E929 – Going Deeper with Lexi Wood

Summary

The Viall Files - Episode E929: Going Deeper with Lexi Wood (Released May 7, 2025)

Hosts: Nick Viall, Natalie Joy, and the Household
Guest: Lexi Wood

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1. Introduction

In episode E929 of The Viall Files, host Nick Viall welcomes Lexi Wood for a candid and in-depth conversation. The episode delves into Lexi's journey in the modeling industry, her experience on the reality show Summer House, and the complexities of her relationships within the show.

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2. Lexi Wood’s Background and Entry into Reality TV

Lexi Wood opens up about her extensive experience in the modeling industry, starting at the age of 11. She shares how she met Amanda, a key figure on Summer House, through a brand event in the Hamptons, which eventually led to her casting on the show.

Lexi Wood [02:23]: "I have been in the industry since I was 11... Amanda actually asked me that night. She was like, would you ever go on, like, this show that I do?"

Lexi discusses the casting process, emphasizing the relaxed expectations set by Bravo, allowing her to be authentic without rigid storylines.

Lexi Wood [03:04]: "They literally just let us be. They wanted to see if your personality would fit with everybody else in the house."

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3. Insights into the Modeling Industry

Lexi provides a deep dive into the modeling world, highlighting both its glamour and challenges. She reflects on the industry's historical emphasis on specific physiques and the gradual shift towards inclusivity.

Lexi Wood [17:56]: "There’s always room for growth in every industry, especially modeling... I love how the industry really is being more open to different bodies and different everything being different is now celebrated."

She also discusses the power dynamics within modeling agencies, particularly concerning visas and self-advocacy.

Lexi Wood [18:56]: "Agents do hold your immigration against you because they sponsor your visa... models don't get enough credit. Sometimes we have to be our own lawyers, we have to own businesses."

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4. Setting Boundaries and Personal Growth

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Lexi's commitment to authenticity and setting personal boundaries both in modeling and her personal relationships.

Lexi Wood [14:49]: "I feel like with modeling, you do fit in a box of what other people put on you... I'm so lucky that I feel like I've been able to share more of that on the reality space."

Lexi emphasizes the importance of reading contracts and self-education for young models, highlighting her own experiences with restrictive contracts.

Lexi Wood [24:04]: "Read contracts. Put it through ChatGPT if you need to... Educate yourself."

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5. Experiences on Summer House: Relationships and Challenges

Lexi delves into her relationships on Summer House, particularly focusing on her relationship with Jesse and the ensuing drama. She candidly discusses feeling manipulated and gaslit by Jesse, recounting specific incidents that strained her trust.

Lexi Wood [46:32]: "I feel like Jesse manipulated every single person in the house... I was like, okay, maybe I am something that I should put weight into."

She narrates how Jesse's behavior led to feelings of isolation and confusion, impacting her interactions with other cast members.

Lexi Wood [55:11]: "I really felt like that was a turning point for our relationship... He couldn't keep up with what he says because it's all over the place."

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6. Navigating Public Relationships and Respect

Lexi addresses her past public relationships, emphasizing respect and understanding towards her exes. She maintains a positive stance, wishing well for those she has dated.

Lexi Wood [30:02]: "I really just want to move respectfully for everyone that I've dated... I want them to move on. I'm like, go."

She discusses the delicate balance of maintaining friendships with ex-partners while setting necessary boundaries to protect her well-being.

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7. Advice for Aspiring Models and Individuals in the Industry

Towards the end of the episode, Lexi offers valuable advice to young women entering the modeling world. She stresses the importance of self-advocacy, understanding contractual obligations, and maintaining personal integrity.

Lexi Wood [24:04]: "Put it through ChatGPT if you need to... Speak up. Redline contracts when you feel like something isn't aligning with you."

She encourages models to assert their boundaries and seek support from trusted individuals to navigate the industry's complexities.

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8. Concluding Thoughts and Future Endeavors

Lexi concludes the conversation by expressing her desire to return to Summer House to share more of her authentic self and continue setting positive examples for viewers. She highlights her upcoming projects, including a podcast with her family and a lingerie collection launch.

Lexi Wood [93:36]: "I'm coming out with my lingerie collection with Hanky Panky this fall... I'm so excited for everything."

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Notable Quotes

• Lexi Wood [02:10]: "I always lead with being fun and nice, but also, don't mess with me."
• Lexi Wood [17:56]: "There’s always room for growth in every industry, especially modeling."
• Lexi Wood [24:04]: "Read contracts. Educate yourself."
• Lexi Wood [46:32]: "I feel like Jesse manipulated every single person in the house."
• Lexi Wood [55:11]: "I really felt like that was a turning point for our relationship."
• Lexi Wood [93:36]: "I'm coming out with my lingerie collection with Hanky Panky this fall."

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Conclusion

Episode E929 of The Viall Files offers a comprehensive and honest look into Lexi Wood's life, both within the modeling industry and her time on Summer House. Through her narratives, listeners gain insight into the challenges of maintaining authenticity, setting boundaries, and navigating complex relationships in the public eye. Lexi's experiences serve as valuable lessons for individuals aspiring to enter similar industries, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, integrity, and resilience.

Transcript

[Nick Viall]

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[Lexi Wood]

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[Nick Viall]

You're crazy. Lexi. Welcome to the Vile Files.

[Lexi Wood]

Thanks so much for having me.

[Nick Viall]

We're so excited to have you.

[Natalie Viall]

So excited.

[Lexi Wood]

I'm so excited.

[Natalie Viall]

Especially after the last couple episodes of Summer House. We absolutely. Mic drop dominated.

[Nick Viall]

So, so much to get into.

[Lexi Wood]

So much.

[Nick Viall]

I didn't really know what to expect. You know, when you came on this season, you know.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Because like this, it's been. It's such a mature show. It's been on for so long that I think me, I kind of had low expectations of just not. Not you. But just like anyone was like, okay, like, maybe I'm just gonna, you know. Well, who was the other girl who came?

[Lexi Wood]

Bailey.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. Well, those were kind of my expectations. But man, I really enjoyed you. Like, I really, I really have. Yeah. You've been like a really pleasant surprise addition to this cast.

[Lexi Wood]

Thank you.

[Nick Viall]

And like, drama aside with Jesse, which we'll get into and sorry you have to go through.

[Lexi Wood]

Thank you.

[Nick Viall]

It has been like, fun to watch and like Natalie said, just like you were popping off and I just really appreciate how you handle yourself.

[Lexi Wood]

I really appreciate that. Yeah, I think that it's really important. Like, I am definitely fun and nice and I always lead with that. But also, don't mess with me.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

First, I mean, you gotta ask, like, how did you end up on the show? How does someone in your shoes end up on a show like this? But again, like a very seasoned, mature cast.

[Lexi Wood]

So I have been in the industry since I was 11 and I actually ended up meeting Amanda a couple years ago just through like a brand event. We Sat next to each other and immediately bonded. Ironically, was in the Hamptons. And so she actually asked me that night. She was like, would you ever go on, like, this show that I do? And at the time, I didn't know anyone else on it, or so I was like, maybe if I naturally met other people. We'll see where the universe brings us. And then the. Like, last year at this time, I got the call to cast, and I, in the meantime, had met Sierra out, Paige out. So I felt like I had a little bit more of, like, familiar faces.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

And what are those conversations like, with Bravo when, again, like, this isn't, like, a new show. It's not like, you know, everyone's new. Like, do they talk about, like, storylines or just like. Like, how you want to carry yourself in this environment? Like, what were their expectations?

[Lexi Wood]

Literally, just let us be. Which I think is really cool. In the casting, they say, okay, like, who do you know in Bravo? Even, like, in Housewives or anyone. Like, who. Who are you connected to? I know a couple of the housewives as well, so I feel like it's nice to kind of have them to lean on. If I need any advice, like, friends.

[Nick Viall]

You're friends with some housewives? Which ones?

[Lexi Wood]

Jessel.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

I feel like she honestly has been like, her and I met before. I even casted for Summer House. So when she found out I was on Summer House, she's like, girl, why didn't you call me? She was so sweet. And then you just kind of like being in New York. I think that you just always run into everyone. So that was really nice. And then, Yeah, I don't think that they really didn't say much. They just had a couple castings where you meet different people, and they're very long castings. You just kind of sit and talk for an hour, and then they just see if your personality would go with everybody else in the house, I guess.

[Nick Viall]

Like, after you met with them. Because I always remember, like, when I first went on reality tv, in that casting process, you kind of get a. A sense whether they're feeling you or whether they're not feeling you. Did you feel like you were gonna get the call and have them ask you to join the show?

[Lexi Wood]

It's funny because I feel like being a model for so long, I just never assume I have anything. So I was like, there's no way. Like, there's just. I don't know. I'm just doing these couple castings, and each casting process was. They'd be like, a month in between each meeting.

[Natalie Viall]

Oh, wow.

[Lexi Wood]

So I really had no idea.

[Natalie Viall]

Were you kind of reaching out to Amanda, being like, hey, I just finished one. Do you know anything? Cause I haven't heard from them in a month.

[Lexi Wood]

It's funny. I didn't. I didn't even want to. Like, I was like, oh, who knows? Like, oh, I don't. I don't know if I'm even gonna get it.

[Nick Viall]

Like, how bad did you want it? Were you, like, pretty, like, as you went through, like, oh, I want it more and more, or were you just like, you know, again? I remember when I first got asked, it was like, well, I've never been to la, so I'll go do that. Like, I'm never gonna do this, but I'll just kind of go. And, like, they kept asking me to come back, and the more I went, the more I was like, maybe I actually might do it. And I felt myself wanting it as I got down the casting process. Like, how. How are your feelings about it going in?

[Lexi Wood]

I definitely think, like, you. I wanted it more and more every time, but I also just was completely leaving it up to the universe. I was like, you know what? Whatever I'm supposed to do, my path is my path. Whether I get it or not, it's still, like, I still do know Amanda outside the house. Like, it's not like I'm all of a sudden not gonna know any of these people. I'll probably run into them or whatever. So I really was just. Whatever my path was, I was like, that's gonna be for me. That's why when I did get the call, I was so excited, and I really, like, wasn't expecting it. And they were just like, yeah, we. We totally see you fitting in so well. Like, we want that sunshine energy. And I was like, I can do it. Yeah, I was.

[Natalie Viall]

So did you watch the show before?

[Lexi Wood]

I hadn't really watched it. I only tuned into a couple episodes just to kind of get the gist of what is going on, but I didn't want to know too much. I'm like, the type of person where I just wanted to know. I know, but that's also, like, smart.

