Vienna Girardi

TV Personality & Entertainment Reporter

 

Vienna Girardi is best known to television audiences as the vivacious fun-loving woman who had captured Jake Pavelka’s heart on Season 14 of The Bachelor: On The Wings Of Love.  “I wanted to fall in love and find my soul mate.” Sadly, in June of 2010 the couple went their separate ways in a highly charged and publicized split. 

Born on May 29, 1986 and raised in Geneva, Florida, Vienna was an imaginative child, who thrived on exploration and playing in the outdoors.  Growing up with parents that had separated and later each re-married, she always considered herself blessed to have not one, but two families that were close and cared for her so much.  Though she came from a modest upbringing, her family was rich in love and her father worked tirelessly to provide the family with everything that he had gone without.  She credits her father Vinnie with instilling the importance of being gracious and having an appreciation for all blessings.  Family has always been the most important part of Vienna’s life and she can always count on her family to be her biggest supporters.  Her family often reminds her that, “Life is only as good as you make it”; a motto she tries to live by. 

“My dad taught me respect and to appreciate life.  He always pushed me to try my best and to never give up when things got hard.  He calls me everyday to remind me that he is proud of me.  I hope to one day be as wonderful of a parent as my dad was to me.”

As a child, Vienna aspired to pursue a career in broadcasting and always dreamt of becoming a television host, reporter, or news anchor.  In elementary school, she joined the News Crew as the youngest member and continued on into her senior year of high school, when an on-air mishap had presented her with the opportunity to step-in and showcased her talent broadcasted school-wide.  She was a natural; rather silly and able to make fun of herself.  Luckily her impromptu break-out moment caught the attention of the school drama teacher who asked her to be in a play.  Vienna discovered her love for entertaining, yet realizing that the industry is a difficult business to break into.  She decided that hard work and an exceptional College education was the right path her.

Vienna was granted a full scholarship to the school of her choice.  She graduated Kappa Delta from the University of Central Florida in May of 2009 with a degree in Communications.  Though she achieved a solid foundation with her education, she was consistently passionate about her dream career goal as a television host or reporter.

In late 2009, Vienna was surprised to learn that her stepmother Lisa had nominated her to be a candidate for The Bachelor.  In the spirit of her adventurous nature, she embraced the opportunity to do something new and spontaneous.  Vienna was hopeful that the show would lead her to, as well as opened doors to many opportunities.  While grounded by her inability to put-on-airs, she is consciously aware that being in the public eye has changed the impact she might have on others.

As a contestant on ABC’s The Bachelor, Vienna felt the clash of big personalities.  However, she stayed true to what she came for and she got her man.  Known for being opinionated and speaking her mind, Vienna’s honesty, spirited personality and up-front manner, is part of her charm.  “I was raised to believe that a lie is a lie, no matter how small it is.  So I have always been extremely honest and direct.  Don’t ask me a question if you don’t want to hear the truth.”

 

Vienna speaks to young women and girls about the importance of making good choices at a young age.  She continues to support Girl Scouts and Hope Foundation; charitable organizations that she became involved with while in College. Vienna currently attends numerous charitable benefits, including fundraisers at her little sister Hannah’s school, and she has a special interest in programs that work to benefit children and animals. 

On April 12, 2010 Vienna debuted her interest in television reporting for EXTRA TV which aired April 14, 2010 with rave reviews.  During the week of her breakup with Pavelka, Vienna was hired to a marketing position with Biolustre in Los Angeles; a hair restoration product company with a charitable foundation assisting cancer patients.