Bachelor Alum's Virginity Storyline: Then & Now

In a recent podcast appearance, a former contestant from Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor, originally airing in 2015, discussed how her virginity unexpectedly became her storyline. The reality star, then 25, cited her conservative Christian upbringing for her choice to remain a virgin. She recounted how a conversation with another contestant led to her own revelation about her virginity, which was immediately amplified by producers.

This experience, however, proved empowering. The contestant stated that her virginity storyline resonated with viewers who had made similar decisions, allowing them to see confidence and self-worth in such choices. Although she was the runner-up on the season, Soules was reportedly respectful of her decision. She later eliminated herself after admitting she wasn't in love with him.

Years after the show, she has found love and is engaged to singer Hayley Kiyoko, with whom she has been dating privately for several years before publicly coming out as queer in 2022. Reflecting on her past, she noted that her deeply religious upbringing had suppressed any feelings for women. She now identifies as bisexual, having never questioned her identity until she met Kiyoko, her first female romantic interest.