[Natalie Viall]

And, like, because switching gear, like, the Valley, you have Janet, who is, like, clearly a fan of Vanderpump. And so whenever she, like, has issues with Kristen, she's like, oh, crazy Kristen. And it's like, you only know that because you watched it on tv, not because you were, like, during that time. So, like, yeah, that's honestly smart, because you might have been like, Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

I didn't want any preconceived ideas of anyone, and I genuinely just wanted everyone to kind of come at me how they felt they wanted to or open up to me with what they wanted to. So it was really just an authentic friendship instead of me having any ideas of anyone.

[Natalie Viall]

That's smart. What did your mom and sister say when you were like, I got this. I'm going on tv.

[Lexi Wood]

They are so supportive. My entire family, like, they've always been so supportive with my career, and they're always like, okay, like, look it, if you want to do this, that's amazing. We'll support you how we can and be there for you. And definitely, especially this summer, they were there for me a lot because obviously there was so much confusion. I'd come home and be like, guys, what the hell is going on right now? So, yeah, they were amazing.

[Natalie Viall]

Oh, that's so nice.

[Nick Viall]

Who gave you the warmest welcome? Like, I guess once you found out you're on the show, did you hear from cast, like, Amanda saying, oh, I'm glad you're on it? And then I guess whenever you started filming, who gave you the warmest welcome and who gave you maybe the coldest shoulder?

[Lexi Wood]

So Amanda and I got drinks before we even went into the house, and she was like, obviously amazing. She's like, oh, my God. We were literally yelling down the street like, I love you. So excited. And then the warmest welcome, obviously, because Amanda knew I was going in and Kyle knew I was going in. Kyle was great. He called me before and was just giving me, like, a pep talk, running me through how things kind of work. And then Lindsay. Lindsay was the warmest. Immediately she just came. Yes. She came over to me and hugged me immediately. And I don't know, there's just something about her that was so warm with me right away.

[Natalie Viall]

It has been nice to see that. Lindsay's like, it's nice to see.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

She hasn't been activated in a while. Were there any cold shoulders?

[Lexi Wood]

I think originally, no.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Stepping away from summer house just for a second. Just more like you personally. I didn't even realize you're Canadian.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. Toronto.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

How long you been living in the States?

[Lexi Wood]

So I originally moved to America when I was 17. I moved to Miami and then LA and then New York and then back to LA and then Paris and then London.

[Nick Viall]

And you lived in Paris?

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Nick Viall]

How long did you live in Paris for?

[Lexi Wood]

Only a couple months, because it was the first place that I ever moved with modeling.

[Natalie Viall]

Were you in a Model's apartment.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes, but in Europe, it's different. You kind of, like, live with a host. So then I ended up moving out of that apartment within, like, the first 24 hours and just getting my own kind of modeling.

[Nick Viall]

Sounds a lot like an orphanage, honestly.

[Lexi Wood]

It kind of is.

[Natalie Viall]

I feel like you, like, move from, like, house to house, and you live with, like, a bunch of people that you don't really know, and you're like, yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Like, what did you call the fan? Like a.

[Lexi Wood]

It's. It's a host.

[Nick Viall]

A host.

[Lexi Wood]

A host. Yeah. But I was really lucky because I was. Because I was 17. My sister went to Paris with me because I technically wasn't allowed to travel that far by myself. So she came to Paris with me, and that was really fun to navigate that together. But when we told our parents, I think it was like, I have to. I think it was, like, a week. I was like, so we're gonna move to Paris next week. And it was the day of my 17th birthday that we ended up moving. And my parents were like, okay, look at. We support you again with whatever. I don't think my mom slept at all. Poor girl. Obviously, she's like, I'm a mother. I need to be awake at all times.

[Natalie Viall]

If you're awake, especially with the time difference. She was like, you're awake and I'm asleep. I can't do it.

[Lexi Wood]

We're, like, going to set. And. Yeah, it was crazy. But I remember my modeling agency, like, handed me a subway map this first second that I land. They were like, you have a casting in one hour. Figure it out. And I was like, okay.

[Natalie Viall]

Honestly, it's like they feed you to the wolves.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Natalie Viall]

So did you. You had an agency in Miami. And then they were like, we want you to sign with someone in Paris. Like, go see this agency. Or were they like, you have a job there. Like, go.

[Lexi Wood]

I had an agency in Toronto.

[Natalie Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

And then agents from all over the world would fly in and do, like, a casting with all the models that were in the agency, and then they would just sign you one by one if they liked you. So when I was younger, they signed me pretty much immediately in, like, Paris, New York, Germany. Miami, Louisiana. Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

That's crazy.

[Lexi Wood]

It was so fun.

[Nick Viall]

Was this.

[Lexi Wood]

Well, I started at 11. I'm 27 now. Yeah. And then I started kind of doing, like, the traveling and moving out when I was 17. So 10 years ago.

[Nick Viall]

When in the modeling industry, is there like, certain, like, aspirations or goals of, like, you know, I mean, you have, you know, the title Supermodel. I don't. I don't know if there's, like, this official stamp. I don't know who decides that. I don't know if it's, like, a label, but, like, yeah, when you got into it, like, what were. What were you hoping to get out of it? Obviously, you know, paychecks obviously can be nice and things like that, but what were your, like, biggest dreams when you got into modeling?

[Lexi Wood]

Well, it's funny, because the pay. The paychecks, they are nice, but when I was, like, 18, I lived off $50 a week, and I literally. In my model apartment, I slept in the kitchen with another model on, like, daybeds. So it's. The paychecks can be nice, but also, you have to put in, like, a lot of hard work, and you're living with strangers, and so it can also be kind of rough. But my dreams were, like, Victoria's Secret, angel, Marc Jacobs campaigns, Sports Illustrated, and. Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

What's the job that you're most proud of booking?

[Lexi Wood]

Honestly, I don't even think that I can pick at this point, because I'm so lucky. I am such an open person. I really believe that, like, everybody that I meet, I'm like, you're part of my family now. And so every single job is just such an honor. And, like, I feel like I never have a moment where I'm like, oh, my God, pinch. Like. Like, oh, my God, pinch me. I can't believe that I get to do this another day. And I can't believe that I've had so much, like, longevity in this industry. There's literally not one job that I'm like, that was better than another for me because I'm just so lucky. And I'm so short, which was difficult.

[Nick Viall]

I'm so short. I'm a model.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Nick Viall]

Okay. Yeah. How tall are you? I think I actually have in my.

[Lexi Wood]

Notes here, five, six, give or take, on a good day with these shoes on, when I had my protein, when I'm standing.

[Natalie Viall]

So I. I, at 15, dropped out of high school and moved to New York to try to be a model. Was nowhere near as successful as you have been, but it forces you to grow up so fast because you really are like. Like you said, they give you a map, and they're like, figure it out. And, yeah, it's like, I came from Alabama, and they're like, okay, yep, here's a subway station. Like, learn how to get to soho from Harlem. And I'm like, I don't know what I'm Doing and it really does forces you to grow up fast. Did you feel like that as well?

[Lexi Wood]

I definitely feel like so. Because I. My peers were always adults, so whether it was the creative director, the stylist, they were always so much older than me. So I definitely feel like it made me grow up fast in some ways. But my parents were always so great because, like, I could always go back home and they were never, they never really put pressure on me. They're like, look at, at the end of the day, like, we support you in whatever you want to do. But there's definitely situations where you're like, okay, like most kids when they're 17 are like annoyed that their parents aren't getting them the newest iPhone. And I'm like, okay, when am I paying? Yeah, yeah, when's my paycheck's coming in? Dealing with immigration, like dealing with lawyers and doing all this stuff where, yeah, most 17 year olds don't have to deal with that.

[Natalie Viall]

They're not. That's how I felt too.

[Nick Viall]

How old are you now?

[Lexi Wood]

Am I 27.

[Nick Viall]

Okay, 27. And in model years, how that. Do you feel like this is you transitioning, going from like a career in modeling to like maybe something else in reality TV or TV in general, or are you still very much in modeling space? And I am curious because, like, obviously reality tv, you know, now more than ever, it's definitely gotten. I always said, like going on reality for me was like, you get incredible access and no credibility. It's just like everyone's very fascinated about reality TV and wants to ask you questions you'll get in rooms that you would may not get into, but in ter, but like, they almost kind of see you as like this caricature or they're kind of fascinated with you. I do think the industry has gotten a lot more credibility in terms of like, variety, you know, like variety did the like 40 most powerful women in reality TV a couple years ago and things like that. But do you feel like it's impacted your modeling career at all now that you're putting your life on display in reality tv? Because, like, there are some industries, like, who frown upon stuff like that or do you feel like it's only helped you?

[Lexi Wood]

I feel like it hasn't affected either.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

Like, give or take. I feel like a couple years ago when I started working with my mom and sister and I felt like that was like kind of my time to be more in the other end of the industry where I'm coming up with the lingerie collection in collaboration with Hanky panky. And I'm doing more of the business side of it as well. Yeah. So I feel like, honestly, it's hasn't. I haven't noticed a big difference if it's impacted me in a positive or negative. But either way, I'm so lucky for this opportunity because I do feel like there is something. I actually am just so, like, normal and relatable and like, I love sharing that side of me. I love sharing that you can be really soft, but also really, really strong. I love sharing so many different, like, parts of me where I think modeling is so one dimensional and it's great. And I'm. I'm so lucky for all of those opportunities, but there's so much more to me and I have so much personality and so much to give that I'm really lucky that I feel like I've been able to share more of that on the reality space.

[Nick Viall]

That's awesome.

[Natalie Viall]

I think Kate Moss maybe famously said it, but like, she was. I think she said, I get paid not to speak. And it's like models who. It's like, you're not here for your opinion. Like, you're here to look pretty. So I'm sure, like, yeah. To be able to show that side of you on television and have so many young women, like, relate to you and take inspiration from you and you, like, that must be. That must feel really powerful.

[Lexi Wood]

It does. And I feel like I'm in this space in my life right now where that's really what I'm craving. Like, I'm craving connection. I'm craving to actually have people be like, oh, wait, I see myself in her. And I feel like with modeling, you do fit in a box of what other people put on you. They're like, okay, you're going to be this type of model whether you like it or not. Like, that's who you are in our heads and there's no way that you're going to get out of that. Whereas when I started working with my mom and sister as well, I feel like that was the first time in my industry, in my career, and that I felt like I actually had a voice in who I am and the image of myself that I want to put out and what jobs. Like, I remember saying no to jobs because it just wasn't authentic. And at the end of the day I'm like, my name is who I am. And if I'm lying all the time and just being like, okay, yeah, give me this job for a paycheck, where is that authenticity? And that just didn't feel good with me. But then my agents would get so upset at me, like, what do you mean you're turning down this money? Because it's not authentic? And I'm like, okay, well, it's not authentic, so I'm not doing it. But now with my mom and sister, I feel like it's the first time in my career where I actually have a voice. And they're like, no, we respect that you have boundaries, and we respect that you have this authenticity that you want to make sure is always, like, taken.

