Interview with "The Real World"’s Derek Chavez

AE: I know you're single and a lot of the RW drama is built around dating and hooking up. Did you meet anyone while in Cancun?
DC: Yes, actually I met a really good guy. Well, actually, I met two guys. One guy I met in February. It was nothing. We met, we talked, we hung out, and that was it.

The second guy I met towards the end of the shooting, the last week in March or the beginning of April. He was so nice, and it was just good to meet someone my type down in Cancun. I had a dry spell. Cancun is not the spot for gays, especially during Spring Break. So I was just like, "Okay. Whatever." Then I met him.

He was down there from a frat, and from the moment we met, we spent every moment together. His friends he went down with actually got mad because he was spending more time with me than he was with them. But it was fun, and it made me feel good that someone was actually interested in me and not because of the cameras. I met him when the cameras were not on me. It made me feel good that he wasn't talking to me just because of the cameras.

AE: I hope he shows up in the season.
DC: Me too. He was a really good guy.

AE: Your bio says you have ex-boyfriend baggage that follows you to Cancun. What can you say about that?
DC: All I can say is someone came uninvited and caused a ruckus on my birthday.

AE: Can you say if you were happy to see them or not?
DC: Um, there were mixed feelings there.

AE: So what do you look for in a guy?
DC: I look for confidence. If you have confidence, with me, that's key. I'm not so shallow that you have to be drop dead gorgeous, but good looks are always a plus.

I look for someone who is athletic, and someone who is at least semi-intelligent, someone who can carry on a conversation, who can make me laugh, someone who is at least my height, and has a lot going for him. I don't want somebody who is depending on their parents or still living with their parents at like twenty or twenty-one or whatever, or doesn't have a job, and stuff like that. I look for somebody who is focused.

AE: What do you want to do when you graduate?
DC: I want to be a physician's assistant. But going through this experience has opened so many doors. I used to model back when I was younger. I used to take the classes and we did little modeling things here and there. I would drive or fly to Arizona just to take these classes. We did a little TV show. It was fun. I loved doing it. I love being in front of the camera.

I always knew I was born to do something or be someone in the entertainment business, to entertain people. Now that this opportunity has come along, I was to see where it takes me. I want try to get into acting and modeling classes again, and see what happens. I like entertaining people.

The Real World: Cancun airs Wednesdays on MTV at 10 PM EDT/PDT.