Bachelor in Paradise alum Jill Chin has announced she's officially in a relationship, and she's happy, after her breakup with Jacob Rapini.
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Jill, who appeared on Bachelor in Paradise's eighth season last summer, recently took to Instagram and posted two photos with her new boyfriend Ellis Kalaidjian, who works for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
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"Far out," Jill wrote alongside the sweet photos of the couple smiling and embracing on February 4.
Jill also added an alien emoji and spaceship to her post, suggesting this was the launch of her new romance.
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Season 19 The Bachelorette star Rachel Recchia confirmed Jill's emoji choices by commenting, "HARD [launch]."
Fellow Bachelor in Paradise alums weighed in on the news and congratulated Jill via Instagram.
"We are here for this," Brandon Jones wrote.
Sierra Jackson commented, "We are about it. Love this and you!"
Genevieve Parisi wrote, "Nobody deserves this more than you."
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Jill joked last year that, while she was ready to jump back into the dating pool, "the bar" was set "literally on the floor" following her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Jacob.
Jill and Jacob were friends on Bachelor in Paradise before sparking a connection. They were known for having similar fun, quirky and outgoing personalities, and they really hit it off during a date -- during which they both got naked -- on the show's eighth season.
But during "The Split" twist, Jill was whisked away to a hotel with her girlfriends and Jacob developed a crush on a newcomer, Kate Gallivan, on the Paradise beach.
Kate, however, diverted her attention away from Jacob and onto Logan Palmer.
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Once Jill and Jacob reunited after "The Split," Jacob confessed that Jill probably wasn't his "person" considering he was able to move on from their romance quickly and catch feelings for Kate. He therefore ended their relationship, and Jill left Paradise brokenhearted.
Jacob ultimately departed Paradise as well, alone and single, when the ABC series filmed in June 2022.
In late October, Jacob said on Us Weekly's "Here for the Right Reasons" podcast that he wished he had given his relationship with Jill more time on the beach.
"I wish I had tried to pursue us as just a couple... an actual relationship where we could be just talking and having fun with each other... I kind of do wish that I at least continued things," he said.
Jacob was then shown asking Jill for another chance and sweeping her off her feet during Bachelor in Paradise's reunion, which aired in November on ABC.
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Jacob "hard launched" his relationship with Jill on November 23 on Instagram, writing how Jill's "beautiful personality" was right for him and he felt "honored" to call her his girlfriend.
"After rekindling what was a 3 day relationship on the beach we both realized we're right for each other," Jacob gushed at the time.
"You have really impressed me and made me extremely happy these past few weeks. I'm so looking forward to spending some quality time with you on the east coast and you here in the west. Glad you stayed open to us."
But Jill revealed on the December 1 episode of the "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" podcast how she "had no other choice" but to break up with Jacob because he had broken her trust and "really fumbled the bag."
Jill said she and Jacob were really "struggling" to make things work during their short time together, especially when a trip to visit her home state of Rhode Island fell through.
"I don't wish ill will upon Jacob," she insisted. "I think that in the future, he could be a good partner to somebody if he puts in some work. So yeah, hopefully he will do so and somebody will be right for him."
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In early December, Jacob penned a heartfelt public letter to Jill, admitting he was to blame for their breakup.
"You were the right person at the wrong time," Jacob began in his open letter to the architectural historian.
"You gave 100% while I gave 80. You pushed me to look for quality work, change my schedule, and focus on my family instead of hollow relationships. You asked for better communication while I was lacking. You showed up when I didn't. Trust was lost."
Jacob, who lives in Scottsdale, AZ, admitted it was difficult being in a long-distance relationship, which resulted in poor communication between the former couple.
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"Being 2,000 miles away comes with its share of challenges but that wasn't the main reason. It was readiness of commitment. I appreciate you making me recognize this at the cost of you trying to make it work," Jacob wrote.
Jacob acknowledged how a relationship is "about the little things," adding, "I wasn't there to give you my whole heart because of my insecurities. I have a lot of refinement to do before I can mentally and spiritually be there."
Jacob concluded, "You deserve to be loved. Right now, I deserve to be alone. Jill, good luck on your journey angel."
Prior to their stint on Bachelor in Paradise, Jill appeared on Season 26 of The Bachelor starring Clayton Echard, and Jacob competed for Rachel Recchia's heart on The Bachelorette's nineteenth season.
Jacob memorably told Gabby Windey that she's "smoking hot" but he only connected with and wanted to date Rachel. He therefore said if Gabby was the only The Bachelorette star, he would've sent himself home. Jacob later called his comments "ignorant" and apologized.
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