Magi from Matt James’ Season Shares Her Incredible Story

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Speaker 1: Welcome back, happy our listeners, another happy Tuesday, and we are thrilled to be here talking with you all today because we have one of our absolute favorite women that we have been wanting to have on since I think even before Matt James this season started. She's a woman that we unfortunately did not get to know at all, which was such a huge bummer because I know, and I'm sure we're going to learn very quickly how incredible her story is. And she was one that we had our eye on since the bios were released in Rachel, I actually think I said that she was way too good for the show, so we've been dying to talk to her. So today we are going to chat with the beautiful Maggie. And before we began, Rachel, I know you are thrilled to be having Meggie. And two, she's one that we've talked about wanting on for quite some time. Yeah, let's without further ado, let's just bring her on. Like you said, she's too good for bastelination, and how often do we coin that term towards someone, So yeah, let's bring her on. Maggie. Welcome to the show. Welcome Maggie. We are thrilled to have you. I am saying, I am a little bit o wom. Okay, I'm nervous to start with, and I'm a little bit of wom because you boys are like somebody that I really appreciate and I just never told I will see you guys, I will talk to you. Hey, Hi, thank Oh my gosh, we're rolling now, Maggie, don't listen. Let's just this is your first podcast. We've been made. Where's your first podcast? But like we want this to be like you are talking to one of your girls. We're sitting at the dinner table, just having a conversation about our lived experiences. You are somebody that we have been so excited to talk to. You know, you were teased at the beginning of the season, like we were told you it's such a great story to tell and we didn't see it. It's justice for Maggie. Why did we see it? So we're gonna see it today on the podcast. We're so thrilled to have you, so thank you so much for being here. Like, take those nerves, throw them away, because this is just like like family, just girlfriends, cast a girl time. Thank you. Yes, so you are and you are Maggie you are Maggie, Maggy, you are one When when the cast bio was released for Matt James this season, you were one girl who Rachel and I were so excited to see you on our TV screens. I think I made the comment I was like, damn, she sounds way too good for the show, even like, we can't wait to see her to get to know her. And as Rachel said, unfortunately, so much of the drama overtook everyone's storyline this season, So we can't wait to have you here, to have our listeners actually get to know Maggie for who you are and not you know what was portrayed for two seconds on TV. So, as Rachel said, throw the nerves out the window. We're just going to have a good time. So before we really get into any of the questions, we want to check in with you. How have you been since you were obviously filming and now that the season is wrapped it's an airing. How have you been since all of that craziness. Oh, I've been good. You know, I've been trying to stay busy of course, working you know at my pharmacy, and I work in different pharmacy every day. I get to meet so many different people and it was very interesting because I love meeting different people all the time. And yeah, and as you guys know, COVID vaccines are out, so I was giving so many of them and the interesting thing is that people are so grateful to give them the vaccine and they think it's like a holy water and fun back after I give them, they will come to me asking me, hey, do you want water? Do you want food? And just just be just so happy. And that, you know, that keacked me a lot busy. And also I was focusing more you know, for what's going on in my hometown, integral, trying to create more awareness and trying to find a way how to help the children and the mothers there by giving my time and money and find a way to create more awareness so people we know about it because thousands of children out of family and a lot of months, a lot of family are displaced. It didn't have more food to eat, and you know, focusing more time on that is what kept me busy after the show. And yeah, I think I'm still busy, but it's interesting, it's it's it's a good kind of busy, and I'm grateful for that, you know, what I just heard there purpose kept me busy after the show. Real life, meaningful things that you've been been working on even prior to the show, that hold a special place in your heart have kept you busy, and that's why. That's one of the reasons, many reasons that we were so excited to talk to you, because there's so much depth there. So I want to start from the beginning, tell us everything that we missed. I want you to talk about like your childhood and growing up in Ethiopia. And I have to tell you this now. I don't know my heritage, but when I was in college, I used to say, like I would all these people from um um Eritrea would ask me if I was Ertrian now not Ethiopian next door, but I would say no. But then it kept coming people say, oh, are you hab show? So I