[Natalie Viall]

So the response to that has been good. Like, your agents have now been like, oh, wow, okay. Yeah. No. 100.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. Yeah. So it's been such a blessing.

[Nick Viall]

The modeling industry, obviously, over the years, especially recently, has, like, gotten a lot of scrutiny for, you know, it's certain practices, like shows. Like, what was the. Which one was Tyra Briggs? America's Next. America's Next Top Model, like, obviously had a lot of scrutiny about the industry. Like, how have. You know, as someone who's been working in it for so long, what are things that you have seen change for the good? And what are some areas where you would like to see the industry still make some progress?

[Lexi Wood]

I mean, I think that there's always room for growth in every industry, I think, especially modeling, because it is so based on your looks and based on fitting in these boxes. I love how the industry really is being more open to different bodies and different. Like, everything being different is now celebrated. I feel like when I first started, there was always, like, if you weren't 5, 9, and, like, a supermodel, then you were not going to be picked very often. I remember once in Paris, they lined us all up, and they were like. They just ripped us apart. They were like, okay, your ears are too big, you're too short, that you're. You're this, you're that, like, just ripped us all apart. And then they're like, okay, well, I guess you can get the job. Because, like, it was like, you fit into whatever image they had, which makes a lot of sense, because at the end of the day, models are supposed to be, like, almost like a blank canvas. And I do understand it, but I definitely have been loving the industry just being more accepting in general. I mean, yeah, again, there's so many more changes that 100% could be made. And I think just having girls feel like they have a voice, feel like they have the strength, because for me, I was really privileged that I was just from Canada. But there's also so Many girls that don't speak English that have all these things where we would all live together in model apartments. And agents do hold your immigration against you because they sponsor your visa. So even for me, if I didn't do what my agents wanted me to do or fall in line, they would threaten my immigration. So there was, like, a lot of things. And again, I'm so lucky that I have family support. I have. I had everything. But at the end of the day, they could still take away my immigration at any point. So that was definitely, like, a turning point for me a couple years ago when I was like, this is not fair, and I sat down with my immigration lawyer, and then we ended up being able to sponsor my visa without an agency. And then that's when I started working with my mom and sister. We got them visas, and now it's. I. I'm just so passionate about making sure that models feel like, no, you have choices.

[Natalie Viall]

Is there, like, a part of you that wants to, like, sneak back into a model's apartment in Paris and be like, I'm gonna help you. Let me just. Like, this is what you need to do? It's funny.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. I feel like I'm so the type of person where I want to, like, put everybody under my wing. I'm like, okay, come here, chickens. Let's go. Yeah. Like, especially because you can only really ever see where people are coming from if you've been in that position. That's, like, how your brain chemistry literally works. So being able to understand all these young girls and, like, what they're going through. It's funny, because I started an agency with my mom and sister, and I'm the guinea pig right now. But that was always the goal. Like, who knows in the future, if we do take on other models and we do actually do ethical practices, it's crazy to think, but who knows? That could be something in the future that I would be super passionate about.

[Nick Viall]

Certainly. I think it's been this way primarily in the past. I don't know how much it has changed, but a lot of the photographers in the modeling industry seem to be male.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

I'm curious. Have you seen that change over the years? And two, have you ever been, like, put in a position by a photographer who, like, you got the vibe, like, more a photographer because he wanted to be around models as opposed to a photographer who was there for the art?

[Lexi Wood]

Interesting. So I definitely have shot with a lot more women, which has been amazing. I feel like even just we understand how each other, like, moves in the Body and the chemistry. And so that's always great. I've definitely been on set with photographers where they're like, okay, perfect, now clothes are coming off. And I'm like, no, they're not.

[Natalie Viall]

Like, I feel like this would look better with maybe the shirt off.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. But I think I've always been so strong in my boundaries that I have no problem being like, no, I'm good on that.

[Nick Viall]

Like, do you feel like other models, for whatever reason, have struggled with enforcing those boundaries because they feel like they're in a position.

[Natalie Viall]

Women in general.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. Like, you have this, you know, photographers are kind of in a power position in that kind of environment. And then you mentioned, like, agencies, like holding, you know, things like visas or. Or just like, I guess just representation in general. I mean, like, whether it's someone who's out of the country or not, they can simply say, we're, you know, if you don't do this, we're. You're gonna. We're not gonna rep you.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. Or like the bait and switch, where an, like, a client will ask for. This happened to me all the time. A client would ask to book me, and then they'd be like, oh, Lexi's not available, but you should book this person. And then they'll do it again, like a couple times just to get a couple more girls in front of them because they know that the client really wanted to book me. And then finally they'll give them me. Even though I was really just sitting at home waiting for people to book me. They do the bait and switch all the time. And I feel like that's another aspect where as like a young person in the industry, you honestly, models don't get enough credit. Sometimes we have to be our own lawyers, we have to own businesses. We have to, like, we have to just really be such, like, well rounded adults. And sometimes it is at such young ages. And again, I'm so lucky that I had support where I could call my parents or get a second opinion on something. But, like, we really do have to know a lot about different parts of the industry. And I do feel like sometimes that is a struggle for younger models to know that they have a voice and be okay to use it. Because I know that I've always been the type of person. I got into modeling because I was so shy. And I do feel like as time as I grew up, I did realize that, like, saying no is okay. You can say that you're uncomfortable. You can say, I remember one time I got my leg burned on set And I was just too scared to like, say, you're burning my leg. So I just let it happen. Or I sat in like a bed of fire ants on set in Cuba and I just kept sitting there. Cause I was too shy to be like, hey, yeah, I'm getting eaten alive here. And I feel like my legs are on fire.

[Natalie Viall]

I'd like to move.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, I would like to move from this position. I was like, did we get the shot? Okay, perfect. I'm so happy. So, yeah, I think that young models are more intimidated to speak up for themselves.

[Nick Viall]

So in addition to speaking up more, if there were a young woman, you know, thinking about modeling or early in their career, listening, like, what. What is some advice you would give to them that you wish you would have an opportunity to have someone give to you in your earlier days?

[Lexi Wood]

I think first and foremost, read contracts. Put it through ChatGPT if you need to. Especially now that we have that. That's even better. When I was growing up, I didn't have that. So I was really just putting a lot of faith in other people. But I would say no, like, educate yourself. Because as much as modeling is so fun, you get to travel the world, you get to do all these great things. It is lonely. It is a really big. You have to know what you're signing. Because at the end of the day, you sign contracts for three plus years to an agency and you are stuck in that. You cannot leave that. Or you do have to get lawyers involved and get. It turns into a huge mess. So read the contracts thoroughly. Speak up. Redline contracts when you feel like something isn't aligning with you. If you want more freedom, write your own contracts. Maybe make them sign a contract back. Because I actually ended up doing that with one of my last agencies. I was like, I'll sign a contract. But also I'm putting a clause in there that I can get out at any time. Because at the end of the day, like, I have signed contracts where I can't. And then you're stuck in this limbo for three years and yeah, you're stuck. There's nothing that you can do. It's a legally bounding contract.

[Nick Viall]

They'll. Even if they don't want to use you, they'll just hold. They'll hold the rights to you, right?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

Because you can't go anywhere else.

[Nick Viall]

You can't go anywhere else.

[Lexi Wood]

And they own your likeness, they own your image, they own everything. So read your contracts, get a second opinion, whether it's a family member or a friend. Or anything. I think having that business mindset is so important because modeling isn't just booking a campaign. It's so much more than that.

[Natalie Viall]

Is there a specific moment that you remember about like getting over?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, there's a lot.

[Natalie Viall]

Really?

[Lexi Wood]

I think again, when it comes to contracts, it's so important and I don't think that I. Because they are. Every agency will say, oh no, it's, it's just like the normal contract. Like it's the same for everybody. Oh, you're first born.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah, like haha, it's nothing.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, like oh no, we'll. Or they'll pull the whole, we'll let you out whenever you want. Like that's obviously we're not gonna hold you to it. And then push comes to shove, they hold you to it. So it's definitely. Yeah. I've been over a couple times where I'm like, okay, Lexi learning lesson.

[Nick Viall]

Was there one? Or like there was like, do you, you could put a value to what it cost you, if that makes sense.

[Lexi Wood]

Like with money I lost because I was.

[Nick Viall]

Maybe it's not even money, but just you, like when you say, you know, you got over, like what was the cost of getting over? Like what was the outcome?

[Lexi Wood]

It was a couple long term contracts that were kind of held back from me. The fit in where I wanted to go in my career, it wasn't aligning anymore. So I tried to get out and they were just like, no. And then I was stuck in that and I lost a couple contracts because of it. So it ended up being longevity wise. It ended up like actually screwing me over for the future. But at the end of the day, again, I do feel like I work so hard and the people that I work with do know that I am so authentic. Like if I am working with your company, it's because as a consumer, I genuinely love you guys. I genuinely use you guys. Whether I was in this contract or not, I'm going to be using this product. And so I do feel like there's like some magic and I do feel like my clients have like, they do recognize that in me. So thankfully the clients did end up moving wherever I went, but some of them didn't. And that, that is what it is. It sucks in the moment. But you know, long term wise, I feel like everything happens for a reason. So.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, I mean, I, I don't, but I do. I, I do. Well, I do and I don't. I mean just the phrase I, my, my audience knows, like I object to because I just find it to be one of those things we tell ourselves, to make ourselves feel better about a situation that most of the time it's, maybe we did something or whatever. But, like, I mean, we were just talking. We were at lunch, and we were talking about something that, like, I remember years ago, in the moment I wanted one thing, another thing happened. I was very upset. And if that one thing happened, I mean, I wouldn't be sitting here today. I wouldn't have this show, I wouldn't be married to Natalie. Like, it was such a pivotal moment in my life that, like, I mean, you know, I'm sure people out there might be listening, like, well, no, you were going to find your way to each other, but I don't. I think, like, I think we can learn from our mistakes and things like that, and I think things have a way of working out if we allow ourselves to learn from our past and things like that. But, yeah, I. I do think our choices matter. I think we can up our lives, you know. Yeah, I think there is, like, I think there are people who make choices that their lives would have been drastically different for the better if they would have done something differently. I do think, you know, in inherently, if you have the right mindset, right. If you are someone who's willing to, like, look in the mirror every once in a while and say, could I have done something differently here? Usually you'll. You'll find success in life, whatever that is, right. It might not be exactly how you planned it, but you will. You will find your way. As opposed to, like, the people who constantly are just blaming other people. I find that, like, you know, 100.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, but no, I am agreeing with that because I do feel like, at the end of the day, if you can't one see that everyone in every situation is different. Like, how I react to something isn't how you're going to react to something. How, like, every single thing is really based on your mindset towards that. So if I. Even after every relationship, I'm like, okay, look, it was that about a relationship. How can I improve? Or what's a boundary that I want to set for my next relationship? And I do feel like it gets better and you figure out who you are more. And I feel like whether that's a working relationship or a romantic relationship or anything, I do feel like it's definitely a mindset that you have to be in to be able to take it.

