Leslie Fhima opens up about her time on ‘Bachelor in Paradise’

If Leslie Fhima is still feeling blue about being evicted from “Bachelor in Paradise,” she’s not letting it show.

The Minneapolis fitness instructor was upbeat, witty and optimistic during a Zoom interview Tuesday from her Twin Cities home, a little over a week after viewers learned that her island love interest, Gary Levingston, blew a couples therapy challenge and made them vulnerable to eventual elimination.

In a wide-ranging chat, Fhima, 66, talked about her favorite moments from the taping this past May, dealing with local fans and reuniting with Levingston earlier this month in Lake Tahoe.

Q: How have you been watching the episodes?

A: Last night, I watched it alone because I’m no longer on the show. But before that, I had been to watch parties pretty much every week. One time, I was with family. For Episode 4, where I had a big date, I had a big party. Last week, I went to a girls thing.

Q: How was the overall experience different from your time on “Golden Bachelor”?

A: I had a much better time on “Paradise.” I made so many good friends, and those young people, I just adore. I say I came home with eight new daughters. I don’t want to take anything too seriously. I’m at an age now where you throw things against the wall and see if they stick. If they don’t, they don’t. You have to enjoy life right now.

A: To be honest, I was in shock, because we had been tied for first and we were safe. I had told him not to bet too much, and he obviously didn’t listen. It was tough. But afterward, when we were back at the bar, he was so upset with himself. I don’t think they showed this on TV, but I just kept telling him that it was OK, that we all make mistakes. I probably said “I told you so” once, but why do it again? What am I going to do? Make him feel worse?

Q: Why were so many of the women enamored with Gary?

A: He’s very charismatic, bigger than life. He laughs a lot. He’s a doll. That being said, there weren’t a ton of guys for us to choose from. Keith [Gordon] and Kathy [Swarts] had already made a pact, so we knew he was off-limits.

Q: What’s your current relationship with Gary?

A: We were in Tahoe together earlier this month for some iHeartRadio events with a bunch of people from the “Bachelor” and “Real Housewives” shows. We did podcasts, played pickleball. We had the most fantastic time. Gary and I got the chance to really talk and get to know each other better. One of our big hurdles is where he lives [Palm Springs]. I think if we lived in the same city, we’d be going on dates and saying more about how we feel about each other. But I probably talk to him or text him every day.

A: Not really. Theresa [Nist from “Golden Bachelor”] was in town a couple weeks ago and we went to the Yacht Club Festival. We were bombarded. That was funny. I was at COV Wayzata recently for dinner and the young woman who seated us really wanted a selfie. My friends are like, “You’re so nice to everyone.” Well, why wouldn’t I be? These people are going out of their comfort zone to come up to me. This is what I signed up for.

Q: Is another reality show in your future?

A: I don’t know. You’ll have to ask ABC. People have said, “Oh, you can go back to ”Bachelor in Paradise” next year. OK, but I’d really like to have a boyfriend by next year. But if I’m single, sure.

Q: I have a theory that you’ll eventually end up doing “Dancing With the Stars.”

A: I would love that. That would be my dream come true. I was kind of supposed to be on it last season, but it was an Olympic year so they took two Olympians. And they also reduced the cast a little, so it was just one of those things where they didn’t have room.