‘It Was Overwhelming!’ Former Bachelorettes Take Us Inside Epic Reunion
Trista Sutter Opens a New Window. (season 1), DeAnna Pappas (season 4), Jillian Harris (season 5), Ali Fedotowsky Opens a New Window. (season 6), Ashley Rosenbaum (season 7), Emily Maynard (season 8), Desiree Hartsock Opens a New Window. (season 9), Andi Dorfman Opens a New Window. (season 10), Kaitlyn Bristowe Opens a New Window. (season 11), JoJo Fletcher Opens a New Window. (season 12), Rachel Lindsay Opens a New Window. (season 13) and Becca Kufrin Opens a New Window. (season 14) joined host Chris Harrison Opens a New Window. for a reunion like no other! which was different than many had predicted — Harrison included. (Season 2 lead Meredith Phillips and season 3 lead Jen Schefft could not attend.)
“I knew it was going to be fun to get all these former Bachelorettes together but I wasn’t prepared for how touching and meaningful it was for me,” the longtime host, 37, says in the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now. “To see them all together talking and sharing stories about their lives and their seasons really filled my heart full of pride.”
Harrison has been the host of the franchise since 2002, when The Bachelor Opens a New Window. began. The Bachelorette Opens a New Window. started a year later. He also has hosted many other spinoffs in the franchise, including Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise Opens a New Window. and The Bachelor Winter Games.
“I hope Bachelor Nation will also get the feeling of how much we love and respect these women and what a true celebration this is,” he adds.
Hartsock, 33, tells Us that she’s still in disbelief.
“I felt gratitude! The first time I stepped foot onto that driveway was on The Bachelor and who knew what it would bring me now?” she says. “I think whenever I’m around that world I have to pinch myself because it’s just so crazy.”
More former Bachelorettes open up with Us exclusively about the experience below!
Ali Fedotowsky
“It was such a trip for all of us to get together and at times, a bit emotional,” admits 34-year-old Fedotowsky. “I still can’t believe that I’m a part of The Bachelor franchise. Part of me still doesn’t even believe it’s true. I half felt I belonged standing with all the past Bachelorettes and half felt I belonged on the super fan bus! That’s exactly what I am: a super fan of the show! I love these girls!“
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Desiree Hartsock
When entering the mansion, the mother of two was immediately taken back. “It feels like a different world and you hop right back into it,” Hartsock says. ”It’s so different form your daily life! I love seeing the producers and go right back into that — the repeats and run on sentences! it was great to have the ‘lights, camera, action’ going!”
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Andi Dorfman
The season 10 star admits being back at the mansion was all about reminiscing. “You can’t help but think about the memories of that house, from the first night stepping out of the limo to the girl time by the pool,” Dorfman, 32, tells Us. “What we did was very reminiscent of that but without the pressure of any men being there. It was sort of Women Take Over the Mansion Day for us.”
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Kaitlyn Bristowe
“It was more emotional than I thought it would be,” Bristowe, 33, says. “There are only 15 of us in the world who can say we know what its like to be the Bachelorette and that’spretty special.”
Walking into the mansion was also an important moment for her: “It just kind of feels like a nostalgic home. You walk in and the smells, the rose room, the pool — they just instantly trigger specific life-altering moments in time. I mean I got engaged at the mansion, so it was a little overwhelming to be honest.
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Rachel
While Lindsay, 33, did get a bit sad seeing the lack of diversity in the mansion, the season 13 lead couldn’t help but smile when meeting the women who “paved the way” for her. “They started this journey at a time when it wasn’t popular to be the Bachelorette,” she says. “America was not as accepting to see a woman in this role the way they were accepting of men.”
The Bachelorette reunion special airs on ABC Monday, May 6, at 8 p.m. ET.
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