More: These folks are going to the extremes to find “the one.” What is the craziest thing you ever did to find a man?
Jenny McCarthy: The craziest thing I ever did for love is get married.

More: Why is that so crazy?
JM: Because I did it too young and for the wrong reasons. I honestly feel if I was on this show as a contestant, or if as a single girl I did some of the things these kids go through, I would be able to know who is right for me and who is wrong for me a lot quicker.

More: So this show taught you something about dating?
JM: Without a doubt. A lot of times in relationships, we send out our representatives to sell ourselves. The problem is after six months to a year, you start to see the other person’s true colors. Being a witness and the host of this program, I have seen these kids go through horrific adventures. What really shocked me was it instantly forces them to be their true selves. That representative I just made reference to gets to last about five minutes on this series.

More: That acts as a benefit?
JM: Yes. It helps these kids avoid all the months of being on perfect behavior and size up right away if that person is for them. I also like how it allows people to see others for who they are and look past surface things such as having a pretty face.

More: You keep referring to the participants as kids, as if you are an old fogey. You look pretty hot yourself. What’s the secret?
JM: I have a lot of makeup on, and there is great lighting. Seriously, I felt like I wanted to keep a distance and play the role of being a big sister or mother to them. The advantage here is now in a way they will be scared of me [laughs].

More: You are 39 years old. How is dating now compared to when you were in your twenties?
JM: The difference between dating now from when I was younger is the choices in men. I am not going to cougar it and date a 20-year-old. What I do enjoy at this point in my life is, with age comes wisdom. The guys I now date have dated before they met me. Shocking, huh? They, like me, have exes who taught them great lessons and were great teachers. As we get older, we all get a little bit better and knowledgeable about relationships and life. I, like everyone else, am hoping to find the best people in my later years.

More: You brought your son, Evan, with you on location.
JM: I did. They really sold me on the Dominican Republic as being the most incredible place in the world. Little did I know the Dominican Republic was a third-world country. I was terrified as I am holding my son and there is a machine gun in my face.

More: Oh my gosh!
JM: Even though I was scared, it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The beaches were breathtaking, and we fell in love with the people and the culture by the end of the season. I can’t wait to go back. Not only did Evan love it there, but my sister, who is also my makeup artist, fell in love with one of the locals.

More: A local? That's pretty juicy! At what point do you introduce a guy to your son?
JM: I have a six-month rule. I divorced my husband when Evan was one year old. I knew I could not have Evan growing up saying, “My mom had 80 boyfriends coming through the door.” I, as his mom, just can’t imagine my son having that image of his mother. I am happy to say since my divorce, Evan has only met two boyfriends.

More: How do you juggle it all as a single working mom? You are also a best-selling author-advocate for autism, which is a subject you know a lot about.
JM: Good question. The answer is there is no balancing because it is always lopsided. Either I am working too much and can’t be with my son as much as I want to, or I am at home too much thinking I need to be working in order to pay the bills.

More: Is it a struggle?
JM: It is a constant struggle for me of trying to figure out what to do. It is so hard. If anything, I can’t wait to have some retirement funds so I can sit back, snuggle with my son and enjoy my life with him.