still have from my time on “The Bachelorette” is: Sappy answer? Lifelong friendships with some of the best men I’ve ever met. Real answer? I still have a wicked tan line from the Speedo dodgeball game. And a dodgeball pattern permanently etched into my leg from Caleb…
20. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I’m hoping to still be in Chicago! I love my life right now and don’t want that to change. I’m hoping I’ll find the person that’s right for me and we can maybe afford a home at a modest 16% rate in 2027.