Pascal Ibgui, one of the standout contestants from The Golden Bachelorette, is opening up about his decision to leave the show ahead of the finale. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE following the Men Tell All special, Pascal reveals the personal reasons behind his departure and what he learned during his time on the reality dating series.
“I’m very picky,” Pascal admits, reflecting on his experience. “I’ve learned that it has to be the right person. You could give me 55 women, but if they’re not my type, they’re not my type. I need that spark. I need to feel a connection—through their energy, the way they smell, how they make me feel physically. It’s a combination of everything.”
Despite his self-admitted pickiness, Pascal doesn’t shy away from his luxurious lifestyle. On the show, he believes his portrayal came off as “snobby,” a characterization he feels was far from the full picture of who he is. “I’m high-maintenance, no doubt, but I’m also down-to-earth,” Pascal clarifies. “I’m very generous, a caregiver at heart. I’d give the shirt off my back for those who need it. I’ve built a lifestyle I enjoy, and I’m grateful for it. But I don’t flash it; I work hard for what I have.”
Pascal goes on to explain that while he enjoys the lifestyle he’s created for himself, he’s not the person viewers might have assumed. “I don’t come from privilege. I want people to understand that. The Paris I know is not the Paris people think of when they think of luxury.”
Before appearing on The Golden Bachelorette, Pascal had never seen the show. Initially skeptical, he became interested after watching a few episodes of The Golden Bachelor with Gerry Turner. “I thought, ‘Okay, I get it now. I could do this.’ So I went in with an open mind, ready to have a good time.”
Once in the mansion, Pascal surprised himself with his ability to open up and be vulnerable. Throughout the show, he learned from the other men that showing emotion wasn’t a weakness. “I never showed my kids my vulnerability before,” he says. “I always tried to be strong for them, but seeing the other guys open up made me realize that it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to have feelings. It was a lesson for me, and one I hope to teach my children.”
Although Pascal didn’t leave with a proposal, he says the experience had a positive impact on his relationship with his children, teaching him to embrace his emotions and be more open with them.
Despite his decision to leave before the finale, Pascal’s journey on The Golden Bachelorette has clearly left a lasting impact on both him and the viewers.
