Happy Tuesday! The Whitterview is back this week with one of my favorite people who graced our television screens a few months ago on Bachelor in Paradise.
When the latest season of Bachelor in Paradise ended, we saw three couples from the beach leave engaged and this week 1/2 of one couple joins us!
I’m so excited for you all to get to know Mariella (Mari) Pepin!! Who left the beach with a fiancé out of Kenny Braasch. We catch up with how life is now, wedding planning, and just getting to know Mari.
I am so pleased to introduce you all to..... Mari!
Tell me about you!
MP: I was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico where my parents met during college. A few years later, my dad joined the Army and we started to travel the world! I kind of grew up all over the place because of that, which gave me a deep appreciation for diversity and other cultures.
I have a little brother who is now also in the army, and four step-siblings from my dad’s side. We all live in different places - I’m in Maryland, my brother is in Korea, my dad is in Cleveland and my mom is in Miami, but getting ready to move to Germany for work! I’m excited to visit her and go back to one of the places I spent part of my childhood.
Growing up did you ever think you’d get into reality tv?
MP: Definitely not! I grew up watching shows like Fear Factor, Wipeout, American Idol, etc. but never pictured myself actually ending up on a show myself! In fact, there was a point where I actually thought the idea of The Bachelor (before I had ever seen it) was strange. But once I watched the show I realized that it could actually work out and how romantic it could be.
How’s engagement life? Have you started wedding planning?
MP: Engagement life is great! Kenny and I are still long distance for the time being, but we spend as much time together as possible. Only a few more months until we’ll be living together in Chicago full time!
We haven’t started planning the wedding just yet! We do have a general timeline (2023, probably) and know we’ll get married in Puerto Rico, but we want to savor the engagement and just enjoy living life together before we get down to the details.
Do you think we will see a televised wedding?
MP: I’m not sure! If ABC still does them, Kenny and I wouldn't be opposed to a televised wedding, as long as we still get to be involved in all of the planning and do things the way we want for the big day.
You’re into modeling.. What is your dream company to model for?
MP: Yes! A lot of people don’t know I’ve been modeling professionally for about eight years now. With agencies in NY, LA and Philly.
My dream booking would probably be Savage x Fenty, Ellie Saab bridal and one of my favorite makeup brands like Tarte or Smashbox.
Tell me about Innovessa. I’m sure not many people know you have this brand:
MP: I haven’t promoted or talked about it much publicly, but Innovessa is my small business! It’s a boutique digital marketing agency, so I work with small businesses and manage their online strategy from social media to email marketing to blogging and website optimization, etc.
I’ve been working in marketing for almost a decade now and found that the online side was something I not only loved but was really good at. When COVID caused a shutdown where I was working as a marketing director, I decided to start up Innovessa and take on a handful of clients at a time. I’m currently the marketing director for a doctor’s office in Chicago, and still work with my Innovessa clients on the side.
If you could be on any other reality show which would it be?
MP: That’s a tough one! As we saw on Matt’s season, I’m pretty damn competitive and (surprisingly to a lot of people), athletic. I’d like to go on a show where I could have that competition aspect while also being active. Honestly I think Dancing with the Stars would be a perfect fit for me!
What’s something people may not know about you?
MP: I think a lot of people don’t know that I’m pretty artistic and creative! I haven’t shared much of that side of me online, but I love to paint, draw, make crafts, etc. In fact a lot of the art in my apartment I painted myself.
If you could have dinner with three people who would they be and why?
MP: This is a hard one too! There are so many interesting people in the world that I’d love to talk to and learn from so this always changes, but right now I’m going to say it would be Kamala Harris, Shay Mitchell, and Britney Spears.
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