---
title: "\"They gave us modest per diems\": former \"The Bachelor-15\" contestant Mariia Zakhvatova reveals behind-the-scenes details"
description: "Former \"The Bachelor-15\" contestant Mariia Zakhvatova talked about per diems, independent grocery shopping, and living out of suitcases in the show's house. Previous season's lead Taras Tsymbaliuk confirmed his fee was tied to his feature film rate."
date: 2026-11-10T16:24:14.301Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/mariya-zakhvatova-bachelor-15-filming-conditions-per-diems
tags: [the-bachelor-ukraine, reality-show, mariya-zakhatova, taras-tsymbalyuk, tv-production, behind-the-scenes]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "They gave us modest per diems": former "The Bachelor-15" contestant Mariia Zakhvatova reveals behind-the-scenes details

![Former Bachelor-15 contestant Mariia Zakhvatova with a cup of coffee against the background of the crew and other girls in the house](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/mariya-zahvatova-holostyak-15-usloviya-syomok-sutochnye-pitanie/mariya-zahvatova-holostyak-15-usloviya-syomok-sutochnye-pitanie-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Mariia Zakhvatova confirmed that participants of "The Bachelor-15" received per diems, but did not name the amount
- Contestants bought groceries independently—they were taken to a supermarket every few days
- Due to a tight shooting schedule, girls did not always have time to eat properly
- There were no serious disputes over cleaning—everyone was responsible for their own order
- Taras Tsymbaliuk tied his fee to his feature film rate and raised his rates after the show

Former contestant of the fifteenth season of the Ukrainian romantic reality show "The Bachelor," aerial gymnast Mariia Zakhvatova, shared details about behind-the-scenes life in a candid interview. She discussed how payments, meals, and daily life were organized in the house where about fifteen girls and a significant crew lived simultaneously. Zakhvatova noted that overall living conditions did not seem excessively difficult, but certain circumstances caused additional discomfort, primarily due to the inability to communicate with loved ones daily.

### Per Diems and Confidentiality Issues

One of the most discussed aspects of working on a reality show is the financial remuneration for female contestants. Mariia Zakhvatova confirmed that the project organizers provided the girls with per diems, though she did not disclose the exact amount. "I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but they gave us rather modest per diems," the gymnast shared, emphasizing that she was unsure whether she had the right to disclose financial contract details. Thus, the exact amount of the participants' fees remains open, and the phrasing suggests that the payments were likely not the main motivation for participating in the project.

### Meals Under a Tight Shooting Schedule

One of the most tangible inconveniences pointed out by Zakhvatova was the inability to eat properly due to the intensive shooting schedule. The girls did not always have time to eat and drink normally between scenes. Participants bought groceries independently: every few days they were taken to a supermarket, and an additional opportunity to buy food arose during dates. During breaks between shoots, they sometimes had to cook something quick. Zakhvatova recalled how Khrystyna Horniak boiled dumplings for everyone—the girls had a quick snack and returned to work in front of the cameras. According to Zakhvatova herself, the organizers should have arranged for the delivery of groceries or prepared food, as walking to the store independently under such a tight schedule was inconvenient and time-consuming.

Despite about fifteen participants and numerous crew members being in the house simultaneously, serious conflicts over cleaning, according to Mariia, did not arise. Each girl was responsible for cleaning up after herself: "Everyone cleaned up after themselves, there were no arguments because of that." At the same time, participants actually had no time to fully set up their personal space. They lived out of suitcases and didn't even unpack all their belongings since most of the time was taken up by filming and preparation. Behind-the-scenes footage shows participants gathering around a common table during breaks while camera operators with professional equipment on tripods work in the background—clearly demonstrating the scale and intensity of the production process.

### Cleaning, Personal Space, and Living Out of Suitcases

For comparison, it is worth noting that the hero of the previous season, actor Taras Tsymbaliuk, spoke about the financial side of his participation in an interview for the Okay Eva podcast. According to him, he did not view the show as a way to earn money, but he did not want to spend time and effort on unpaid filming. At the stage of negotiations with producers, Tsymbaliuk suggested tying his fee to the number of filming days and setting payment at the level of his usual rate for feature films. The actor also explained that participating in the project had another purpose for him—to attract a new audience and boost his own recognition. After the reality show ended, Tsymbaliuk reviewed and increased his professional rates, though he did not name the exact fee for "The Bachelor."

### Financial Model for the Lead: Taras Tsymbaliuk's Experience

Revealing household details of working in a romantic reality show is important for understanding the real production model of such shows. While the male lead participates under an individual contract tied to a professional rate, the female contestants, according to Zakhvatova, receive per diems and handle some household chores themselves. This creates an asymmetry in working conditions between the two categories of participants. At the same time, neither Zakhvatova nor Tsymbaliuk named specific amounts, indicating the widespread reality TV industry practice of financial confidentiality. Nevertheless, the general conclusion from both interviews is unambiguous: participating in "The Bachelor" is full-time work with a tight schedule, not just the "pretty picture" the viewer sees on screen.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Платят ли участницам "Холостяка" гонорар: Мария Захватова раскрыла детали](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/holostyak/chi-platyat-uchasnitsyam-holostyaka-gonorar-1794326916.html) - Direct quotes from Mariia Zakhvatova about per diems, meals, cleaning, and living conditions. Mention of Taras Tsymbaliuk's interview on the Okay Eva podcast regarding his financial participation model. All facts in the article rely on this source.

## FAQ

### Did the participants of "The Bachelor-15" get paid for participating?

Yes, Mariia Zakhvatova confirmed that organizers provided participants with per diems. She did not name the exact amount, citing uncertainty about whether financial contract terms could be disclosed.

### How did the participants provide themselves with food?

The girls bought groceries independently: every few days they were taken to a supermarket, and they also had opportunities to buy food during dates. Due to the tight schedule, they did not always have time to eat properly and sometimes cooked quick meals like dumplings.

### Were there conflicts between participants over cleaning?

No, according to Mariia Zakhvatova, serious disputes did not arise. Each participant was responsible for tidying up after herself.

### How did Taras Tsymbaliuk negotiate his fee for participating in "The Bachelor"?

The actor suggested tying payment to the number of filming days at the level of his usual feature film rate. After participating in the show, he reviewed and increased his professional rates.