Life after TV, future plans and if she’s watching Joan Vassos’ season of ‘The Golden Bachelorette’
The Golden Bachelor’s Faith Martin might not have won Gary Turner’s heart, but that didn’t stop her from using her platform to inspire and help women worldwide. The now radio host has recently become a spokesperson for AGEBeautiful at-home hair care and an advocate for the nationally recognized brand Dress for Success—both of which mean a lot to Martin. To help raise awareness for the cause, the reality TV star sat down exclusively with Woman’s World to discuss her humble beginnings, how life has been since leaving The Golden Bachelor and so much more.
Woman’s World: Let’s start with your time on ‘The Golden Bachelor,’ how was that experience for you, and what did you take away from it?
Faith Martin: It was challenging emotionally, physically and mentally. You are thrown into such a weird situation, so I think I would want people to know to give us a break. So many people are critiquing what we look like, what we say and what we do, but you’re getting a shorter span of what actually happened.
We would also appreciate it if people could sometimes be a little kinder because what they say is hurtful to their children, adult families, or their mothers and fathers. I’ve been really lucky. People have been pretty kind to me, but I’ve heard some things that made me pretty sad.
WW: Since leaving the show, what have you been up to? Have you been watching ‘The Golden Bachelorette?’
FM: I have not watched yet. And I’m not going to lie, I think when I begin to watch it, I’ll have a little bit of PTSD.
The Golden Bachelor was a very emotional time and when I got back home, it took about three months to feel normal again. I went up in the mountains and I camped with my horses and hiked with my dogs. I really just got away from everything. Then, I spent a lot of time with family and friends, but I really felt super isolated when I got back, because I couldn’t say anything about what happened. I knew everything that had happened, and I was still heartbroken. You have to have a happy face to people who ask, “I know you can’t say anything, but is there a ring on your finger?” And, inside, I’m like, “Oh, my God, I just got dumped on national television.” So that was really hard.
Since then, I feel great. I have just been going back to my normal life, and I’ve always loved my life. I do exciting and fun things all the time. I have a great job and two horses and dogs, so I try to go camping. I like to travel and take my show on the road. I’ve got lots of good friends and an incredible family, so I feel super blessed.
I feel whole and healed from my trauma on the show, and things are good.
WW: A large part of ‘The Golden Bachelor’ revolves around showing people that they can be fabulous after 50. How do companies like AGEbeautiful and Dress for Success help with that?
FM: I have heartfelt feelings for both of those companies. AGEBeautiful, for one, I started using after I was introduced to them at Sally’s Beauty. Their products were affordable, which, at the time, I really needed something to be affordable and super easy to use. So that really helped.
Then, in my radio career, I partnered with Dress for Success and organized a fundraiser for them. Along with domestic violence, they were offering help in clothing and services for women coming out of abusive situations. I have had a connection with Dress for Success in the past, and when I found out about their partnership with AGEBeautiful, it was a great fit.
WW: Diving deeper into Dress for Success, the organization is all about helping unemployed and underemployed women strive for economic independence. What does that cause mean to you, and why is it so important?
FM: Oh my gosh, it’s going to tear me up because I seriously came from really hard times, and I know what it’s like. I came out of a domestic violence situation, and it changes the way when your socioeconomic situation is so dire. It changes your whole self-esteem. It changes everything.
So, if somebody can help you have some resources and some actual support from other women, it is the difference between life and death. It’s so, so hurtful. I think there hasn’t been enough of an awareness campaign for enough women to know that there are other women who are uplifting, supportive, encouraging and providing things that you know every woman really needs to feel great about in order to strive and live their dreams.
WW: You have had quite an impressive career, from being a radio personality to a news anchor, teacher, and now a musician. What did you take away from all those experiences, and what do you want women in the workforce to know?
FM: Just do what you love and what you’re driven to do. I think that when you stay true to yourself and you follow your passions,, you’re opening yourself up to the universe sending things your way that are meant for you. That way, you don’t get stuck in a rut of something you hate.
I’ve always done that, and I’m always adding to my myriad of interests. I love to sing, dance, perform and do acrobatics. I enjoy doing so many different activities, and I’ve always said, “That sounds fun. I want to try it on.”
I think that’s important, because whether you end up in a career you like or want to change, you always do things that drive you to feed your passions.
WW: Let’s talk about your life back at home. How are your kids, grandkids and everyone else? Do they just love that their grandma is now a reality TV star?
FM: Everybody is in such a good place right now. It’s like, “Did we just jump over to the fifth dimension?’ It is really great.
My sons have grown up with me in the limelight, in a sense. That’s just the life we live. It’s not very private. Everybody knows everyone. And my grandkids, I think they thought it was pretty cool that they got to see themselves on TV.
WW: Finally, what’s one thing you wish you could tell your younger self?
FM: I would tell myself, you’re worth it. For so much of my life, I literally apologized for my existence and it took me so long to feel like I had a place here. It just took so many years to really truly believe that.