started saying, well, yeah, I am, I am, so I have honestly, I have no idea. I have no idea, but yes, can you tell us your childhood and growing up and everything? Oh? Okay? Oh, first of all, my wo name is Mared. Do you know that my name is from social media? I guess it means it means grace or grace. Yeah. I was born in a small village in Adawa, it's grow north part of Ethiopia, and from path. Growing up, we didn't have a running water, so I was fetching water every day from the river and believing or not, I still have my scars on my feet from falling carrying the water path to the house. And that was interesting. But I get to be a pharmacist in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, there wasn't much job opportunity, so I applied for a lottery. I played a lottery to come to America, immigrant to America, and thankfully I got it. I got the lottery. But you know, that's why, you know, I'm here with the guys that gave you the chance to come to this country and to me, you to be at the barchelor. And when I get here, I didn't want to be just a pharmacist. And I wanted to pursue my you know, my modeling career because when I was back home, I used to think, you know what, the life of America, the life of a strong, beautiful woman, fashion educated. I just have and I want to do it because I came away by myself this country and I get to pursue my modeling career and I get to work as a you know, at a motel and as a pharmacist, I get to travel to different countries, to even America, different parts of US. Also outside of you know, my molley and my pharmacist, I get to spend most of my time on my nonprofits. Know it's called my shoes, your shoes. Um found fat about that when I go up. I didn't have shoes when I you know, when I was going to school, and my dream was one day, if I make it out of that village, I will give shoes to the little girls in you know, developing countries from it where I'm from. And um that you know, my goal is now I focus more to give shoots those little girls so they can't be able to go to school and to be who they want to be someday. And that's it. And that's a little bit about me. Currently. I am a pharmacist. I do all link and uh you know, I work on my own profit. Especially now with the things going on back home, I'm trying to feed people as much as I can, I know, just to to be able to give back. And that's that's that's me. Oh, Meggie, You, I mean just your heart and your soul and your dedication. It's incredible, Like we really don't truly see women like you come through the franchise all that often. I mean, it is a rare find, indeed, to have somebody as incredible as you. Yeah, Meggie, when when we saw the bit of you you at the end of the episode, when you and Matt finally have some alone time after a long night, I think you had been lost in the pumpkins, floating in the pond. You finally could sit down with your man to get to know him a little bit more. And what does Matt James do? He dances for you, but not just any dance. He does a silent tick talk dance. Now we all know how Rachel felt about that when we watched ship, But what was going through your mind when when that is what Matt James whipped out for you in that moment um for us? I was hoping, you know, like break it down kind of dance, you know, the slow dance. Yeah, Like when he started, I was like, Okay, Ma Jimes, I really appreciate you and thank you for you know, making me smile. But I have said this, Um, I was hoping, you know, the slow dance. But when he starts talking, I was like, oh wow, sure this is really happening. I I was like, if you can see my face? I was like, okay, I like, what do I need to do? I like just smiled, Maggie smile, that's all. How do I make him stop? Yeah? How do I get out of this room faster? Because I do like it? I do like it. I like the carriage, you know, I like And I asked him to dance at It was a rough day for me and I was exhausted and it was a long night, and I just asked him to make me smile, to dance for me. He tried. I know, I need to give him credit for that, but that sicto dance. Um I was expecting more a little bit. Yeah, so well yes, yeah, Well maybe you did live up to your name and you gave him grace. You seemed very patient. But you, and I think every woman watching in America was just like, he should have grabbed your hand. He should have pulled you up, spun you around, maybe dipped you, maybe leaned in for a little kiss or a hug, at least nice embrace, something other than what we saw transpire. I agree, Maggie. I was I'm so sorry for you in that moment, going back too, because I want to I still want to learn so much more about you, because I feel like there's so much that you could give to our listeners as a whole. So you mentioned that you would the Diversity the Diversity Lotto coming to America. But how long ago was that? How many years have you now been here? And then also what was it like because I'm assuming all of your family is still back in Ethiopia? Correct? Yes, So what was that like knowing that you know you were coming and hopefully going to be able to really invest in all of these new opportunities over here, but still having to leave your family, and like not knowing maybe