JoJo Fletcher couldn't be happier to pass The Bachelorette torch on to Rachel Lindsay.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lindsay, a 31-year-old attorney from Dallas, TX, is still in the running for Nick Viall's heart on Season 21 of The Bachelor with hometown dates coming up next week; however, ABC decided to announce Season 13's Bachelorette prematurely on Monday night's broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
"I'm actually really excited about it," Fletcher, who starred on Season 12 of The Bachelorette, told Us Weekly.
"I sent her a message today actually on Instagram because I just had this feeling before I had even seen anything, literally this morning. I was like, 'You know what? I'm going to reach out to her,' because in my mind she was the only qualified person I feel like out of [Nick's] bunch."
ABC has never cast a black lead in all 21 seasons of The Bachelor and 12 seasons of The Bachelorette over the course of 15 years, so Lindsay will be making history as far as the show is concerned and hopefully solving the franchise's longtime diversity issue.
ADVERTISEMENT
"[She'll bring] diversity," Fletcher told the magazine, referencing how producers selected her to be last season's Bachelorette over the sweet and bubbly Caila Quinn, the Filipino beauty who also competed for Ben Higgins' heart on last year's The Bachelor edition.
"Last year, that stuff with Caila, everyone thought [she'd be the Bachelorette] and I think that when I was chosen, I think some people were a little disappointed that there wasn't more diversity," Fletcher explained.
"I think this is perfect timing for them to do that. And to be honest, if it wasn't Rachel, I think they would probably get some backlash on that because there'd be no reason why it shouldn't be her."
Fletcher -- who is still engaged to Jordan Rodgers, the man she picked at the end of her journey to find love on the reality dating series -- also gushed about having the same roots as Lindsay.
"She's from Dallas, so we have two Dallas [Bachelorettes] back to back, which I love," Fletcher said. "I just think she's smart and she's competent and she's bringing something that we've never had before."
ADVERTISEMENT
Becca Tilley, who competed for Higgins and Chris Soules on The Bachelor, agreed whole-heartedly with her best friend.
"I just find her to be really smart, but I find that she brings this sweetness and sincerity without being a pushover or anything," Tilley told Us. "She does have some big shoes to fill. She's stepping into a position where people loved JoJo and I think people love Rachel, so I think she's the person to do it and I don't think there's anyone else that I would [choose]."
Tilley also added that she hopes to see the villain on Viall's season, Corinne Olympios, on this summer's edition of Bachelor in Paradise.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski