Bachelor material?

Jenny Marder

For a last-minute decision, being on ABCs “The Bachelor” prompted a

lot of firsts for Jessica Bowlin. Her first time on a national

network. Her first prolonged period without phone calls, television

or books. But was it her first marriage proposal?

That, she can neither confirm nor deny.

The 22-year-old law student was one of the 25 women chosen to be

on “The Bachelor,” a reality TV show in which a group of unattached

women try to land an eligible stud.

She also made the first cut and was one of 15 girls that eligible

bachelor Jesse Palmer, a backup quarterback for the New York Giants,

chose to get to know better.

Bowlin, born and raised in Huntington Beach, was encouraged by

friends to try out for the show. She applied last minute and was one

of the last contestants chosen, she said.

“They called me for an interview and the producers interviewed me

and that was it,” she said.

And unlike most of the 15,000 applicants, Bowlin was uncertain at

first whether a reality show was really for her.

“I was really excited, but I was unsure if I really wanted to do

it,” she said. “I’m kind of a logical person and I didn’t want to

embarrass my family.”

But she put her doubts aside and decided to take the plunge into

TV land anyway. “I am a law student and I was worried about being

perceived in an unprofessional way,” she said. “But it was the best

experience of my life. It was so much fun.”

Friends describe Bowlin as sincere, dependable and hard-working,

but not without a fun-loving streak.

“She’s smart, independent and motivated,” said longtime friend

Jacqueline Limonta. “If she wants something, she will go out and

strive for it regardless of what other people think. She’s obviously

a beautiful person outside, but not many people realize what a

beautiful person she is inside as well.”

Bowlin, who graduated from East Carolina University with a

criminal justice degree, is in her first year at law school, with

the hopes of being a district attorney. Her ultimate goal: to “be a

kind of victim’s advocate,” she said.

One of the perks of being on “The Bachelor,” Bowlin said, was the

relationships she forged with the other women on the show. She

laments that many of the best conversations were left out of the

first episode.

“They only show certain things and you don’t get the whole

picture,” she said. “It’s a TV show, so they’re obviously going to

show only the really captivating moments.”

Bowlin can’t say whether she’ll soon be donning an engagement

ring. But she did make the cut on the first show, which aired April

7.

Limonta doesn’t think her friend is hiding a ring, but she can’t

be sure. Jessica’s just not a good liar, she said.

“One day, she said something, and I thought she won, and the next

day, she said something and I thought she lost,” Limonta said.

Limonta, who wishes she could be more of a shoulder for her

friend, hopes that Bowlin isn’t struggling too much with her pent up

secrets.

“I wanted to ask her how she felt about the other girls, how she

felt about this guy ... if she got her heart broken or if she’s in

love or both,” Limonta said. “I can’t find out if she’s hurt or if

she’s OK or if she’s suffering. It’s got to be hard for her because

she can’t have a confidant or anything. She can’t talk to family or

other friends. It’s kind of like she’s still isolated.”

Bowlin remains tight-lipped about her relationship with Palmer,

for fear of unveiling any unaired information, but she does admit to

an attraction.

“Typically, athletes aren’t my type,” Bowlin said. “But he’s an

intellectual guy; a dual major, bilingual and that’s definitely my

type ... I think we definitely hit it off.”

* JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at jenny.marder@latimes.com.