[Nick Viall]

Well, speaking of romantic relationships, before you went on TV and had a very public relationship with Jesse, you've had some Other public relationships in the past?

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Nick Viall]

I don't know how long or serious they were, but a couple of them from some pretty famous families.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Nick Viall]

I don't mean. I don't. I'm not expecting you to like dive in. And that's not why we're here. And some of those people are in relationships. But what was it? Brooklyn, Beckham, Pretty famous. And what, Presley Gerber? I've met Presley briefly. Nice guy.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. No, I think that's also like with even my mindset with being so close to my family. It's so funny because those are the types of families that I'm used to. Like families that are in the industry that give each other advice, work with each other where they can like that though, that are so close, travel together, live together. They do so much together because they understand that like that mindset is your family has your back period. So I do feel like those, those families are great and.

[Nick Viall]

Okay, you're welcome to share whatever you want. I'm not expecting you to speak on specifically about the relationships, but I am fascinated by the fact that like, I mean that how do you end up dating two sons of like pretty legendary famous families? Like, how did you meet these guys? Like, Natalie slid into my DMs. Was this like on the Internet or did you meet at like gatherings that. Do famous families just hang out together? Like, how's that, how's that work?

[Lexi Wood]

So I actually have never been on dating apps or anything like that, so I genuinely just meet people through friends. I think that's also why I'm always so open to meeting guys through people that I'm friends with because I've had great experiences. I have the coolest friends that introduce me to also really cool like minded people. And with those guys specifically. Yeah, we were just, we have mutual friends and we were always hanging out and we sparked up a romance. Yeah, it's. I think that that's a big part because I lived in high school.

[Nick Viall]

Are you getting asked about those past relationships?

[Lexi Wood]

Well, my thing is I really respect where they're at right now in their lives.

[Natalie Viall]

I have to say I watched you on watch what Happens Live and Andy asked about it and I really did respect your answer because obviously like he's had some very public relationships before me and it, it can get frustrating to like be the wife of that person and constantly have like, yeah, people exes being like talking about their like it's like number of years, you know, So I really did you. You were just kind of like, listen, like I've Nothing bad to say. I wish. You know him.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. I'm like, of course. No. And I do understand that it's obviously something that people ask, but I also just always want to move respectfully for everyone that I've dated, whether it was in public or private, because I do just feel like, especially with, like, Brooklyn, he's has and is in a great relationship, and I'm so happy for him. And I'm the type of ex that I'm actually friends with a lot of my exes, and I want them to move on. I'm like, go.

[Nick Viall]

Okay, one last question, only because, like, I've. I've met David Beckham once at a coffee shop, and he's literally the only celebrity I've ever, like, asked for a photo. And then I, like, called myself out because I first said, this is for my sisters. And I'm like, I don't know why I said that. This is definitely just for me. And it was super nice and gracious, but, like, David Beckham is often thought of as, like, one of the sexiest men alive. How does it feel to date someone whose dad is, like, kind of a daddy?

[Lexi Wood]

It's funny. I feel like he was just always Brooklyn's dad.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

You know what I mean? Like, I feel like immediately I like him. I feel like immediately I didn't think anything of it, and then he just was his dad, and so I just saw him as.

[Nick Viall]

Thank you for indulging me, but I.

[Lexi Wood]

See what you mean, for sure.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

He's hot. Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

They're a beautiful family. Victoria, she's the style icon. Like, they're the coolest family.

[Nick Viall]

Who was more intimidating, David or Victoria?

[Lexi Wood]

I mean, I think that they were both. Yeah, they were just both Victoria or Cindy?

[Natalie Viall]

Cindy Crawford. Presley Gerber's mom.

[Nick Viall]

I met Cindy once in life at an event in life. Well, I didn't like. It was at. I didn't like. I. She. I interacted with her briefly. I doubt she remembers, but she was lovely. Just, you could tell. She. She gave a very, very welcoming, very sweet energy. Yeah, no, for sure. She was not standoffish, which was. I mean, I just noticed because she's Cindy Crawford, and. Yeah, sometimes you just. You assume because they're so famous, Like, I. I'm standoffish. Like, I. I am. Like, not on purpose, but I just.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, you're a little bit.

[Nick Viall]

The energy I gave is. Don't fucking talk to me. I'm not interested.

[Natalie Viall]

And then when you talk to him, he's like, hey, how are you?

[Lexi Wood]

He's like, give me a hug.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. I just. That's just my energy.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. With the Gerbers, I was obviously older when I dated Presley, and Presley and I were friends for so long there, so I spent just more time with them, obviously being more in, like, the adult mindset. When Brooklyn and I were always linked together, we were like. I think I was 20, so it was a little bit more like we were hanging out together, so we didn't really spend too much time with, like, the whole family unit. We'd hang with, like, Romeo, which is. But they raised such a. Both families have raised such great families. And just being so close and having those same, like, morals and values that I have so innately, it was just so nice being around them. And, yeah, the Gerbers are amazing. I was so grateful to have, like, Cindy and Randy as people that I could go to when we needed relationship advice and having my parents and it was honestly, like, one big, happy family. So. Yeah. No, they're lovely. Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

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[Nick Viall]

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[Natalie Viall]

Let's get a little bit into Summer House. What's going on with Bailey? You brought her in kind of as your friend or was this like a completely separate cast that they did?

[Lexi Wood]

So Bailey and I had met just one time. We got drinks. So I think she knew other people on the cast.

[Natalie Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

And then I knew other people on the cast.

[Natalie Viall]

I feel like they set it up as like, you two are besties and like you're both coming into the house because you're two besties. But like y'all had only met once before that.

[Lexi Wood]

I think that was West, I have to be honest. I think that was west being like besties for sure. You're two besties. Yeah. So her and I had only met once. She was so sweet though, and I do honestly wish that she did stick around because I feel like it would have been so much easier for me to have that equal.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, that suck. I mean, I know there's a lot of speculation she had a boyfriend. She or a guy in her life. She didn't like disclose. Disclose.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

But I assume that when you first found out and went on the show, you write, you're like, oh, I got another single woman by my side. We're in a together some. You know, west and Jesse had each other and that was clearly very helpful and they became very fast friends from it. Like when you, whenever you found out, she.

[Natalie Viall]

What stage did she not come back?

[Nick Viall]

It was like episode three.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. I think it was like, like early on, second weekend.

[Natalie Viall]

Wow.

[Lexi Wood]

She came back for two weekends.

[Nick Viall]

Okay. Yeah. Were you. Did that make you less excited to show up for that fourth weekend? Did you feel more isolated? Like, what was your mindset at that point? Or was it just like Jesse hard eyes at that point?

[Lexi Wood]

It would have been easier for me to Just, like, have somebody else to have, like, the camaraderie with and like, our bedroom. So how the house is set up, the newbies bedrooms are on the main floor, kind of like in between the kitchen and the living room. So there was. It would have been so nice. Like, every morning I'd like, text Bailey and be like, hey, you want to get coffee in the kitchen? Or it was just nice to kind of have that other person that has no idea what's going on. Like, we are so new. We didn't know house rules. We didn't know. So trying to figure that out together, I feel like would have been so nice. And then I also feel like it would have been obviously easier for me in a relationship because then I would have probably had more of somebody else to bounce things off of and just kind of have by my side. Whereas I feel like, because she left it, obviously. The newest newbies were west and Jesse, so they were kind of the ones that I was like, okay, newbie mindset. You guys are my guys.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. How quickly into being a part of the house and. Cause you mentioned you didn't watch it going in. Yeah, but how quickly being a part of the house did you learn about west and Sierra or did you just have a. I mean, learn about or fully understand the west and Sierra dynamic coupled with the fact about the west and Jesse dynamic in terms of. Because I am curious, like, once you learned, did that make you want to go back to, like, find out, you know, this guy you're into, his best friend seems to kind of handle himself in a similar way. And to only hear just how tragically west and Sierra's relationship ended, you get what I'm saying? Did that make you, like. Did that raise any red flags, so to speak, in terms of, like, the. The type of person you were pursuing?

[Lexi Wood]

You would think it would. For me, I feel like everybody's so different, right? And, like, everybody handles things so differently. And I actually went into the relationship with Jesse saying, okay, clearly having a relationship in this house is difficult. I don't want to proceed with you if we are not going to be able to end amicably and be okay. I don't want to end up like west and Sierra, and we are different people, so we might not end up like west and Sierra, and hopefully that's what would happen. And he originally said that was. That should be no problem. And I think if things were different, we probably could have been in a different space than we are in right now. But he obviously wanted to treat it the same. But I didn't really understand how much hurt there was between west and Ciara, if I'm gonna be honest. I think obviously I can't really comment about how Ciara feels about things, but just from when I was going in, from my perception, I didn't know too much. And because I didn't watch last season and I didn't watch the reunion and I didn't really watch anything, I really was trying to play catch up with everyone.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, interesting. But I definitely didn't think that it was gonna be a red flag for me and my relationship because we are all so different in the house. And that's what honestly makes the house great in so many ways, because we are so different.

[Nick Viall]

Do you think Jesse and West are different?

[Lexi Wood]

That's such a good question.

[Nick Viall]

And I'm sure, you know, one's taller than one, shorter.

[Lexi Wood]

And I'm sure we can.

[Nick Viall]

If we had to make a list of 50 different ways they're different, I bet we could come up with 50 different ways. But, like, are they more similar or more different now that you got to know them?

[Lexi Wood]

I think from my perception and from what I've known of west, again, I don't know west in that capacity or even when he was really going for another girl in the house. But he seems pretty stuck on not wanting a relationship, whereas Jesse really really wanted a relationship. Like, Jesse was acting like a boyfriend, saying all these things. Like, he was really in the mindset where he's like, I want a girlfriend.

[Nick Viall]

Was there any part of you that wondered, you know, because this was new for you and you don't. I don't know, like, when I first started going on tv, you always worried about, like, producers and their involvement. I've, you know, I've always, you know, talked and said, you know, producers, they certainly produce their job, but, like, I always find that producers are scapegoated for reality TV stars far more than they need to be. But did you ever get in your head about, like, why Jesse was pursuing you? Whether it was, like, an authentic interest in you or whether he felt like this was his season to, like, get in a relationship and, like, felt used?