how often you'd be able to see them. What was everything like when you finally came here. Yeah, when I went there asking us I got the lottery, I was mixed of emotions. First of all, I am I would be the first person making it out of Ethiopia. And second, I was so excited I will be able to help my mom because we are so many children's and I know you know what struggle she had. You know, I was in bos When I came here, things weren't as I expect them to be. Um, you know, as foreigner, you know, special Africa, and you will think when you come to America, I would be reached the first year, I will have a car, I will have a house. I will you know, buy my mom a car, house, all that. But when I came here, I struggle. I you know, I couldn't find a job because the pharmacists from back home, who was an equal pharmacist here, so I had to take the exam. I had to work as a technician, and I was walking to my work not to spend a dollar twenty five cents to buy to get you know, to use the bus to go to work. And I was struggling with splaying my house frank because I I didn't have anybody to help me, and you know, I was buying food. It was the first year. It was so hard, and I had these all emotions missing home and not being able to send the money you know for them. And it was hard the first year. But the second year, I started going to school that night while I was working the whole day. And the hope for me, you know, just to you know, to be able to work and to be able to get financial aid to school and a little bit, you know, there is a hope for me. The second year was okay. The third year, I you know, I started pharmacist school. Then you know, life start to make sense. Okay, America is not that easy. You know, there is a lot of expectation, but if you work hard, you can't make it. And that's what I you know, that's what I keep saying, and I keep praying God, please, like you got me all right here and what am I doing? Like it was so hard, but you know, after third year of being here, it was okay, just get I get, I get to learn a little bit of the American life. If you work hard, work hard, that's okay, work hard, you will make it one day. And that helped me to push myself and to be able to school. And like when I'm standing, when I'm sitting right now with you, and you know, looking back, the first year, it was I couldn't breathe even thinking about the struggle that I had, and like I always cry and I just bent my knee. God, thank you for making me survive those years because it was something you know, heard in every way, like not having nobody, no money, I don't have anybody to ask what We're just so hard all over and that I'm here and I am I own it. I owe it all to God and I am I am grateful. That's that's a little of life story. I had a little bit, a little bit life story. I'm telling you what you just said in that statement is so not statement, just like telling your story. It's so powerful because, like as I'm listening to you, it just reminds me of things that we take for granted, you know, whether it's because we were born here or maybe like how we grew up, just like little things that you were having to do, and maybe what you thought America was versus getting here, but then not letting that discourage you and to keep going and knowing if I keep working hard, if I keep moving forward, I'll eventually get to where I'm gonna go. So thank you for sharing that story. I'm curious though, and listening to you talk. What city did you come into when you first got here? Baltimore? Oh God, shout out to all our Baltimore listeners. But I'm just saying, I'm just saying the first city to come here, I can understand even more so how it's different. Can you hear the Baltimore accent? I'm sure I didn't knew. So they told me, like there is a Baltimore accent. There is like English is English for me because I was also struggling to speak English ABCD. So I was like, okay, for me, it looks the same. But the more I lived there, the more I start traveling, Oh the Bottomore you know, like there is an accent. Yes, say avenue, Say Avenue Avenue. Okay, So I was trying to see if you had picked up the Baltimore accent or not. But Baltimore, I still have my African accent. But I didn't know. But I understand the first, like of all the cities, Baltimore, like I can, I can? I can? I can. That's why That's what I got robbed. When I was waiting the bus to Good School, and it was the day times. I remember I got my first paycheck. I was excited I cash it because I didn't have a bunk. I did to open a bunk then and then cash it. I was waiting the bus to Good School because I found a FOD bus then and this guy came behind me he took my bag and he drugged me. I was like, I hold my bag from my life because there was money there. But I don't have the money. I'm not gonna survive the whole week. I hold that bag and he drugged me away and he was and it was strong enough. He took the bag and I run behind the him to say I had no idea, and the woman says start no, no, no, no no, don't don't don't run behind them. She just to start me. The only thing I had in my mind was saving the bag, getting my money. Yeah, but so yeah, I got robbed in Baltimore. So, oh my god, I just