Dean Bell may have traded roses for road trips, but the former Bachelor Nation star isn’t ruling out a return to reality television anytime soon. Bell, who recently partnered with Chevron to encourage Americans to hit the road this summer, opened up to The Blast about life after reality TV, his evolving definition of success, and why he’d jump at the right opportunity that came along. While discussing his upcoming travel plans and his passion for exploring new destinations, Dean Bell revealed that despite stepping away from the reality TV spotlight, he still has plenty of interest in returning to the genre.
When asked whether he would consider joining another reality show if a producer called tomorrow, Bell didn’t hesitate. “100%,” he told The Blast.
Although Bell admitted he doesn’t spend much time watching reality television these days, there are a handful of programs that have caught his attention. One show in particular has become a frequent topic of conversation between Bell and his wife, fellow Bachelor Nation alum Caelynn Miller-Keyes. “Caelynn really wants us to go on ‘Extracted,’” Bell said with a laugh.
The survival competition series places one contestant in the wilderness while family members or loved ones help guide them from a remote headquarters. “I was like, ‘Yeah, of course you want to do that. You’re going to be in HQ in air conditioning and eating three square meals a day while I’m surviving in the middle of nowhere,’” he joked.
Bell also revealed that another fan-favorite reality competition show is firmly on his radar. “My buddy Wells [Adams] has been on ‘Traitors.’ ‘Traitors’ seems like it’d be really fun,” he said.
While no offers are currently on the table, Bell made it clear that he remains open to future opportunities. “There’s a lot of shows that I would instantly say yes to,” he said.
His Definition Of Success Has Changed Since Bachelor Nation
Bell first rose to fame through the Bachelor franchise, where success often seemed tied to popularity, public perception, and social media growth. Today, however, his outlook couldn’t be more different.
Looking back, Bell said he once viewed success through a much narrower lens. “When I went into reality TV, success was very clear-cut,” he explained. “Popularity, finances, love life, all those types of things.”
Over time, his priorities shifted. “As long as I have people in my life that love me and I love them back, that’s success to me,” Bell said.
The reality star acknowledged that his current perspective comes from a place of gratitude, having found love, built a marriage, and created a life he genuinely enjoys. “I got lucky at the end of the day,” he admitted. “I fell in love, I got married, I moved to a place I love so much.”
Bell also shared one piece of advice he wishes he’d understood earlier in life: people aren’t paying nearly as much attention to your mistakes as you think they are. “I used to put a pretty big weight on what people thought,” he said. “People don’t care nearly as much as we make ourselves think that they do.”
