The Celebreality Interview – Jamie

Despite not being particularly dramatic or blonde, Jamie was able to outlast all but two of her competitors on Rock of Love Bus. No easy feat, that! Below, the “new girl” talks about joining the show mid-season, accusations of groupiedom and her longstanding association with ex-American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis.

How was your time on the show?

It was intense. I was scared that first day we came in as the three new girls. I guess the supposed mean girls, the Blondourage, were really nice to me. I’m not an aggressive person. I wasn’t there trying to start fights. But also, I don’t think they thought I was a threat.

I guess you showed them.

Yeah. I don’t think anyone expected me to get this far. I didn’t expect to get this far.

What do you attribute to your relative success? It seemed like for a while, you were flying under the radar.

I was. I wasn’t bats*** crazy. I mean, they didn’t show the couple of times that Bret told me, “You look like my ex-girlfriend. You look like the mother of my children.” I was like, “OK! Thanks!” That was kinda weird, but whatever. Whatever keeps me here. I think another thing that may have kept me around was the fact that I’d been on tour before as the merch girl. I’ve gotten up at 6 in the morning to get in a van with eight sweaty guys and driven seven hours to wherever we were going and shaved my legs in the women’s bathroom of the club. The Rock of Love bus was not all that bad.

So traveling with women isn’t worse than traveling with guys?

No. The girls all had different products and different stuff we could all borrow from each other. The guys in the band’s belts were all too big for me, you know?

It was only the last two episodes that we really saw you talking. Was that editing or a reflection of what actually happened?

I think it was a combination of both. I did talk, believe me. I was drunk half the time just like everyone else. I just must not have been that entertaining, and I definitely was not that scandalous. They tried to make me scandalous with that groupie thing, which was awful, but it could have been a lot worse.

What was the new-girl process like? Did you audition for the show normally and then get put on reserve or what?

I went through the same thing that everyone else did. I was in Kentucky the night it started, and then, someone came and said, “You’re not starting today.” I was like, “No! I got cut.” But they asked if I’d be interested in coming in during the middle and taking part of a challenge. I was like, “Totally.” And he told me, “You might get asked to stay.” I was like, “Gotcha.” I knew what was going on. I think I’m smarter than people think I am.

You were accused of handling the show as if it were a game. Was it a game to you?

A little bit! Come on, it’s a show. But I think that came from me being wasted that night and having Taya in my face. I had to say something to get her to stop talking to me. To get her to stop talking in general. But I did feel it was true. I knew I’d have more of a chance if it came down to me and Mindy. And plus, I really did think he should pick Mindy if he didn’t pick me. I don’t know, I’m so over it.

Were you legitimately into Bret?

I hate to admit it now, but at the time, yeah, I was. Come on, we were on a bus. He was the only guy we saw for, like, a month. But he’s a great guy. And, of course, in that situation, you get a little competitive.

Did you not want to settle down because you were on reality TV?

A little. Look, I do not think that Bret Michaels is going to marry anyone from that show. If he marries Mindy or Taya, I will personally throw the bridal shower. I think we could have had a really good time if he picked me. I think we would have dated for a while. I do agree with him that it wouldn’t have worked out.

Did you dislike Taya as much as your other competitors seem to?

I like Taya. I don’t think she had a lot of girl friends. She’s used to hanging around men. She was just…different. I mean, we were all a little different, but she was really different.

What about Mindy?

Oh yeah, I like Mindy a lot. I still talk to Mindy. I really didn’t have any beef with anyone.

You said that Mindy and Taya were sucking the life out of you. Was it entertaining at all to be caught in their crossfire?

At first, it was a little amusing. And it was also like: good, go at each other. Make me look great. But it got really annoying. A lot of what wasn’t shown was if Taya would go to the bathroom, Mindy would be like, “Oh my god!” and talk about Taya. And then Mindy would get up and Taya would be like, “Oh, I just don’t know what’s wrong with her!” It was just like, shut up! I’m sick of hearing about you two!

Bret seemed to think that Mindy had sort of an obsession with Taya. Did you get that sense?

Not really. I think it was the other way around. Taya was really happy to have a best friend on the show. Like, Boots and I were really close, and they were really close.

I didn’t know that you were that tight with Beverly.

Yeah, they didn’t show it too much. She’s here now, at my apartment [in New York]. We’re going to opening night of Rock of Ages.

How do you respond to the groupie allegations?

I mean, of course I knew that was coming. I think it was really badly represented. Like, no, I didn’t move to New York to follow a band that does not exist, first of all. I understand they had to make me more interesting and scandalous, but ugh. And look: we’re on a show to date Bret Michaels. He’s a rock star. Like, duh. I’m not going to lie: it happens to be my type. I like guys that are in bands. It’s just who I meet. I’m clearly not going to be going out with an investment banker. I think I got a little bit of a bad rap with that.

How do you distinguish between a girl who’s into rock stars and a girl who’s a groupie?

I don’t think there are really groupies anymore. I think of groupies being around back in the day. I guess there’s a blurred line between rock chick and groupie, and I think I just got thrown in the middle of that. Look, that’s who I meet and that’s who I date. Not, like, rock stars, but guys in bands. I live in New York. There are how many dudes in bands here? And especially working for a musician [Constantine Maroulis], I’m gonna meet people like that.

You’ve been working for Constantine for a while, right?

Yeah, I think it’ll be three years this coming summer. It’s cool. I can’t complain. My job could be a lot worse.

And you’re selling T-shirts for Rock of Ages?

Yes. I sell the merch. I run around for Constantine during the day, doing his personal stuff, and then at night, I’m down there.

Do people recognize you from the show?

Yeah, I think it’s largely the same audience demo. People will do a double take or be like, “You look like that girl from Rock of Love, only prettier.” I’m like, “Yeah, I had some rough moments. It’s cool.”

Were you and Constanine ever involved?

No! I am not dating him! I am not banging him! I get his Starbucks and I sell his T-shirts. I understand how it looks. He’s obviously an attractive guy and I think I’m a cute girl, but no.

Any regrets?

Not really. Maybe I should have picked some more fights to get some more screen time (laughs). But no, I’m glad I did it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’ll sign up for Rock of Love 4 with…whoever.

Keep up with Jamie via her MySpace.

Related content
Rock of Love Bus show page
Rock of Love videos and extras