Gabby Windey and Ben Higgins. Shutterstock (2)
What might have been? Earlier than her stint because the Bachelorette, Gabby Windey tried to pursue one other member of Bachelor Nation.
“I do know Ben Higgins is someplace on the premises and I would like to inform all people that I slid into his DMs,” Windey, 32, stated throughout a teaser for her joint interview with Rachel Recchia on Ashley Iaconetti’s “Virtually Well-known” podcast. “I’ve received to get it off my chest.”
The 35-year-old Bachelor in Paradise alum — who helms her “Virtually Well-known” podcast with former Bachelor Higgins — had previewed the interview and Windey’s confession by way of her Instagram Story on Saturday, Could 20.
The season 19 co-Bachelorettes and Iaconetti had been among the many actuality TV stars who reunited over the weekend in California.
“Great weekend reconnecting with previous mates and making new ones,” former present host Chris Harrison wrote by way of his Instagram Tales on Saturday. “And recording a number of podcasts … @iheartradio @themostdramaticpodever.”
Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia. Courtesy of Ashley Iaconetti/Instagram
Harrison, 51, uploaded footage of himself having fun with a meal with fiancée Lauren Zima, Higgins, 34, Iaconetti, Windey, Recchia, 27, Clare Crawley and husband Ryan Dawkins, Zach Shallcross and fiancée Kaity Biggar, and Andrew Firestone.
Iaconetti and Higgins, for his or her half, welcomed the Dancing With the Stars alum, Recchia and Crawley, 42, to movie episodes of their podcast, although no additional particulars — together with the Indiana native’s response to Windey’s DM reveal — have been shared. The previous Denver Broncos cheerleader additionally didn’t reveal when she messaged Higgins.
Windey and Recchia served because the leads of The Bachelorette in 2022. They received engaged to Erich Schwer and Tino Franco, respectively, however each {couples} have since referred to as it quits.
“I do really suppose it was compatibility. Dancing [With the Stars] does take up loads of your time, however I really feel like our time collectively was by no means actually restricted. We might nonetheless see one another afterward,” Windey solely advised Us Weekly in December 2022 of what led to her breakup. “Fortunately, we had been capable of stay in the identical place, so, I feel, really, it was simply attending to know the connection in-person as a result of we had been long-distance and earlier than that sort of in a bubble [while The Bachelorette was airing]. Typically you don’t at all times know the inquiries to ask or it’s as much as the opposite particular person to actually know themselves and produce forth their fact. So I feel it was loads of attending to know one another in actual life.”
Schwer, 30, has since moved on with Elizabeth Turner, whereas Windey has been candid about navigating the relationship world post-show.
Higgins, for his half, served because the season 20 lead in 2016 after being despatched dwelling from Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of The Bachelorette. After calling off his engagement to Lauren Bushnell Lane, Higgins discovered love with Jessica Clarke after sliding into her Instagram DMs.
“She watched one episode [of] my season when she was in faculty, and her mother claims that Jessica walked within the room and [said], ‘I might date that man,’” the Bachelor Winter Video games alum, who wed his partner in November 2021, advised Us in August 2022. “Her mother stated that was surprising as a result of Jessica by no means spoke like that. Like, [she] by no means spoke overtly about who she was into or what she’s into.”
After the Beneficiant Espresso founder despatched his message, Clarke’s mother inspired her to answer. “Her mother was like, ‘Whoa, that’s … a bizarre [full] circle second,’” he recalled to Us. “[She said], ‘You must message him again. See what occurs.’ After which we’re married.”