The Bachelor star Colton Underwood has revealed the hardest part of being the franchise's Season 23 leading man, and it's apparently not breaking women's hearts.
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Colton explained in a press call the most difficult part about becoming The Bachelor star has been the "virgin" label put on him, according to E! News.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SEASON 23: MEET ALL OF COLTON'S BACHELORETTES! (PHOTO GALLERY)
Colton wants the world to know there is much more to him than his decision to abstain from sex as a 26-year-old former professional football player.
"Instead of it being 'Colton Underwood, Bachelor,' it's 'the virgin Colton Underwood,' or it's always led with or followed by 'virgin.' Do I think that's right? No. Because it's a small part of who I am, it's like saying, 'Colton Underwood, football player,' and I don't believe that either," Colton told E! News.
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"I'm a human being. We're all human beings, we all have parts of our life that make us into a unique individual. That just happens to be a small part of my life, something that just makes me into who I am."
Colton therefore concluded, "I think that would probably be the one thing that I would say has been the hardest part since coming into being, if you want to call it, a public figure on the show. Sort of just having people put a label on you."
For the people hung up on Colton's virginity, the charity founder teased, "I was very open and candid about my virginity and I think a lot of people maybe misunderstood it, or still don't understand why I am a virgin. I think those answers might come out this season."
Colton reasoned, "I don't know if people will ever be satisfied with the answer because they just don't understand who I am yet... The thing that I stress the most or at times I get frustrated with is it's just a small part of who I am."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SPOILERS: COLTON'S PRIOR ALLEGED ENDING WAS WRONG, SEASON 23'S FINALE IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING!
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But Colton has apparently learned over the last several months that many people relate to him.
He has apparently heard from "some of the most unexpected people" in his life, reaching out on the topic of virginity. In fact, Colton said, "It's been unbelievable."
As for whether Colton's virginity is still intact, he's playing coy.
"I always said from the beginning I'm waiting for the right heart and somebody I can share the rest of my life with to share that moment with, and I think that's what The Bachelor is all about, trying to find that," Colton said.
"Obviously if I answered that question, I would be spoiling the rest of the season and I wouldn't want to do that for you. I will say, this season wasn't the easiest for me. There were ups and downs and at times it got really challenging, it got really hard and it really pushed me. It allowed me to grow and I think this is going to be an unbelievable season."
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Colton declined to disclose whether he's in love, but he did tell E! News he's "the happiest I've ever been right now."
"It's because I really have an understanding of who I am. Obviously I have a long way to go, I have a long way to grow. I'm not perfect," Colton elaborated.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
"[But] I really have a sense of who I am and what I want to become. I might not have it all figured out, I might not have all the answers, but I at least have a sense of what I want out of life."
The Bachelor's 23rd season will premiere Monday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT with a three-hour special event on ABC.
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