Leslie Fhima and Prince.Photo:Ricky Middlesworth/ABC; Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Ricky Middlesworth/ABC; Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Long beforeThe Golden Bachelor’sLeslie Fhimawas searching for love on television, she says she was having a teenage love affair withPrince.
After first revealing her relationship with the “Purple Rain” singer onthe season premiereof the ABC dating show in October, Fhima, 64, further detailed how she met Prince on the latest episode of theBachelor Happy Hourpodcast.
Leslie Fhima and Gerry Turner on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.John Fleenor/ABC
John Fleenor/ABC
Fhima, who wasrunner-uponGerry Turner’s inaugural season ofThe Golden Bachelor, also claimed that she inspired Prince to write his song “Sexy Dancer,” which was released in 1979.
After the song came out, Fhima said she graduated high school and became a professional figure skater in the Ice Follies while “Prince started to become Prince.”
The fitness instructor looked back her experience while the musician was on tour, claiming, “Every time, you know, he’d be in a city — especially like in L.A. at the Forum — he drove the limo up that ramp, and all the girls saw me get into the limo, and then he’d be writing me these amazing letters throughout my time in the Ice Follies.”
She remembered sharing the letters — which she called “a little explicit” — with her friends in the Ice Follies.
However, she had a change of heart about her relationship with Prince during a break from the touring ice show, sharing, “I came home for Christmas break. And again, no cell phones and we had a plan to meet at a certain location at midnight.”
“And then I was at my cousin’s house at a party that was very close to this location and I kept looking at my watch and then I had an hour, it’s 11 o’clock. I got an hour, it takes me five minutes to get there,” she recalled.
“And then I see Brad, who was my first husband, across the room,” she continued. “I had known him before, but I see him and he is so handsome. And he’s got these sleepy eyes and we started talking and I’m looking at my watch. It’s 11:15, 11:30, 11:40, 11:45.”
Leslie Fhima and Gerry Turner on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.John Fleenor/Disney
John Fleenor/Disney
“I had to make a game time decision. Do I stay? This could be my husband, really. Or do I go to Prince who probably [is] not going to be my husband someday? I mean, I had to make that decision. So 11:50, Whatever. And I just made that decision to stay with Brad, because I looked at him and I’m like…” she said.
Amabilechimed in, “You might be the one.”
“Yeah, I did,” she responded. “I mean, I adored Prince. But at the end of the day, you know, I knew that. I mean, I’m only 18… I have the show to go back to and then I did another show after that in Europe.”
“So, I knew that Brad would be [the right choice], he was in love with me three years prior to that,” she added. “So, you know, I made a decision and we have this amazing son Zach. And like I said, we’re friends.”
Fhima was divorced twice before appearing onThe Golden Bachelorand vying for Turner’s heart. Though she made it to the fantasy suites and final episode, Turner ultimately ended things with Fhima, choosingTheresa Nistto propose to in the finale.
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Bachelor Happy Houris available on major podcast platforms.
source: people.com