[Lexi Wood]

Well, it's funny, in hindsight, I feel like there's definitely things that he said all the time. Like, he would say to me, oh, Wes got so famous from fucking over Sierra. And I'd be like. But I really thought it was more of, like, a venting session, that he was just, like, venting to me. Or, like, he would say a lot of things. About West. And I'd be like, okay, okay. Let me, like, did it give you.

[Natalie Viall]

The idea that maybe he was envious of West?

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. But also, at the end of the day, I was like, well, there's no way, because he's doing a million things to show me that, like, we are in an actual relationship. He's vents to me all the time about everybody else in the house. Or he's like. He does all these things where I genuinely just thought he was venting. Now, obviously, hindsight, you're like, oh, okay. That is. That actually is weird to say. I almost feel like he did want to be. I mean, he even said in a podcast, he's like, the hate helps my algorithm. So keep going. Like, he loves this.

[Nick Viall]

West or Jesse.

[Lexi Wood]

Jesse.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

So I'm like, okay, this. I think especially after him saying that, I'm like, you knew what you were doing, and I hate that.

[Nick Viall]

Interesting.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

You feel like he was that, like, calculated with his choices with you.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, because he would say to me, like, oh, like, nobody, even. So, for example, in the summer, he would say to me, oh, everybody's talking about you. Whatever. But that's so good because you're getting so much airtime. Like, last year, my first season, nobody even cared about me. And so there was just these, like, little things that he would say, or he'd say, like, don't trust this person, or. And it. In the moment.

[Nick Viall]

Who did he tell you not to trust?

[Lexi Wood]

Everyone. Every single person in the cast, in production and everywhere. So I think it was difficult, but.

[Nick Viall]

Told you to trust him?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. He's like, I care so much about you. Obviously, I'm dating you. I love you. So it was difficult for me because as a singular person going in there with no other newbie, to be like, okay, what's going on right now? I really did lean, and I think that I definitely trusted him more than I even naturally probably would, because I did think that he was being honest and being like, lookit, I'm telling you these things because I was new last year, and he would always just be like, everybody is so out of touch with being a newbie that I'm really giving you good advice here. And so obviously I trusted him. And again, with the feelings and everything involved and living together and him sleeping in my bed every single night, that was difficult for me to be like, okay, but are you being authentic? And I think because I'm so authentic with everything that I do, everything I say, everything that I'm feeling, it's so real that I Assume that in everyone else. And I think that I definitely learned this summer that you can't assume that everybody else has the same heart as you and the same intentions.

[Natalie Viall]

And you kind of alluded. I don't know if this is exactly what happened, but, like, to not sleeping with Jesse until y'all were exclusive or, like, not sleeping with anyone else, you were only gonna sleep with him.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

And you wanted him to only want to sleep with you.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

Did it feel like he kind of told you all the right things to sleep with you and then kind of, that was what he wanted?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. I think. I think now, watching it back, it's funny, because I didn't know I would say 98 of the things that I'm watching. Like, I'm watching, and I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa. I would have never dated somebody like that. I would have never. Like, there's so many things that. That's just not boyfriend material to me. And what. Yes. And, like, how I. Who I would date and who I'm, like, letting so closely into, like, my circle. And I think with setting boundaries as women, like, we have to protect our emotional health. Physical health, mental health. Like, it isn't just, oh, I don't want you sleeping with anybody else 100%. There's so much more that goes into it. And that was just the one thing that I'm like, look, I'm not gonna do that. I'm not gonna share that part of myself with you until I know that we're actually in this together. We're actually putting in efforts. We're actually, like, being there for each other. You don't get to access that part of me. So now, in hindsight, watching, I'm like, well, yeah, there was definitely a motive, but I didn't give it, like, a strong. I think there's a big misconception right now that I was like, oh, it's 30 days, and, like, that's it, or you're getting cut off.

[Nick Viall]

I'm glad you said that, too, because, like, I. You know, we talk a lot about dating on the show, and, you know, I give advice to certain people who ask for it and things like that. And I've always said it's just like, the artificial timelines are useless because a guy will wait if you give him a. Give him a goal. Men love goals. So, like, give a guy a goal, he'll shoot for the goal. Tell him six months, he'll wait six months, six weeks, six days. It doesn't matter. You know what I'm saying? Because then they just think about the goal, and they're not thinking about the connection or building anything. They're just more. So all you're doing is just wasting your own time by giving a guy some type of goal, like a timeline. Because it's like, oh, well, then this becomes, like, hanging on for as long as you can as opposed to building that connection. And I liked what you said about that, where it's just like, hey, I want to be exclusive or I want to be in a relationship. That's a very specific goal. Right. Where that's like, you know, and then, yeah, a couple can talk about what it means to be exclusive or boyfriend and girlfriend and yada, yada, yada. Because that can happen in three or four days, and that could. Or that could happen in three or four months, you know, and it's. It's less about some timeline or making someone wait for the sake of waiting, where it's just like, well, I'm gonna. I hold myself to a certain standard.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

So I want you to, you know.

[Lexi Wood]

Like, abide by my rules.

[Nick Viall]

I'm Lexi Wood. And, like, I just don't have sex in the first ten dates.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

Like, yeah. No, to me, it was very like, look at. Give or take as adults. You know, if you like somebody or you know that you don't. And because our situation was so different, where it's like, okay, we are living together. We have other people in the house. I more was just like, okay, we are gonna start the summer with seeing what happens. We could end the summer, even that last month being single. And, like, that would be fine. I was just putting out what I'm looking for in a relationship and what I'm looking for in general. I'm not looking for a fling. I'm not looking for a summer romance. I'm not looking for. And if he was that, obviously, that would have been so fine. I would have adjusted how I moved. I would have adjusted my expectations. But he's saying that he wants the same things as. And so for me. And he asked me to be exclusive with him, like, weeks and weeks before he even did it on the show.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

So we were already very much exclusive. And he even said that when he asked me, he's like, I know that we've already been exclusive for a long time, but, like, the official ask. He asked me weeks before, but. And you kind of said it wasn't. It wasn't on camera. So he likes to do redo things. Yeah. So there was, like, a lot of things where he's one person on camera. One person off camera.

[Natalie Viall]

Did that ever get, like, could you notice it in real time of, like, you're doing this for the cameras? Did you ever call him out on it, or were you just, like, interesting?

[Lexi Wood]

No, I've called him out on it.

[Nick Viall]

What did he say in response?

[Lexi Wood]

He always just kind of, like, was like, oh. Like, I don't know what you're talking about. Or like, oh, I don't believe that. Or he would kind of just be like, oh, I hate that you think that, or whatever. But at the end of the day, also think holding people accountable is doing it out of care and love, too. Like, I. If I didn't care about you, I would just, like, let you be. Like, I don't care what you do. I don't care how you move, but if it's somebody that I care about, I obviously want the best for you. I want to see you grow, and I want to see as Me, too. I hope my people hold me accountable so that I can grow. And, yeah, I said it to him multiple times. I was like, look at. I feel like you're isolating me. I feel like you're manipulating me. I feel like I'm being gaslit all over the place. I don't feel like this is fair. I can't. Like, you're saying one thing, doing another. You're two different people. On and off camera. He, like, needed to hang out with me nonstop. It was on and off camera. It was just, like.

[Nick Viall]

It was consuming, like, almost like, in a possessive way.

[Lexi Wood]

I felt like a possession. Yes. Like, I felt like if I didn't fall in line with what he needed from me, then something would happen where now watching back, he would end up just talking shit behind my back.

[Natalie Viall]

What were a couple moments that you watched back that you were shocked by that you, like, didn't know happened, didn't know that was said, and you were just kind of, like, jaw on the floor, shocked.

[Lexi Wood]

The whole weekend that I was away, I was in Canada because my grandmother was getting cancer treatment. So I was so in the depths of just supporting my grandma and being there for her. And Jesse was FaceTiming me, like, nonstop. I really felt like that was a weekend that was actually a turning point for our relationship because I was going through something at home, and he was calling me nonstop. He was texting me nonstop. He was saying, I miss you, and being so affectionate still. I felt like that was a turning point for our relationship where I'm like, you know what? I can trust this person, he is still trying to keep me involved in what's going on in the house. So I think seeing the toe thing for 37 minutes that weekend was crazy. And then the fact that he slept in my bed after that and called me after that.

[Nick Viall]

So after he got out of that. After those 37 minutes of toe sucking, he called you and didn't tell you about it?

[Lexi Wood]

No.

[Nick Viall]

And so what did he say he was doing?

[Lexi Wood]

He was just like, oh, we all went out. And then he. There was, like, a couple stories that kind of, like, sounded like it could have been the same story. So, like, originally he told me that he was just with his cousin's friends and he was just standing in the doorway. I think that might be a whole different story. I don't know. All I know is I can never keep up with what he says because it's so all over the place and he's been proven to, like, lie on camera that it's just, like. It's all so confusing and tangled up. I. I don't even know what he's.

[Natalie Viall]

What does your gut tell you happened in those 37 minutes?

[Lexi Wood]

I mean, I feel like, what are you doing there for 37 minutes? Even.

[Natalie Viall]

Even just sitting on the bed?

[Nick Viall]

Did you ever ask Emma?

[Lexi Wood]

So, yeah, he has his back. Yeah. I think at the end of the day, like, I think bro code. I don't know. I honestly don't know. But what I do know is that Jesse walked into a room of three naked people that were dtf.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

So I don't know. At the very least, it's backwards.

[Natalie Viall]

She watched two naked women and a naked man do something together, and one of those naked women put his foot in her mouth.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

Which is just like boundary after boundary after boundary after boundary crossed.

[Lexi Wood]

I just think that there's so much that I've seen, even just the fact that the people that he was always going to. To say these stories about me, about the following girls, or all of these things that weren't exactly how it was, but painted to make me look a certain way.

[Nick Viall]

Oh, yeah. When I watched the show and at first and you hear Jesse's pov, and you're kind of like, man, you know, Lexi's kind of just like. You're kind of like, chill out, Lex. You know, like, geez, like, he's allowed to have friends, you know, because they're. You know, I've. I know. I have dated women where early on you're like, oh, okay, this is. This is intense. And then you hear your version of Their story. And it's, like, incredibly reasonable. It's like, yeah. I mean, now that you're exclusive and you're saying, I love you, I don't know. Following, like, five new women's kind of weird, you know?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. And it was like 30, like, a week. And, like, I would get sent so much because obviously having an Instagram following and people. People are interested. People are always being. And because we were kind of caught kissing at a nightclub, people knew that something was going on there. So I was just sent so many screenshots. And originally I didn't think anything of it because I was like, oh, whatever. Like, I trust him. We're in a relationship, whatever. But. Or some sort of relationship. But then it got to the point where after the toe thing and after, like, I was catching him in, like, some. Some lies, I was like, okay, maybe this is something that I should put weight into, and maybe I should go and look and not just go in with my eyes completely closed, this situation. And then he would just always say to me, anytime that I would have those conversations with him, he would just be like, I haven't had a relationship in so long. Like, I've only had. Really had one relationship when it was when I was a teenager. Please be patient with me. Like, please, I want to change for you. Like, I'm trainable. I, like, I want you to bring this stuff up to me so that I can change and be in a relationship with you. So that's genuinely what I thought I was doing. I thought that I was just giving him these little pointers. Like, hey, just so you know, that's not how somebody in a relationship moves. And then he would change it. And that was not what was going on from now what I'm watching.