started. You. You say it was a smile on your face. Oh yeah, pecause I survived a lot, and it's just like for me, it's it's less to like if I complain, I feel like I'm not I'm not being grateful. I'm just like, you know, I know I struggled a lot, but I just it's like me showing smile, just I'm just grateful, you know. Yeah. Yeah, let me ask you this then, because I mean, it's so interesting that you ever even went on the TV show, you know, because I look at it and you've lived so many lives and you have so many different experiences that especially women who grew up in America will never ever have. So when you were on Matt's season, and especially in the beginning, when there was so much drama taking place between these you know, twenty thirty women, what was going through your mind? Because if I was you, I'd be thinking, like, look, I lived through some really hard shit and there's somebody crying because they're not getting a date, or somebody crying because whatever it might be, they don't have a crown or a tierra or a acept or anything. Like, how was that living like in the bubble per se and knowing like what you've lived through, what you know, you know, like the actual hardships that go on in this world. Yeah, um, I wasn't like I didn't know how I was handling it. But on the first week the girls were like when every time they asked me, I answered the question. And I remember Rachel one day, Maggie, I'm so jealous of you answer. You answered like you're just so graceful and you just don't get bothered, Like yeah, because you know, like why wanted to get bothered? You know, I just like I was in shock because, um yeah, going going there, I was. I was supposed to meet every day, talking to him, you know, getting more time, you know, being created a special woman. It's every girl's dream. Of course, I want to be treated special. But that didn't happen. But that I still didn't lose who I am. I still like being came to myself and seeing the girls in fight or think, I was like, oh my god, what did I put myself into? That was the first thing that came into my mind. But it took me time to see them like they are not me. I'm not them, and I cannot you know, we cannot be led to what was my background was their background. That's why I just you know, I didn't judge or anything. I was like, oh my god, okay, okay, just be be me and be you and it's good. So that's how I started about it. How did you go ahead make it on the show in the first place? Did somebody apply for you? Did you apply? How did that all work out? No? A casting director from the show emailed me, and yeah, I had not, like in a million years, I never told I would be in a reality TV or not at all. So I got an email and I didn't say yes. I waited and when they they announce Smart with a Butler, it was passed due wait do I emailed them back. I changed my mind. Sorry, I'm blades. I can do it because I kind of had a crush on month, so I was so excited to meet him in person. So yep, I said yes, and I did it. I was cos I just want press ahead crush and I did. Actual, guy, you know, you're not alone. There were thirty something other women that were most applicants, the most people wanting to be in his season. Ever. Yeah, I heard. Yeah, that's an attractive guy. Like, we get it, we totally understand. That's funny. He still makes you blush. My gosh. I can only imagine having the life that you've had are still having, and the story that you have walking into the room with those women and fak my gosh, all these silly rabbits that are arguing over over over the most insipid things ever. I mean, just wow, I can It's it's tough for all of us to go through the show and like you have your highs and lows, and it's a lot harder than people realize because you expect one thing to happen and then something else completely different happens. And you know what your experience is on the show, but the audience doesn't get to see it. So for you, what do you wish the Bachelor audience would have learned about you when watching the show. Um, I wish they'll learn about me. There are millions of women like me in a grant. They you know, they made it here to America and they didn't get the chance to express their love for guy because they get to learn even from their generation, a guy has to choose you and you don't get the chance to choose a guy. But you know these woman she got, you know, she got the courage to be at the show and to be able to represent all these millions of women to fight for love to you know, just I am a woman. If I want to choose a guy, I can't make it and I am not obligated to have an arranged marriage. And also for a lot of um, you know woman that they think being chosen by a guy, not to choose a guy is okay, that it's not okay. And also like um, if you want, if you have a plan as a woman, we are expected you know, at a certain age, at certain time, you have to get married, you have to have a kid. That's that's why you're born here. No, no, no, no, you are a woman. You have full life. You are like you have a food guard given for life. You can't do whatever, you play, whatever you want that you know that makes you happy. I get like I came here. I was. I was almost to get married when I