'The Bachelor' star Maria Georgas opens up about why she turned down 'The Bachelorette': 'I just wanted to go home'

Maria Georgas's reason for turning down "The Bachelorette" is actually pretty simple. In a recent podcast, the Toronto-born reality TV star opened up about why she refused to star in the dating show after emerging as a beloved contestant on "The Bachelor" Season 28.

The 29-year-old Canadian also dished on what she's truly looking for in a partner and how she feels about her upcoming milestone birthday. Here's everything we learned from Georgas during her appearance on the "Unlike Me" podcast, hosted by Felix Levine.

🥀 Why she turned down 'The Bachelorette'

After her time on "The Bachelor," where she was amongst 32 women vying for the love of 29-year-old Joey Graziadei, Georgas said the competition took a toll on her mental health. Despite reaching the final four, she realized it was best for her to take some steps back.

"I just wanted to go home, to go back to reality," she shared. "When I was done, I genuinely, wholeheartedly just wanted to go back to my family and friends and get back to reality."

When she was offered the lead for "The Bachelorette," she was taken aback. "I couldn't believe that I would even be offered that," she said. Georgas noted she wanted to take the role because of how much love she got for just being herself on "The Bachelor," but it ultimately was just too much.

"Where I was saying 'no' was me being uncomfortable doing it all over again," Georgas explained. "I just wanted that break. I just wanted to go home a little bit. ... I like where I am now. I'm very happy with my decision with not doing it, and I think everything happens for a reason and I'll leave it at that."

💌 What she's looking for in a partner

In terms of what her current dating life is like, Georgas has a few things she's interested in when it comes to a potential future boyfriend. "I want someone that just makes me feel safe," she shared. "I want someone that makes me feel excited to want to see them again. I want to feel like I found someone that matches my energy. ... You know what I want a guy to do? Not have social media."

Georgas added while some are searching for "the hot person" or the one who looks good on paper, she just wants to be with someone she can have fun with. "How about just laughing with someone? Being comfortable, being at home watching a movie together? Why don't we like really just focus on that?"

She also shared that she's into people who have a "dad bod," reiterating she simply wants to feel comfortable with her significant other. "I don't need extravagant dates, I don't need to go out, I don't need to be posting selfies. I just want someone to be alone with and feel comfortable and happy."

Georgas also said she doesn't want to overcomplicate things when it comes to dating, and she doesn't have a list of checkboxes that need to be ticked. "It's a feeling you get when you meet the right person. I just haven't had it yet."

🎂 How she feels about turning 30

Georgas turns 30 years old on Aug. 27, but the reality TV personality noted she doesn't have a problem with the milestone. "I'm not scared. I think my life will just get started by 30. I think I have a lot more to look forward to. I mean, obviously in terms of wanting a family and wanting kids one day. Time's a ticking, you know what I mean?"

She also said she thinks it's "hot" when someone is 30 years old. "I know I still have time for a lot of things in my life and I just think that 30 is the wake-up call where it's like, 'OK, start being real serious. No more entertaining little boys, no more entertaining things that don't matter to you.'

"I feel like I got my s—t together, but it's like 30 is the celebration of everything that I've overcome, everything that I've become, everything that I am and everything that I have looking forward to in the future."

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