[Natalie Viall]

What did you make of him, like, laying on Ciara in the pool float and then commenting about her legs or something, being up and that whole. It was the week and you were gone.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. I think Jesse's inappropriate with. And it's. It's just all bad. Like, it's not fair. Even from the first episode that I saw him talking about me behind my back, being like, oh, oh, her butt. Oh, this, oh, that. Like, I don't love that. He. I feel like hypersexualizes every female, like, to me. And again, that's not somebody that I would have been in a relationship with. That's not who he showed up to in front of my face. So it was difficult watching that, obviously, because I'm like, ew.

[Natalie Viall]

It's kind of a shame I forgot.

[Nick Viall]

He totally forgot.

[Natalie Viall]

You were dumb.

[Lexi Wood]

The first episode I totally forgot about, which I feel like is so messed up, because being a new person on the show. Episode one, that was our first dinner together, and he set the tone for me where everybody was just like, oh, you're ditzy. Oh, you're the ditzy one. Oh, you're gonna be just like, this dummy. And it did set a tone. Like, I was getting so many messages being like, oh, you're just ditzy. And it did take away when it's like, okay, well, actually, I've been a businesswoman since I was 11. Which. Yeah. Like, what were you doing, Jesse, at 17?

[Nick Viall]

You're definitely. Like I said when we started this episode, you know, like, I think people. Do you. I mean, do you feel like people underestimate you a lot? Because I feel like you're someone who people could often underestimate.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, 100%. I definitely feel like I have lived so many different lives, and I have so much, like, knowledge. Even just traveling by myself for so long and having situations where I've been so lonely, and you have to figure it out. And as much as, again, I'm so close to my family, I'm so lucky for their support. There's so many times where, as a model, like, you can't. Like, your family isn't with you all the time. Even with, like, my family and I working together now, I lived on my own until I was 12, 26, and then my sister moved to America. So even just there's so much that goes into that whole situation, like, you can't even bring your credit from Canada to America. So there isn't, like, there really isn't a choice but for us all, like, with. From my sister and I to have to have an apartment together right now. And, like, there's just so many moving pieces that I think sometimes people are committed to misunderstanding. I think Jesse's setting the tone that I was ditzy. Just said it. And I'm like, okay, well, being happy and being. Taking life and actually just rolling with the punches and learning from it and taking everything as a positive, that's not ditzy. Yeah, that's actually very smart.

[Nick Viall]

Well, you know what? Just let people underestimate you. It's. It's.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah, it's fun proving people wrong. I mean, it's been nice to see. Yeah. Sitting on that trampoline bed.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

That. That first time we really saw you kind of, like, own your shit. You were so calm. You, like, stated the facts and it was so good. Where, like, where did you learn that?

[Nick Viall]

Self awareness, Specifically the calmness. If I. Every time I give, like, someone calls up our asthma episodes, where, like, I get a lot of people calling in, mostly women, and we're talking about situationships, and they're like, okay, how do I say this? Like, the number one thing I always say, like, more than anything, if you can. If you can control it, like. Like do this calm. Because the more elevated, the more triggered you are. People know they have a power over you. Yeah. And so if you can be calm and give the impression of being just in control of your emotions, it intimidates men like crazy. Yeah. And so to that point, how did you learn that? Because that's not easy for most people to do.

[Lexi Wood]

I think growing up, watching my mom and dad communicate with each other was always such a blessing that they were always very. They're going to communicate about anything, even in front of us, because they're like, these are skills that you have to know how to communicate with your partner. You have to know how to communicate in general when you are upset or when you are sad or when there's a situation that you're trying to navigate. And how you. If you are calm, then you actually get to a better end result and it's faster and you're taken more seriously. And that it does suck that I think people, when you are so caught in the moment, you can get so upset, which makes so much sense. But sometimes if you just take yourself back for a minute and be like, let me process. How do I want to execute this conversation? How do I want to, like, actually deliver this and have it received? Because at the end of the day also, so many people are so different. And I think that it's important to execute how you think is gonna be heard, because sometimes when you are so upset, it's just not heard. It's not heard at all. And that's a sad truth. But the more hurt you are, the less people hear you.

[Nick Viall]

That's great advice, guys. You've heard us rant and rave about quints for a long time, and I think it's my favorite place to shop online.

[Natalie Viall]

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[Nick Viall]

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[Natalie Viall]

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[Nick Viall]

I gotta say though, I would. When Natalie was working in healthcare, I'd always buy her some figs. She was always super happy about it. Everyone knows a nurse or a doctor, everyone has a friend or family in healthcare. And if you want to make their day. Update their scrubs a day. Give them some figs. I promise you they will thank you. It is a gift that keeps on giving for all the reasons Natalie just said.

[Natalie Viall]

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[Nick Viall]

Well, obviously one of the most meaningful things I get to do in the show is hear people's stories about the relationships and problems they have and hopefully try to help them from time to time. But sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm able to help. And there was this one listener who recently wrote in. They wrote in and said I love my partner but I have zero interest in sex. It's killing me. I feel broken. Well, first off, obviously we know she is not. We've had this conversation on the show before. It could be biological. It could be your brain chemistry at play.

[Natalie Viall]

Luckily, there's a little pink pill called addi. It's the first FDA approved treatment for frustrating low libido in certain pre menopausal women. It's not about fixing you, it's about helping you feel like you. So go to Addie.com to learn more. That's a D-Y I dot com and get back to feeling like yourself.

[Jesse]

Addi or Flibanserin is for premenopausal women with Acquired Generalized Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder HSDD who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past who have had low sexual desire. No matter the type of sexual activity, the situation or the sexual partner, this low sexual desire is troubling to them and is not due to a medical or mental health problem, problems in the relationship or medicine or other drug use. ADDI is not for use in children, men or to enhance sexual performance. Your risk of severe low blood pressure and fainting is increased if you drink one to two standard alcoholic drinks close in time to your Adidas dose. Wait at least two hours after drinking before taking ADDI at bedtime. This risk increases if you take certain prescriptions, OTC or herbal medications, or have liver problems and can happen when you take ADDI without alcohol or Other medicines do not take. If you are allergic to any of Addi's ingredients, allergic reaction may include hives, itching or trouble breathing. Sometimes serious sleepiness can occur. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, tiredness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and dry mouth. See full PI and medication guide including boxed morning@ addy.com PI when it comes.

[Nick Viall]

To me and Allie, we are definitely home bodies. Even on the weekend. We like chilling, relaxing outside, especially now that that the weather is getting warmer. And when that is happening we always love to crack open a Happy Thursday to unwind and enjoy the weekend.

[Natalie Viall]

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[Nick Viall]

That's my favorite part about this drink is the non carbonation cuz like sometimes I just don't need the burps, you know.

[Natalie Viall]

And I don't need them either.

[Nick Viall]

Not with Happy Thursday. I'm continuing to be happy even when.

[Natalie Viall]

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[Nick Viall]

In the house is Ciara.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Nick Viall]

And her and Jesse obviously have this relationship of some kind, I guess. Like yeah. How. How did you connect with Ciara at all? And like you know, there's what we see on tv, but did you feel like there was like a weird energy between the two of you or her and Jesse as you started dating? Because like watching it, it comes across as like maybe she's like not giving girl code so to speak or girl being a girl's girl so to speak. You know. And again I don't want to. Like there's tv, there's edits and things like that but like. Or were you kind of surprised? You know, even when Jesse like sets this boundary with Sierra, it was a couple episodes ago and she like got mad at him, it's just like wait, shouldn't you be praising Jesse for setting a boundary with you, in a way, because he's seeing this other woman named Lexi. Like, were you caught off guard or. Or was there something we weren't seeing with their relationship?

[Lexi Wood]

Honestly, you're gonna have to ask them, because I think she's asked me not to speak. Good or bad.

[Nick Viall]

She's asked you to keep her name out of your mouth?

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. So I think I can only speak about my. How I felt. I didn't ever see any of it. It was never done in front of my face, so I actually had no opinion. Yeah, I didn't know anything.

[Nick Viall]

Why do you think she asked you that? That, I mean, or. And do you think that's fair?

[Lexi Wood]

I just want to respect what she wants. But I will say, does she speak.

[Nick Viall]

On other people ever?

[Lexi Wood]

She talked about me last weekend on Watch what Happens Live.

[Nick Viall]

What'd she say?

[Lexi Wood]

There was a birthday situation, which I think the entire situation is. I basically put in our group chat that. And like, I. It's a group chat. It's. All of us have it to that. I'm having a birthday party if anybody wants to come. Some of our cast was out of town, so they obviously couldn't. Then some of our cast showed up, and they didn't. Her and Jesse didn't answer, and that's just a fact. But also, I didn't think anything that was weird. She's never answered a text message from me, so I've just never thought anything was weird of that. But then Jesse posted that they got lunch the day of my birthday party, so I was asked a question. I don't know. I'm not. I was asked a question on an interview if their Coachella pictures upset me. I said no, because they post like that all the time. And my birthday was also, like, two weeks after we left the house, so it was all, like, still pretty fresh. So I think it hurt me then. But again, like, I have pictures. Jesse posted photos. He posted a story of them getting lunch on my birthday.

[Natalie Viall]

She might have said it was, like, a lie.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, she did. Which it's not because I have screenshots. And it's again, what Jesse is saying. I honestly think I will. I've been saying this, and I will always say it. I will forever blame Jesse for all of that with her and I. But I can't comment on anything about their relationship because I don't know what it is.

[Natalie Viall]

Do you think that maybe they got dinner or lunch a different day, and they maybe thought it was funny? Or maybe Jesse thought It was funny to post it on the day.

[Nick Viall]

She seems to embrace all kinds of drama and.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, I think for sure.

[Natalie Viall]

So maybe that's why Sierra's like, it's a lie, because maybe they didn't actually get lunch that day, but he's trying to make it seem like that for you.

[Lexi Wood]

Sierra and I had a conversation, and it seemed like she agreed that. That they got lunch that day.

[Natalie Viall]

Okay.

[Lexi Wood]

From what I was hearing of that conversation, it seemed like she was like, well, yeah, we got lunch, but I don't. I don't know what her. All I was doing was commenting if their Coachella pictures hurt me, and they didn't. So I have no idea. I don't know. All I know is that it's her friend Jesse that posted it, and it was not me. That's him. What he posts is out of my control.

