Though former The Bachelor contestant Serene Russell didn't walk away from Season 26 with a ring on her finger, she definitely stole the hearts of viewers all over the globe with her authentic, girl-next-door charm and vulnerability. The former elementary school teacher-turned-model then went on to crush the competition on Season 8 of Bachelor in Paradise, and now, she's found her footing as an influencer and content creator.
DreamDive chatted with Serene to learn about her most unexpected experience on The Bachelor, her hottest hot take, and more.
What’s your most-used emoji?
SR: 🫧 Right now I am loving the bubbles. It just feels so girly and whimsical.
If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would it be?
SR: I literally don’t have any tattoos because I don’t know the answer to this even with time allowed — I love, love them on other people but have not even the slightest idea for myself!
What's the weirdest or funniest rumor you've heard about yourself?
SR: I have extra nipples on my rib cage that look like moles/birthmarks, and since living on a beach and having to wear bikinis everyday on TV, I started to have several people comment on my posts that they were scars from plastic surgery or scars from drain tubes from implants. That or that my butt is from a “skinny BBL” or shots.
First — if I had done anything to my butt, it would definitely be bigger than this! Second — I’ve never had any cosmetic surgery or filler of any kind, so I thought this was an oddly specific assumption for multiple people to make so confidently 😂
What are your current top 3 favorite fashion trends?
SR: Low-rise jeans, kitten heels, and linen pants.
What's your hottest hot take?
SR: Soft tacos are just tiny burritos with less toppings... I love soft tacos, but that doesn’t change my mind.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
SR: Potatoes... they’re so versatile! And my favorite thing ever.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
SR: I love karaoke and will even sing songs I don’t know, but the real answer is any Disney song. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan could bring me back from a coma AND have me ready to run through a wall.
Tell us about your dream brand collaboration.
SR: I love, love, love Aquaphor and will sing its praises all day long. I use so much Aquaphor and am constantly using it for so many different things, it just ✨ makes sense ✨.
Who inspires you?
SR: My friends Susie, Abigail, and Dani! They’re such go-getters career-wise and are kind and humble while they do it! They’re the type of people that make people feel loved/use their platforms for good, and I think that’s more important than anything else we can do! I am so proud of them and am inspired by them all the time!
What was the most unexpected thing about your time on 'The Bachelor'?
SR: That as someone who (at the time) had a hard time sharing emotions, I was able to do it in that setting with so many people (producers and the world) watching.
Share a photo from your camera roll that makes you laugh every time you see it.
SR: This is a picture of me in the trenches during he height of the pandemic — my best friend asked for “proof” I was trying to feel better and I sent this pic of me sniffing “cheer up buttercup” essential oils on the floor of my moms bathroom (LOL, I really was doing this to feel better).
It cracks me up and makes me realize it’s never that serious! It’s also incredibly dramatic and makes me laugh so hard.
What's your dream vacation destination?
SR: I want to go somewhere with those little huts in the middle of the water... I don’t really care which place, because I know there are several. As long as it’s warm and tropical (and not storm season). I’m a big water girl and want to snorkel/see all the sea creatures and become fully immersed in the culture of wherever I visit!
What’s your No. 1 distraction?
SR: Making lists... I will literally make a list every single day and be so focused on the list making/organization part that I don’t always get to the execution. I think part of me loves that it seems never-ending, but at least my thoughts are kinda put together? 😂 Girls’ notes apps will be studied one day.