was eight years old back home, arranged marriage to a rich guy. Re and yeah, but thankfully my mom didn't fall for it. She let me go to school. She fall for me to go to school to be you know, trusting me to be who I am, and I get to come here. The age didn't, you know, didn't bother me. The not you know, not knowing the culture of America didn't bother me. Not speaking the language, you know, people shouting at me for not speaking like them, didn't bother me. That. I always wanted to be like a doctor or a pharmacy and be a model. And you know, have a nonprofit helped people and I get to do it. So I wanted them to learn. You know, if you wish, if you want to do it, work hard for it. You can absolutely do it and make your own priority, not the priority that the you know, the culture make it to be like be a mom or something that is you have priority, just do it when you can't. And that's what I wish that people learn about the martial people. Oh my goodness, man, I feel like we should have you on every week. You walked on here and you said that you were nervous to speak with Rachel and I and I feel like I'm so inspired and in awe of you, and what your sentiment is right now is what I would want any woman to hear. You know, you make your own life and you you make your own priorities and you don't have to be on anyone's time schedule or expectations. And I think that's an incredible thing. Like you are just really like this shining beacon. And one other thing that you had mentioned a little bit earlier that I think is truly incredible that I want to learn more about is the nonprofit work not I cannot talk is the nonprofit work that you do with my shoes your shoes, and so I know you mentioned a little bit why you started it and just your upbringing, but tell us more about that because you do provide shoes to girls in Ethiopia, and I'm assuming it is it more underdeveloped countries than just Eyopia as well. I start from the place that I know. But my goal is to you know, the feature is to move to all developing countries. I'm trying to have teams from different countries. If they showed me there is this deal legs they need help. I am a one hundred percent help. You know, willdn't help, but I just you know, you always have to start from the place that you know. That's what I did. So I start from Adua because hundreds of women they walk. I was walking one hour to school that a lot of my classmen they were like two hours, like more than that, and their feet was sometimes leading and they cover it because they were shy. The adult rich women, they don't have to make fun of them. And you know, that's that's the mean, like you know what, I don't care about anything. I don't care about any anything. Just want to give them shoes. And that was the goal. Even though I started from Adua, I will you know, it will be all over the world. And I start with the shoes, they will be able to walk to the school. The God willing. I want to provide in a school supplies. That's what I've been doing so far. We you know, we've been reading thousands of shoes and school supplies in Adua and surrounding school and um for the future. I'm trying to get, you know, a delivery hospital because there isn't like women like they are not. It's it's it's a luxury to have shoes Indiopia or in developing country, it's a luxury to deliver and a hospital, you know. So I want I want to be in I want to open a delivery clinical hospital so the women can't have the chance to go to hospital and deliver. So that's the goal that I have so God willing, I hope it will happen. Well, we're running. We have our listeners go to to either learn more or to help assist and maybe potentially donate shoes or money or time. Where can we direct our all of our listeners. Yes, they can go to msy shoes dot com. It's my Shoes lushoes dot com. Okay, and all the information is there. If they have any you know, any question, they can m I am on ig Maguitarica. Any question you have, I would be there to answer. Okay, let me tell you something, Maggie. All right, the more you talk, the more mad I get. And I'm not mad at you. I am mad that this is the first time that we are learning about you. I mean to think where you've come from to now being on national television and they kept you hidden from us. I don't even care about, like, instead of learning about the fact that you are doing all the things that you said you were going to do, and then you're not forgetting where you come from and you're giving back to your community. You're not thinking about yourself. You're thinking about your people and where you come from and how you can help not just them, but in the surrounding areas and beyond. And we're over here learning about a woman who thinks she's a queen simply because she shares the same namesake as the Queen of England. I am living then the fact that they talked about you and said how great you are, which you are phenomenal, by the way, and told us that we were going to learn about you, and we didn't, and it was overshadowed by the silliest things. I'm enraged. Then you can't say this you know what I mean. You're still in a contract, so I'm gonna say it for you. I am enraged that you that we just