If you watched Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor in 2017, you probably have a very specific image of Corinne Olympios burned into your brain. Maybe it’s her napping through a rose ceremony. Maybe it’s her talking about her "platinum vagine." Or, more likely, it’s the cheese pasta.
She was the ultimate "villain." At least, that’s how the editors wanted us to see her. But looking back from 2026, the legacy of Corinne Olympios on The Bachelor feels a lot different than it did when we were all live-tweeting our outrage. Honestly, she might have been the most honest person in the house. While everyone else was busy "performing" the role of the perfect wife, Corinne was busy being... well, Corinne.
The Nanny, the Pasta, and the "Multi-Million Dollar Business"
Let’s talk about Raquel. The moment Corinne mentioned she had a nanny at age 24, the internet basically exploded. The other contestants—led largely by Taylor Nolan—used it as proof that Corinne lacked "emotional intelligence."
It was a whole thing.
But if we’re being real, Raquel wasn’t a nanny in the "I can't tie my own shoes" sense. She was a long-time family housekeeper and confidante. Corinne just used the word "nanny" because that's what Raquel was to her growing up. It was a weird flex for reality TV, sure. But it gave us the legendary "cheese pasta" and the "cucumber slices" commentary that became the backbone of the season's memes.
Then there was the business. Corinne claimed to run a multi-million dollar company. People rolled their eyes, assuming it was just a "Daddy’s girl" title. In reality, her family runs Armor Garage, a company that sells epoxy floor coatings. She worked in sales. Was she the CEO? Probably not. Was it a real job? Yeah.
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Why Corinne Actually Won (Even Without the Rose)
Most people think the "villain" loses because they don't get the guy. But Corinne understood the assignment better than anyone.
She wasn't there to follow the rules. She was there to make sure Nick—and the cameras—never looked away.
- The Bouncy House: She took Nick to a bouncy house and basically ignored the other women.
- The Nap: While the other girls were crying over "process," Corinne was literally asleep. Her defense? "Michael Jordan took naps."
- The Heart of Gold: She famously said, "My heart is gold, but my vagine is platinum."
It sounds ridiculous. It was ridiculous. But in an era where the show was becoming increasingly formulaic, she was a chaotic breath of fresh air. She made it to the final four. Nick actually liked her. He liked that she was fun and didn't take the "journey" so seriously that she forgot to enjoy the free booze and the mansions.
The Taylor Nolan Showdown
The feud with Taylor Nolan is still one of the most cited examples of Bachelor conflict. Taylor tried to use her professional background as a mental health counselor to "diagnose" Corinne's behavior.
It backfired.
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Corinne's response—"I'm 24, I have a nanny, and I'm successful"—wasn't sophisticated, but it was authentic. Taylor came off as condescending; Corinne came off as someone who just wanted to eat snacks and make out. In the world of reality TV, the girl having fun almost always wins the audience in the long run.
The Bachelor in Paradise Turning Point
You can't talk about Corinne Olympios on The Bachelor without mentioning the 2017 Bachelor in Paradise scandal. It was a dark turn for a franchise that usually sticks to lighthearted drama.
A producer filed a complaint regarding a sexual encounter between Corinne and DeMario Jackson. Production shut down. The media firestorm was intense, and the "slut-shaming" Corinne faced was pretty brutal.
Eventually, an investigation by Warner Bros. found no evidence of misconduct. Corinne later explained that she had suffered a "horrible blackout" due to mixing alcohol with medication. It was a wake-up call for the show, leading to the strict "two drinks per hour" rule that exists today. It changed the way the show operates, moving it away from the "get them as drunk as possible" strategy of the early 2000s.
Where is Corinne Now?
She didn't fade away.
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Corinne leveraged her 15 minutes into a legitimate career. She launched a jewelry and apparel line called Aura Sugar Co. She’s done stand-up comedy. She even appeared on House of Villains recently, proving she still knows how to play the "bad girl" for a paycheck.
She’s also been vocal about her growth. In interviews, she’s admitted that she "acted like a psychopath" for the cameras but doesn't regret it. She knew what she was doing. She was a character, and she played it to perfection.
Lessons from the Corinne Era
If you're looking for a takeaway from Corinne’s time on the show, it’s probably this: Don't let people "emotional intelligence" you into being boring. The show tried to make her a villain, but she ended up being one of the most memorable contestants in history because she refused to apologize for being high-maintenance. She liked her cheese pasta. She liked her naps. She liked herself.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see the "new" Corinne, check out her recent appearances on House of Villains. It's a great look at how she’s matured while keeping that same "I don't care what you think" energy. You can also look back at Nick Viall's season on Hulu or Discovery+ to see if she still feels like a villain to you, or if she was just a 24-year-old living her best life.
Stop judging people for their "nannies" and maybe go make some cheese pasta tonight. It’s actually pretty good for the soul.