[Natalie Viall]

Did it hurt your feelings at all to see the girl's reaction when he told them that you didn't want him commenting about, like, Amanda's jugs or whatever on, like, the crazy comments he puts under these women's photos? Did it hurt your feelings to kind of see their reaction to that?

[Nick Viall]

Ask.

[Lexi Wood]

Jesse didn't necessarily communicate it how it actually was. Like, Jesse always was miscommunicating my boundaries.

[Natalie Viall]

Making it seem like crazier than yes.

[Lexi Wood]

So I honestly, I think that Jesse manipulated every single person in the house. Gaslit. Every single person in the house. And it's really disheartening to watch back because I did feel so misunderstood all summer, and now I obviously understand why. I did feel distant. I did feel isolated and all of these things, but obviously I do understand, and I do think that he was purposely. I mean, I can't. I don't know. But I do think that he miscommunicated so many different things, and it did draw a wedge between me and a lot of people in the house. On, like, I don't think that they purposely. Everybody else in the house purposely put up a wall, but I think naturally, when one person is making somebody look crazy, then they'd be like, okay, weird.

[Natalie Viall]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

And I do think that he did that. He miscommunicated a lot of things.

[Nick Viall]

Not. Well. I mean, I totally see what you're saying.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

This will be the last here question I ask because I want you. I don't want to get you in trouble or. But is it safe to say you guys aren't friends? I mean, you seem like you're friendly with anyone who wants to be friendly with you. That's the vibe I'm getting, but, like, it doesn't seem like there's a friendship there. Would that be accurate?

[Lexi Wood]

I don't know.

[Nick Viall]

Did she pick him in divorce?

[Lexi Wood]

I don't know their friendship or anything, but I just know that you guys aren't having lunch. Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Okay. Clear this up for me. I think it's already clear for us. But the west accusation that you somehow YouTube 2 were flirting, that west even commented on, that was kind of annoying. I mean, actually, just a broader question, I'm. I. I am a little surprised to hear just how calculated from your point of view that Jesse can be. You know, like, I've got. I've met Wes. I haven't met Jesse. But I do have a story for you about that part in a second, but I want to get your opinion on. Yeah, Wes is like, you know, listen, I'm not going to date him, and I wouldn't want him to date my sister at this stage in his life because he's clearly just in his fuckboy era, whatever. But he seems like a affable, fun, nice guy, and he seems, at the end of the day, like a good guy, you know, like, from what I can tell. And obviously Jesse's had some very serious health problems in the past that, like, would affect anyone going through it and certainly can change your outlook on life. And so, like, there's this part of me, and I've kind of joked when we cover the show that, like, I give him a little bit of a pass, you know, for, like, cancer pass, you know, fighting can't. You know, it's just like this new lone look on life where it's just like, okay, you know, like. And even now, like, watching the past two episodes, if I'm trying to give him the benefit of a doubt, him and Wes seem like just incredibly immature, unserious people who really haven't been held accountable for their just kind of boyish ways. But at the end of the day, not necessarily malicious. But there are times, you know, because, like, sometimes when Jesse's, like, talking to women, he just. He acts like this dumb guy who just, like, doesn't get it, like, why everyone's so upset with him and. Or he acts, like, immature that, like, you know, people want to stop him from having fun. You know, it's if, like, God forbid, like, you're not entitled to fun, you know, as opposed to just maybe choosing your partner's feelings over fun. Yeah. What are your thoughts on all that? And do you feel like he used that to his advantage? Like, the empathy that One might give him for his health struggles in the past and, or as your. Is your overall opinion of Jesse more like. Like he has a lot of growing up to do and a lot of maturing to do, or he's more mature than you realize and he's using his intelligence in a more nefarious way to get what's best for him.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, I think obviously all the health stuff, that's awful. And I think he's so strong for dealing with that, and his family is so strong for dealing with that, and that's would be so hard. I personally think he's. From my experience with him, he's a lot smarter than his goofy ways. And I think that the whole philosophy of, like, oh, boys will be boys. I don't live by that philosophy. I think, no, they have. Men have an animal instinct to protect what they care for. And I think that sometimes he hides over the boys will be boys philosophy. I'm just tall and goofy. I'm like, I'm just the frat boy. We're adults now. You're not. And I think that he knows that, and I think he is very calculated. I, in my experience, he is very, he knows, he knows how to comment on things and who to comment on and where and when he should communicate things so that there is misunderstandings and so that there is disconnections and so that there is. I, I, I personally believe that from my experience with him.

[Natalie Viall]

Talk to us about meeting the parents. Yeah, Jesse's parents. It seemed like, you know, they showed a clip of him talking to west where he's like, she's absolutely not meeting my parents after this. And then kind of like told the rest of the cast that you, like, forced your way at lunch or whatever. So, like, how. What's the truth?

[Lexi Wood]

So he asked me to meet his parents, like, the first week we met. He's like, it's my mom's birthday. They're coming in August 7th. I want you to meet them. So I was like, okay. And he wanted me to go to his family reunion. And then he was like, that's, you know, what? We actually haven't. Like.

[Nick Viall]

He asked you to his family reunion?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. He's like, I wish that you could just come to my family reunion. And, like, I was going to Toronto that week, so I, that was like, never gonna be a thing. I was, I was busy. But it was always a thing from the first week to meet his parents. He even said that in the kitchen to the guys. He's like, well, I mean, like, it was Always. She was always supposed to meet my family. Until the morning we were at his house, and I was going back to my house, and he was like, oh, I talked to somebody on the phone, and they don't think that I should meet. You should meet my parents. And I was like, well, they're not in our relationship. Like, do you want me to meet your parents? And he's like, yes. So I was like, okay, well, I want to meet your parents. This was always a plan. You've met my parents. If you want me to meet them, I would love to meet them. And he says, no, I would love for you to meet my parents.

[Natalie Viall]

Who was Sierra?

[Lexi Wood]

I. Yeah. That's. What. Again, he.

[Natalie Viall]

His version.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. I genuinely don't know if that even ever happened. Now watching, it almost kind of seems like Wes said it, and maybe. I don't know, because I.

[Natalie Viall]

His communication came into play.

[Lexi Wood]

Exactly. Yeah. The. Where he likes to say certain things happened that didn't or like, he likes to switch stories. So, yeah, that was it. Honestly didn't feel like that big of a deal to me. Like, it didn't feel like it was like a. No, I'm so, like, what he was communicating when I watched, I was like, whoa. That was not my experience. It was. You said that somebody's saying I shouldn't, but you want me to. So what works for our relationship that you and I are in?

[Natalie Viall]

Did you feel crazy when he kept referring to the toe sucking as a joke?

[Lexi Wood]

I felt crazy all summer. Okay. If I'm gonna be totally real, every interaction that I had, I was like, I'm emotionally exhausted.

[Nick Viall]

Like, were you asking yourself, like, am I, like, a jealous, crazy bitch or something? Like, where? Like. And I feel like I'm. I thought I was a chill person.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. And I'm like. Because I actually am a chill person. Just with boundaries. God forbid.

[Natalie Viall]

Right.

[Lexi Wood]

Honestly, I would. I would go home and be like, am I nuts? Like. Like, be so for real with me, like, my. My family and stuff. I'd be like, no. Am I nuts? Like, please tell me. Like, I felt like every single thing that I did was wrong. Every single time I would say anything, it was wrong. Even with the whole him and Sierra flirting thing, I didn't see it. It was everybody else in the house that told me it. And then. Then even just with him flirting with everyone in general, it was them that said I should talk to him about it, so I did. And then I'm wrong for talking to him about it in his eyes, and it's just there Was so much that I was like, guys, I don't know what to do. He's my closest person in the house. Unfortunately, like, I didn't know how to navigate it. I didn't know if I was going nuts, but I felt like I was going crazy. I felt emotionally exhausted. I felt. Felt gaslit all summer. In every situation. I had no idea what was going on. I was so confused.

[Natalie Viall]

In real time, you felt. Felt gaslit or looking back?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, no, even. Even in real time, I was like, I feel in my gut that this is all messed up, but how everything is. It's kind of like what he would say and then everybody else's actions, it aligned. Like, it was like, everything always aligned. And so I was like, okay, maybe I am going crazy.

[Nick Viall]

Do you think this relationship occurrence incident, this time in your life with Jesse, do you think he's learned from it?

[Lexi Wood]

No.

[Nick Viall]

Okay. I want to get your opinion on something. I wanted to get Jesse on the show. I haven't met him yet. Want to get him on the show. Earlier in the season, someone from my team told me that he was interested in pitching me something, and I said, great, I'm interested in hearing, but let's get him on the show first and we'll go from there. There. And then, obviously, as the season unfolded, certainly, I mean, I. I think he's an interesting character on tv. And then you started dating, and obviously this drama was like, let's literally get Jesse on. And there was a ton of back and forth, a lot of moving the goal post, a lot of, like, it was this. I was. I was starting to get pretty annoyed. And then he finally, like, text me and. And flaked, essentially blamed you.

[Natalie Viall]

Are we airing this?

[Lexi Wood]

What?

[Nick Viall]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Lexi Wood]

We're definitely gonna blame me. I haven't even talked to this man.

[Nick Viall]

Well, he basically said, like, he said like, aft, you know, you guys have filmed the reunion. I know I don't want to give anything away, but he basically said, like, he realized how much you got hurt and didn't think he should speak on it at all and basically kind of just used your feelings as a cop out. I don't want to read the messages because, like. But I want you to read them, and I want to get your opinion of it and just get your thoughts on if you think this is honest or not.

[Lexi Wood]

I'm going to lean towards not. I think, like, like with. I am honestly always so confused. And I'll always say that I'm always so confused by him because, like, a couple weeks ago I think he went on another podcast and was like, oh, no, Lexi's lying about the whole. She said. I told her that she was flirting with West. Babe, it's on tv.

[Natalie Viall]

No, we literally watch it.

[Lexi Wood]

You had.

[Natalie Viall]

You had mics on. Actually, they played it back.

[Nick Viall]

Well, you know, listen, we watched it. This show has a reputation of at least, like, I mean, holding people accountable. Like, sometimes, like, Wes came on and was, like, pretending he was, like, kind of afraid to come or something like that. And we will ask you direct questions. I feel like we give everyone an opportunity to look better, especially if they've been under fire. Like, my response basically to Jesse was like, if you've learned something at all, this would be a great place to talk about it, you know, to. If you've been accountable. I didn't get a response to that, but this was his. This was his message. I just want you to read it and get your opinion on it.

[Lexi Wood]

Okay.

[Nick Viall]

Do you think he was too afraid to face the fire?