didn't get to experience that, and I am and I know I speak Rebecca as well. I am so grateful to still a word from you, that we are able to have this opportunity to shine a light on you, what you're doing and other women like you. Like you said, you are representing a woman, a type of woman that I have yet to see. And I'm not well versed in Bachelor prior to my season that I have yet to see on this show. And you have so much to offer and you're so dynamic, and let this be a lesson that we need to see more stories like you. You know, I don't use you as a prop to tease the season over how what great women we have. If you're not going to give us these great women and there's stories and what it is that they're trying to build and better themselves and other people, I can keep going, but I'm not, but I am so grateful for this. Please tell us what it is that you're doing next. Um, you already told Becca, how you know we can we can help with what you're trying to do, but like, what's next for you other than greatness? That's kind of that's going for you, Maggie, nixt for me um personal, Like like with my personal I'm trying, you know, I'm trying to find my person someday and then have a family. But before that, while I'm doing that, you know, with the crowd situation, what's going on in my country. To be honest, I'm just I've been hiring hard time trying to do my personal thing, and I'm so far and I was able to hear about my family. They are okay, and that's the great thing. But I still have so much to do, you know, to help to feed the people and you know, as much as I can, and I'm trying to create more awareness on that and quiet to get more donations so that people can have food to eat. And if you know, when everything goes to normal in my back home, I will be more actively participating on finding my person because I know my person is out there and I am so excited to meet him. What a lucky man. Well, I'm going to say nothing but the best for our Maggie, because you truly, when I say you shine, you shine and you just need somebody to match you. And you know, like I don't want to say it was a blessing in disguise that it didn't work out with Matt, but like you're just so many big, better, more incredible God willing things to come your way. And again, like for our listeners, I want to urge anyone who can help out or can even just learn more and donate, please go to I know Maggie said it, but it's msyshoes dot org because I mean, we can all do our part to help this world. Like there's just so much nastiness going on in every country, every fast, every corner of the world, and so if we have incredible people like Maggie who is fighting hard to make it a little bit better, please do so. So everyone please go check it out. And maybe, like we ask all of our guests this, and I hate to even do it because we always ask like what's next? Would you potentially do a paradise? Would you be on the show again? And if that is something you wanted, would you say yes? Or are you kind of done with the franchise And would you rather find your mister right on your own terms? I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking about it. I'm still fighting, you know, with my culture. You know, that's one of the main things that keeps me, like I don't get used to like I never told mart how I feel about him. I never get to make out or anything with him, because in my culture it's not that easy. You know. I'm still fighting with that still in me, Like how am I gonna took a guy who I know talking to another woman. I'm still struggling, But I am thinking about it because you know, I really want to need my person. I don't freaking tell your ussy I'm because I'm so classy. I'm not gonna curse. But they better they better tell your story. They better let you because you Oh gosh, you're just You're I think you're amazing. Um what did and this just made me just think of this when you just said, you know, from your culture, like it's not you don't come from a place of like being the one to like talk about your feelings and you know being that and I understand that as well. But what did your family say when you said I'm gonna go on this show? Um? I know you, I know I came here to go to school and to become a pharmacist. But now I'm gonna go on this show they call The Bachelor, where I'm gonna be one of thirty something women dating one man. What what did your face say? Well, I didn't talk my I didn't talk to my family when I went there. No, none of them knew about it. I only told them, Hey, I would be away for a couple of months. I'm okay, I'm just taking a break. Don't worry about me. You know, if you need money already stend to you. Just don't worry. I will call you an I come back. That was it. Then when I went back and I called my mom, Hey, Mom, yam back. Everything is good. I'm gonna tell you, you know, have something to tell you. And before I talk to her, you know, the world happened and everything was shut down until until January. So when I get to talk to her, I told her, Hey, remember that time I told you I would be away for you know, over a month or so. Yeah, it's called the Bachelor. It's you know, you know, you will there to meet a guy. I didn't told