IN CONVERSATION WITH JUSTIN GLAZE

interview by JANA LETONJA

Justin Glaze has never been content with being defined by a single title. While audiences first got to know him on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, he’s steadily built a career that stretches far beyond reality television. An accomplished visual artist, entrepreneur and now actor, Justin has transformed his creativity into multiple ventures, from founding the premium espresso martini brand Love Potion to making his feature film debut in the upcoming holiday romantic comedy All for Love. Whether he’s painting murals, developing a brand identity or stepping onto a film set, Justin approaches every project with the same artistic eye and entrepreneurial spirit.

all photography by NATALIE J

Many people first met you through The Bachelor franchise, but your career has evolved in so many directions since then. How do you define yourself today?

Many people may not know, but my career actually started in finance. However, at my core, I'm a creative. Whether I'm painting, developing a campaign for a brand, building Love Potion, acting, or producing content, I'm drawn to creating experiences that people can resonate with. The Bachelor franchise definitely opened a door I'm incredibly grateful for, but what excites me most now is building things that exist because of my own ideas, creativity, and the path I’m trying to carve for myself.

Looking back, how did reality television change your life—for better and for worse?

Reality television gave me opportunities I always dreamed of, but didn’t always think were within my reach. It introduced me to an audience, opened doors professionally, and ultimately gave me the freedom to pursue creative projects and start businesses that I probably wouldn't have had the confidence or resources to chase otherwise. For that, I’m extremely grateful.

At the same time, it definitely helped me develop thicker skin. Millions of people form opinions based on an edited version of who you are through a screen and you have very little control over that narrative. Early on, I felt a lot of pressure to live up to other people's expectations, but over time I realized the most important thing you can do is to be authentic to who you are and know that you can never please everybody, and that’s okay. The experience made me less concerned with how I'm perceived and more focused on building a life and career that feels true to me.

You are currently successfully transitioned into acting. What inspired you to take that leap, and what did you learn from your first feature film experience?

Acting felt like a natural extension of what I've always loved about storytelling. Whether it's creating content, painting, or building a brand, I've always been drawn to finding different ways to connect with people. Acting gives me another medium to explore that.

My first feature film experience was incredibly humbling. Acting is definitely a craft that requires patience, preparation, and a willingness to keep learning. It also reminded me how much I enjoy being challenged creatively. Stepping into an entirely new environment pushed me outside my comfort zone, and those are usually the moments where I've experienced the most growth.

Acting, painting, entrepreneurship—they all require creativity. Do they satisfy different parts of you, or are they all connected?

To me, they're all different expressions, but have an underlying connection. Whether I'm acting, painting, creating content, or building Love Potion, I love the challenge of taking an idea that exists only in my head and bringing it to life.

The difference lies in the process of each. Painting is probably the most personal to me. It's quiet, intuitive, therapeutic, and something I do almost entirely for myself. Acting is collaborative and requires you to step into someone else's perspective. Entrepreneurship is creativity with unique constraints. You're constantly balancing artistic vision with real world execution. At their core, they're all rooted in storytelling. Each one gives me a different way to create something that resonates with people and I think that's the common thread connecting everything I do.

Visual art has always been a huge part of your identity. How would you describe your artistic style, and what inspires your work?

My style has definitely evolved over time. I started out doing a lot of realism because I was really interested in challenging myself to recreate exactly what I saw. As I've grown as an artist, I've become much more drawn to contemporary and abstract work. I like creating pieces that are a little bolder and more interpretive, rather than trying to make something look exactly like a photograph.

A lot of my inspiration comes from everyday things like travel, fashion, interior design, people, life, and personal experiences. Painting has become a way for me to experiment and keep pushing myself creatively, so I try not to box myself into one style. I like letting my work evolve as I do.

As the founder of Love Potion, you were involved not only in developing the product but also the branding and design. How important was it for the company to reflect your artistic vision?

It was incredibly important because I never wanted Love Potion to feel like just another beverage on the shelf. I wanted it to feel like a brand people wanted to be a part of. I was involved in everything from the packaging design and color palette to the overall creative direction because I wanted every detail to reflect the same aesthetic I've always been drawn to.

My background in art definitely influenced that process. I think people connect with brands that feel intentional. For me, great design is just as important as a great product. The goal was to create something that looked elevated and timeless. I wanted to create something you'd be proud to leave out on your bar cart.

Building a business is very different from building a personal brand. What has entrepreneurship taught you about yourself?

Entrepreneurship has taught me that passion is only the starting point. You can have a great idea, but turning it into a real business takes resilience, patience, and a willingness to solve problems every single day. I've learned that there's a huge difference between creating something and sustaining it. Each with it’s unique challenges.

It's also made me realize how much I enjoy those challenges. Building a brand from the ground up has forced me to become more adaptable, more resourceful, and much more comfortable with uncertainty. There are definitely highs and lows, but seeing an idea that started in my head become a product on store shelves has been incredibly rewarding and makes all of it worth it.

You’ve taken several risks throughout your career. Has there ever been a moment when you questioned whether you were making the right decision?

Absolutely. I think any time you choose an unconventional path, there's going to be moments where you question it. Leaving a stable corporate career, stepping into the public eye, starting a business, pursuing acting were all things that came without any guarantees.

What I've learned is that uncertainty doesn't necessarily mean you're making the wrong decision. In fact, some of the best opportunities in my life came from taking calculated risks before I felt completely ready. I've stopped waiting for certainty and started trusting that if I'm willing to put in the work, I'll figure things out along the way. Looking back, every decision that felt the most intimidating also ended up shaping my life in the biggest ways. As cliché as it may sound, I have really leaned on the belief that everything in life happens for a reason. Trusting in that belief is a big part of what has gotten me to this point.

You’re constantly creating, whether on canvas, on screen or in business. What keeps you motivated to keep evolving?

I've always been someone who's happiest when I'm learning something new or embarking on a new experience. I’m always up for a new challenge and that's a big part of what keeps things exciting for me.

I also don't like the idea of being defined by one facet of my life. Whether it's acting, painting, entrepreneurship, or creating content, I enjoy pushing myself in each of those areas to be the best I can be. I want to be someone who is constantly evolving. Again, it can be uncomfortable, but that's usually where the most growth happens.

As you enter this new phase of your career, what kind of legacy do you hope to build—not just professionally, but creatively?

I hope people see someone who wasn't afraid to try different things and fully commit to them. I've never believed that you have to fit into one lane. If anything, the most rewarding parts of my career have come from my willingness to start over, learn something new, and take creative risks.

More than anything, I hope the things I create, whether it's a painting, a film, a brand, or a piece of content, resonate with viewers, feel thoughtful and leave a lasting impression. Success is great, but I also want to be remembered as someone who created things with intention and inspired other people to bet on themselves, and pursue the ideas they can't stop thinking about.