[Lexi Wood]

I didn't read your response, but I think I am just a girl. And, you know, when you cross girls, we turn into FBI agents. We have screenshots, and we have. We have a lot of things. And I don't necessarily. Well, I don't really speak on anything unless I have proof. So I think he's probably realizing that hopefully he is like, I don't need to keep saying that she is lying, because she's not.

[Nick Viall]

He doesn't want to get caught in a lie, and he's not willing to.

[Lexi Wood]

Tell the truth, and he's been caught in a lot of lies on tv, and people are, like, now on the Internet, like, probably placing it together, being like, oh, well, he actually said this. And then he likes to switch it. I think when. When people can no longer. When certain people can no longer control you, they like to control the narrative around you. And I think that that's what he thought he was doing until everybody watching was seeing exactly how I felt. And I think that he doesn't like that. And because you guys are so great and you guys do hold people accountable, and because you guys do have open conversations and about everything, I think he might not be able to keep track of every lie he's already said and he doesn't like to.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, I definitely. Like, honestly, I was. I think he was an all right guy. I mean, again, I haven't met him, so maybe my opinion will change, but it definitely made me think less of him. I'm just like, this is such a. Like, you. You couldn't you couldn't handle this. Like, what are you hiding?

[Lexi Wood]

A lot.

[Nick Viall]

Because I just feel like. Again, because I honestly, I hope you're having a good time here.

[Lexi Wood]

I am.

[Nick Viall]

Like, unless you are lying about something. Like, I think if you are lying and you can't tell the truth, I wouldn't come on the show.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Because, like, we'll. We'll figure it out. Yeah. Short of that, if you're. If you have nothing to hide. And, like, also, like, we'll. You know, there's questions people don't want us to ask. We don't. We don't ask them, and things like that. But, like, if you are hiding something.

[Lexi Wood]

Well, you guys ask hard questions. But then you guys also, like, respect. If I'm like, oh, I can't comment on that. And then you guys are, okay, cool. Let's try to see what we can communicate through it. But, like, if you can't, then you can't. But at the end of the day, I have nothing to hide. So that's why I was pumped to be here.

[Natalie Viall]

I think also, that conversation on the trampoline.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

That showed me the real Jesse. Because his response, he said first, it was like, this is making me question my friends right now. He's blaming his friends for his actions. And I think you had a great response of being like, no, your actions are making your friends feel icky.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

And then it was the, like, well, I was gonna ask you to be my girlfriend, but, like, now I'm not. It was scary, like, to see that. And then him go to, like, west or the girls and be like, I'm just trying to have fun. And it's like, you don't care about her.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Natalie Viall]

At all.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. I, again, even like, the west conversation in the kitchen. Like, I'm not present for any of that stuff. I'm not present first. So I had no idea. And, like, that's what he was saying on camera. What he was saying off camera is equally as confusing and going around. And, like, I honestly felt like I was in a dryer just getting thrown around all summer. I was like, what? What way is up? What is going on? Who am I trusting? All of my trust just with every single thing was so, like, put to the test all summer. I didn't trust anything or anyone. By the end of it, I was like, okay, yeah. No, I'm like, we gotta all restart, guys. Can we restart the summer? I'm so confused.

[Nick Viall]

I don't know if you can speak. Speak on this or. I don't even Know if you know, but. And we were actually just talking in yesterday's episode that, like, I. There's. We kind of feel like this show might need a little bit of a shake up, you know, because you have. I mean, you're not that young, but, like, you have people kind of like dating and kind of more like what this show is about. And then you have, like, people who've been on for seven years talking about whether they want to have kids or not have kids.

[Natalie Viall]

And like, I think I said I don't think we'll ever get a season where Paige is like, like hooking up with someone in the house or making out with a guy at a bar. Like, I don't see that in her future on Summer House. And I feel like we need a. Like the people who've been on since the beginning maybe get a new. And then this younger kind of like more fun and single and, you know, adventurous.

[Nick Viall]

But I guess what I'm asking is like, whatever the show decides to do, let's assume not much changes if you are asked whether you've been asked or not. And I don't know what you can share, but would you want to come back? And if you come back, how do you plan on carrying yourself around him? We saw how Sierra did with. With Wes. It was very cold shoulder. It was very, like, it was very bothered in a way that showed that she still very much cared. Like, you seem to be very self aware about how you carry yourself in. In. In all rooms, but specifically ones that were maybe eyes might be on you in terms of, like, how's Lexi gonna handle herself? Like, how do you see yourself carrying yourself around, Jesse, if. If. If there's an opportunity to be in that house next season?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, I'm so grateful for this entire opportunity. And, like, I would love to go back. I feel like I have so much more to share that isn't just relationship chaos. I am so happy that I was able to share that side of me where you can be calm and put up boundaries and show young girls and guys that you can have boundaries and you can execute it really calmly and demand respect. And I'm so grateful for that. But I also feel like moving forward, I have so much more to share just about myself and about how I navigate all different types of relationships and how I have so much fun in the summertime. But I think with Jesse, he's shown on the show, that's not somebody that I would ever choose as my friend. So that being said, though, I. I don't care I'm indifferent about him. I love that for you. Yeah. I think he did what he did. He's an adult. Those are adult decisions that you make. That's on you. That's not on me. I moved with grace. I moved with love. I moved with forgiveness. I moved with so many different things. Did I probably forgive one too many times? Yeah. But that's who I am. And moving forward. Yeah. Like, I don't think about him. What he does is none of my business. Am I gonna be cold? I don't think indifference is cold or warm.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. I hope you're just like. Yeah, I hope. I hope you're just like him. I actually hope you're incredibly nice to him in the way someone would be nice to someone they, like, caught up with. Like, they used. They went to high school with, but they barely remember.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. And they're just like, oh, yes, you, of course.

[Nick Viall]

How's it going? Are you. And you fake nice because you don't want to be a dick because you really just don't remember or care.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah. I think for me, like, I don't ever really want to be in a room alone with him because I don't necessarily trust that he's not going to lie about something, but other than that, like, I don't think about him. He can do whatever he wants. He can. I don't care. You know what I mean? Like, that was a relationship that was bad. And can I learn from that? Yeah. Did I grow from that? Yeah. Did I realize, like, that setting boundaries is so important and fun? Yeah. I learned so much. And, like, that's all I can really ask for. And I really did learn that, like, you can't just assume that people have the same intentions and, like, heart as you, and that's okay. Keep on moving on.

[Nick Viall]

How much of an ick was it to see four men in their early 30s or older, like, snuggle up on a trampoline watching Zootopia?

[Lexi Wood]

It was actually so funny. So Gabby and I were in the kitchen. I was like. It was a continuation of me crying in my bedroom when we were eating popcorn. And I was just, like, watching them. And I was like, I'm so mad at it. I'm so mad at you guys right now because I'm like, first of all, that sounds like a hoot. But I'm inside crying and eating popcorn. This isn't fair. Yeah. I'm like, this is not fair. So I'm glad that they got rained on.

[Nick Viall]

I mean, like, I'm all like, I love my Male friends. And I love my relationships with my male friends. But like sometimes, you know, and I guess maybe I'm old, just a little.

[Natalie Viall]

Old and grumpy sometimes, fine.

[Nick Viall]

But I. In my 30s, I just wasn't doing like that where it was just like, yeah, you know, I was doing that shit when I was in my early 20s.

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

You know, I don't remember, I don't remember the last time. I definitely wasn't in my 30s when I was like 3am eating Hot Pockets after a night at the bar with my boys.

[Natalie Viall]

Like, you just went, you just went to bed.

[Nick Viall]

I just went home by myself. I definitely wasn't like after barring, you know, with.

[Natalie Viall]

It might be different if you're like in a house with a bunch of people. It's like maybe, you know, maybe I'm just holding grumpy. Yeah.

[Lexi Wood]

Like, I don't know.

[Nick Viall]

Lexi, this has been so much fun. Again, like this interview has been everything I thought it would be. You're a great example to people. Again, you're younger than me, but like young adults out there dating in a hookup culture environment where I think it's just very easy to blame the other person because like I think most people in dating culture are kind of a little self centered and selfish and sloppy and because hookup culture is what it is, you know, it's, it's easy to like either blame confusion or the other person. And you seem someone who's, yeah. Like you very calmly set boundaries in ways that I think clearly people have a very difficult time doing and it's been great getting to know you and, and I hope you are back because you're fun to watch and you do carry yourself in a way that is still, I think, entertaining. But like, you do set a good example, I really appreciate that, of how people should carry themselves and how they should handle disappointment and how they should move in a very messy dating environment.

[Lexi Wood]

Thank you so much. I really, really appreciate that and thank you so much for having me. This has been so much fun. I'm so glad that I'm here.

[Nick Viall]

Where can people follow you? Anything you want to plug, promote?

[Lexi Wood]

Yeah, you guys can follow me on Instagram, LexiWood, TikTok, LexiWoodX. Couldn't get Lexi Wood. Lexiwood.

[Nick Viall]

Kisses.

[Lexi Wood]

I have a podcast with my mom and sister called 6 and 9 and then I'm coming out with my lingerie collection with Hanky Panky this fall. How can people Support that on HankyPanky.com and just following me through socials and I'll keep y'all updated and yeah, I'm so excited for everything.

[Natalie Viall]

We did see you quickly show up in the next episode with Jesse. Did y'all ride together? What's happening there really quickly? Just quick question.

[Lexi Wood]

Like I said, I'm a forgiving person one too many times. Yes, of course. Got it. So. But there's strangely still so much more to the season.

[Natalie Viall]

I do feel like we saw like a teaser and there's been some things we haven't seen quite yet.

[Lexi Wood]

So yes, there's something.

[Nick Viall]

I feel like I don't know how it's gonna end, but I am excited to see how it plays out. One final question.

[Lexi Wood]

Yes.

[Nick Viall]

You get a random call. It's a lady. She's like, I met Jesse. I'm thinking about dating him. What advice would you give her? And also, do you think Jesse's is dangerous to date for women?

[Lexi Wood]

Yes. I think that he needs to get real with himself, do a lot of inner work that I don't know if he's ready to even look that far inward for. But through my experience, I wouldn't tell my worst enemy to date him right now where he's at. And I think I would love for him to be honest with himself. Like, I think I honestly will say I think Imerul was so cool coming in and being like, look it, I've been in long. Yes, I've been in long term relationships. That's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for play parties. I'm looking for fun. I'm looking for sex. And I think that because he's so honest with himself and he's looked really inward and I think Jesse needs to reflect as well.

[Nick Viall]

Nicely said, Lexi. Thanks again. It's been great getting to know you. Thanks for listening, guys. We'll see you tomorrow. Bye. Bye. The Valfouse is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing a budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Prices and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

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