her how many women. She will still kill me? I think I told her, Yeah, it's you know, find a guy. You know, to meet a man. Oh was he nice? Yeah? His brain nice. You know you know this guy that a kid he's told me is handsome? Is he Christians? Said? Yeah, it's Christian? Yeah, so how wasn't No, you know, I get to know him, so we just wes have different interests. So but yeah, it was really good. That's all she knows. She didn't watch this show yet. Hopefully one day I will sit with her and explain to her watch the show with her. So that's that's the goal. That's funny. No, I listen, I get it. People two on me going on the show. Either I should Yeah, I can't even. Oh my gosh, I mean, I mean, how many siblings do you have? Oh? Okay, we are a lot. I have one girl and um five brothers. Okay, big family. And are you and you're the very oldest? No, I am the middle. But yeah, but you know, being a girl, being in the middle, you're always the one who's taking care of the family. Yeah, act both sides. Yeah, yeah, do you I know It's it's a hard question to ask right now because we are still in the middle of this pandemic. But once the world opens up again, do you have any plans to go back to Ethiopia right away. Absolutely, I was gonna go there for on September. We celebrate nearly on in Ethiopia on September elevel, So my plan was good there and COVID happened and I didn't get a chance. So I scheduled my vacation for Journey Wary and Journey why the war happened. I was like, it was crazy two years and I'm hoping and when everything goes back to normal, I don't care that much about the vaccine because like I'm trying, you know, I would be careful using my knowledge and all that, but I'm worried more about the you know, the constitution happening in my country. When that things goes normal, I cannot wait to go home because I honestly miss my mom. And the last time I've been there was thousand seventh. That's that's that's a lot. Sometimes I feel like I can't always even like thinking like how much a news A yeah, I will both someday. Well, Maggie, I hope you make it back soon. Look coming from a girl, I haven't seen my mom since September, and I cannot even complain I can't even imagine having it be several years. So we hope that everything within your country alleviate soon that you can make it back and just hug and kiss and just soaking all of the time with your family. Before we let you go, we ask all of the contestants who have ever been on the show the same question, but overall from the season and the time that you were on, what was your rose and what was your thorn? So your highlight and low light of the season? Um, can you sad? The lowlight? Yeah, was me being stalker in the pumpkin. First of all, I didn't know how to swim, and you cannot put an African woman on the lake. I don't know how to do kayokee. It was my first time. I obviously, oh that was bright. I would have said after facu I would be like, nope, I was in the middle. I was in the middle of the lake and I don't know. I can't go back, I can't go front, and I'm looking back they coming. Nobody was coming to say how did you end up gidding out? That's a lot of people asking me. I try admit it to the front when I made it to you know, to the front. All the game was done, Bachelor Nation. I made it to the front, and it took me time to work my way, but I'm a first learner, so I made it. Thank you good for you say once again, did it? Did it? Give up? There you go, And you want to know why. You probably had the right idea good thing that you were start because you bypass all of the extra drama go going on. So you were just enjoying this nice little stroll paddle session by yourself. Yeah, and my eyes were being able, you know, to meet this amazing woman. Like we were sitting there talking to them about blog. I was happy gigually with all of them. Like I was like, I don't have anybody that I don't like. I was like I was friend this with all of them, even that I was so close with a couple of them because I connet so much, but I was friend this is all of them. I get to meet those amazing women, you know, hear their story like all the time. Wow, Like it's just something that I never thought I would be And you know, I get to make an amazing people and I have that friendship you know with me, and I'm very very grateful and I need to meet you both right now. She's amazing. Sorry, I'm happy. Oh those are too. But we are so hard that you're here. I mean it truly is our plan to have you on this podcast, to get the op money to talk to you. M Maggie. Thank you so much for being here and for being a part of bastur Nation. We hope that you are paving away and more people like you come on this show. Um. Yeah, we can't wait to see what you do. Admire you from a distance. Keep posting those fabulous modeling pictures. My goodness, a work of art. Yes, and thank you yeah yeah, thank you so much for me. Yes, Maggie, it has been having an absolute pleasure to get to learn your story and more about who you are. And please, like you have a friend in Rachel and I now like, please feel free to reach out to us if you ever need help, like we are here, like we are here to support you. You have friends in us, and