The Juan Pablocalypse ravaged ABC Monday night, but some lucky folks escaped unscathed — including Sharleen Joynt, opera singer, mundo-possessor, and all-around shockingly levelheaded former contestant from the show’s 18th season. I sat down to talk with Sharleen before the finale to find out about the difficulties of making a “cerebral connection” on reality TV, her relationship with the other women in the house, and just how much of her and Juan Pablo’s relationship consisted of making out on yachts. Plus, she answers perhaps the most pressing question of all: Why did she leave the show so damn quietly?

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