Since winning the hearts of reality TV fans nationwide on ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor,” Leslie Fhima has become a public booster of downtown Minneapolis, whether she intended to or not.

Fhima frequently shares from her Instagram account photos or videos of herself cheering on the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center, attending concerts at the Armory, and teaching fitness classes at the downtown Life Time. She has more than 82,000 Instagram followers, so lots of eyes see all of the fun she’s having in downtown Minneapolis, and that has the potential to change misconceptions about our city center.

Fhima grew up in St. Louis Park and spent nearly all of her 65 years in the Twin Cities. She’s lived just outside of downtown Minneapolis for the past 15 years.

“I’m really, really a hometown girl,” Fhima told Downtown Voices in an interview last Thursday. “I love everything about Minneapolis.”

Leslie Fhima shared this selfie with rapper 50 Cent from a recent Timberwolves game on Instagram.

Fhima puts effort into supporting local shops, restaurants, cafes, and other businesses. She spends a lot of time with her dog at Unleashed Hounds & Hops in the North Loop, where she’s also led dance classes for dogs and their owners through her fitness company, Soul612.

In fact, that’s where she was last summer when she got the call from ABC informing her that she would be on the inaugural season of “The Golden Bachelor,” Fhima said during her Tuesday appearance on The Jason Show.

About a month later, when Fhima was one of the three final women in the running to become Gerry Turner’s fiance, the iconic Stone Arch Bridge was the backdrop to her hometown date. She ultimately made it to the end but went home with a broken heart instead of an engagement ring as the runner-up.

Leslie Fhima meets Gerry Turner, star of "The Golden Bachelor," on the Stone Arch Bridge for her hometown date in Minneapolis.

Fhima agrees she would be able to “show off Minneapolis even better” if ABC were to select her as the network’s first “Golden Bachelorette,” a request that’s been made by many fans. She told Downtown Voices that she would love to do so on a perfect October day.

“I just love it here,” Fhima said. “We have a lot to offer.”

Since returning to Minneapolis after filming “The Golden Bachelor,” Fhima has continued to work as a fitness instructor, as well as a VIP host at the Fillmore Minneapolis near Target Field.

Leslie Fhima (center) leads a Danze Jam class at Life Time Target Center on March 7. Photo by Brianna Kelly

Last week, Fhima started teaching classes twice a week at the Life Time in Target Center, Danze Jam on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Barre Fusion on Saturdays at 9 a.m. Her classes are already drawing students from across the Twin Cities. One loyal student traveled from Eden Prairie in rush hour traffic during a very busy day downtown to attend Fhima’s first regular Danze Jam class.

Fhima is glad she can help rebuild Minneapolis’ reputation through her now-national platform.

“I could tear up about how Minneapolis is getting a bad rap," she said during the post-workout interview with Downtown Voices. "I'm pro Minneapolis and that's why I want to be here at the downtown Life Time at Target Center. I want to teach here, I want to build this class up. I’m all for the city getting back on its feet.”