I'm just so incredibly grateful that we've had this, you know, forty five minutes to finally sit down with you. Thank you, Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure, and I really think you a lot. We'll say in touch. Yeah, I will, I will. I love you both. We love you too. Make I want to hug you will. What's going to open up? Come out here? Look at me. I'm saying it now for the first time. I come out here. I never tell people because she doesn't. Usually it's me inviting people. And Rachel's like, gosh, dang it back and stop saying that. But Angel says it. She means it, thank you, thank you, good training too, all right, by bye? Why are we too? Oh again, I'm in rage. I don't even want to talk about it because it's it's a it's a damn shame. Now I curse because Ma's gone something about me. Didn't want a curse in front. I just know it's like her name means grace. We have to keep it together. Oh my gosh, I just like all I want to, like all that is going through my mind right now. It's just be still my heart, like, yeah, the world was robbed of learning her story and getting to know her, and it's so unfortunate. But I actually feel very grateful that you and I had the opportunity to be her first podcast and really sit down and now share with vater Nation this incredible, amazing woman, and I feel like those words don't even do her justice. Yeah, you know what it is, It's like we're living in a time. We're living in a world right now where things are so divided, things are so toxic, and if we're just and if I'm narrowing that down, just subastnation. You know, there's so much division. We don't know how the show is moving forward. There's so many people who are confused by the things that happened. They don't get it, they don't want to get it. And just to sit and have a conversation with Maggie, who talks about things in such a way where it's like, you're right, none of this matters except for the things that she's talking about. To hear her story, to hear how she came here, to hear the struggles that she had when she got here, but none of that defeated her. She allowed none of that to defeat her, and she just continued to keep going, to keep moving because she was grateful for the little things that she could appreciate that we take for granted every single day. And I hope that for all our batter happy, our listeners, that if you've got nothing else from this podcast, from this season, from batter Nation, just in general, in a really long time. I hope that you were able to at least take those nuggets in so many more away from this conversation that we had with Maggie. Yes, I mean, she is the epitome of just again living up her name grace and elegance and such a fighter and if you know, like it's so easy for us to get in our heads and to get down and to get frustrated over the tiniest, most minute stupid bs things in our life, and like her country is going through a war, like she has not seeing her family in almost four years, four three four years, and all of the other toxicity and just hate that's going on, especially within our country. Like the fact that she can smile and that she is still so grateful and can look at little things to make that doesn't matter, like what I'm doing, what I'm working for, like my purpose in life is what matters and doesn't let anything derail her. Is incredible. And I'm going to say one more time for all of our listeners, if you missed the first couple of times we said this, please go check out her nonprofit it is at MSY shoes dot org. And again, if you can donate money or shoes or whatever Maggie on the website is asking for, please go do So. I'm going to the second I hop off of this podcast because I think it's so important to help her and this incredible cause. So, I mean, I feel like, how do we talp that? How do we talk like this incredible outstanding? I don't know, like I don't know who our guests next. You don't try to, Nope, you just let it sit there and let people soak it in. Yeah, you don't, you know exactly, y'all go donate. Yeah, Beck and I are donating. I'm literally on the website right now. So yeah, yeah, I mean I think with that, just to let it sit and soak in and stop listening to me ramble on. So you can go check out Maggie's Instagram and her nonprofit. But you, guys, thank you again for another week hanging out with us. We're happy to be back together and in the swing of things as a duo. As always, you guys, please keep writing to us and letting us know your thoughts, comments, concerns, any guests you want to have on in the future. We're here, we will listen, and we will go from there and I can't wait to be back again next week. And in the meantime, if you don't know where to find us on social media, it is at Batch or Happy Hour on Instagram and at Batch Happy Hour on both Facebook and Twitter. And if you never want to miss another episode, an incredible episode like this one, please subscribe to our podcasts and you can do that through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the Wandering App, or wherever you are listening to us right now. Thank you, guys for listening in on this Tuesday, and thank you so much Maggie for joining us. Yes, hi, hi, guys.