The Bachelor's Kelsey Toussant has provided more insight into her father's strict religious beliefs and her upbringing.
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On The Bachelor's latest episode, Kelsey T. accompanied Joey on a one-on-one date in Montreal, Canada, and during the dinner portion of the evening, she opened up about her tumultuous relationship with her dad.
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The 31-year-old actress from Los Angeles, CA, explained how she was extremely close to her father growing up, until she decided that she didn't want to focus her life -- and career -- around his religion.
"He stopped talking to me... for a very long time," Kelsey T. said, recalling how her dad had cut her out of his life.
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"In my heart, I knew it wasn't where I wanted to be. And because I chose to go to college, he didn't support that decision at all. Anyone who's in his household has to be in the religion, and so I wasn't allowed to be there anymore. So I went to live with my mom and we stopped talking."
Kelsey T. did not specify what religion she was raised in, but she previously spoke to Voyage LA magazine about her estrangement from her father and how he was a Jehovah's Witness.
"I knew I had creative genes flowing through my body... When high school came around, I joined a theater class and that's when I realized I wanted to pursue creativity for the rest of my life," Kelsey T. shared in August 2019.
"At the same time, I was a full-blown Jehovah's Witness and I knew the two couldn't co-exist. So I decided to leave the religion and set my focus on attending California State University, Northridge."
Kelsey T. went on to have three majors: accounting, broadcast journalism, and theater.
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"After a successful play, costume designing, directing, improv, and on camera classes, I realized that I didn't choose this dream it chose me," she told the magazine.
"I would be doing myself and everyone else a disservice if I only made it a side hustle. After graduating, acting became my life."
She elaborated, "Since then I've been honored to be a part of several web series, short films... a commercial, and shared the creative space with some of the most talented creatives I know. In addition to acting, I also dabble in modeling and I'm starting a clothing line named TOUSSANT."
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Kelsey T. admitted, however, that carving her own path and supporting herself while pursuing her passions wasn't easy.
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"Coming from a very strict religious background, I've had to break out of a mentality that I've had for more than half my life. I was so separated from society and didn't even realize it and I've had to play catch-up ever since," Kelsey T. explained.
"From rebuilding relationships with family and friends to watching movies I wasn't able to experience. Even to this day, friends of mine will ask if I've seen certain movies and they can't believe that as an actress I haven't seen some of the most iconic films!"
Kelsey T. said a lot of sacrifice went into "being a creative" and doing such work has caused "a lot of downfalls, disappointments and fruitless expenses" for her.
"Despite those challenges," Kelsey T. said, "I can go through rain, sleet, mud, snow or hunger and get one opportunity to act, then suddenly I don't remember how hard the journey's been."
Kelsey T. concluded, "I can't remember where I heard this first but I truly believe Luck is when Preparation meets Opportunity. Success to me is connecting dreams."
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On The Bachelor, Kelsey T. admitted to Joey that her situation with her father "messed [her] up very badly. She is still struggling to trust men in relationships.
However, Kelsey T. revealed that she and her father are now in touch and are working to slowly repair their relationship. For instance, they reach out to each other on the phone every now and then.
"It's hard because he still missed a lot," Kelsey T. shared with The Bachelor star.
Joey complimented Kelsey T. on being strong and resilient, and then she said things felt "right" and "amazing" with him. Joey, who felt very connected and bonded with the bachelorette, gave her a kiss and a rose in Montreal.
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Kelsey T. and Joey's other remaining women will be shown traveling to Jasper in Canada for the next round of dates, which will air Monday, February 26 on The Bachelor.
Click here to learn more about Joey's The Bachelor bachelorettes or click here to read spoilers that reveal how Joey's season ends and who he picked as his winner.
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