Revisiting Ben Higgins' Journey on 'The Bachelor': Catching Up with Season 20 Contestants
Catch up with the ladies who vied for Ben Higgins' heart on Season 20 of 'The Bachelor' From Lauren Bushnell to JoJo Fletcher, find out where they are now
Ben Higgins is widely regarded as one of the most adored Bachelors in the history of the ABC franchise. However, season 20 still had its fair share of drama.
Having competed for Kaitlyn Bristowe's affection on season 11 of The Bachelorette in 2015, Ben embarked on his own quest for love and developed feelings for both Lauren Bushnell and JoJo Fletcher. It was during the season finale that Ben faced criticism for confessing his love to both women. Despite this, he ultimately proposed to Lauren B.
Ben expressed his complicated emotions, acknowledging that using the word "regret" might not accurately convey his feelings. Breaking up and immediately proposing to someone else on the same day was not ideal. At the time, he was naive enough to believe that this action would reassure both individuals of his genuine feelings. However, he now realizes that he did not choose the right words and that it was not a healthy approach for a long-term relationship.
In the March 2016 finale, Lauren accepted Ben's proposal, but their relationship ended in May 2017. Both Ben and Lauren have moved on to find love outside of the Bachelor Nation, just like many other contestants from season 20.
Scroll through for an update on the most memorable contestants from Ben’s season:
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Ben Higgins’ Season 20 of ‘The Bachelor’: Where Are They Now?
Despite being one of the most adored Bachelors in ABC franchise history, Ben Higgins's season 20 of The Bachelor was not without its fair share of dramatic moments. Prior to this, Ben had vied for Kaitlyn Bristowe's affection on season 11 of The Bachelorette in 2015, where he embarked on his own quest for love and developed feelings for both Lauren Bushnell and JoJo Fletcher. However, during the season finale, Ben faced criticism for declaring his love for both women. In the end, he chose to propose to Lauren B.
Ben, speaking exclusively to We in June 2020, expressed uncertainty about whether "regret" accurately described his feelings regarding a particular situation. He acknowledged that his emotions were complicated and the timing of his breakup and subsequent proposal to another person on the same day was far from ideal. In hindsight, Ben recognized his naivety in believing that his actions were a means to reassure both individuals involved of his genuine care. He acknowledged his choice of words as being less than ideal and acknowledged that the overall situation was not conducive to long-term health.
In the season finale of March 2016, Lauren accepted Ben's proposal. However, their relationship came to an end in May 2017. Both individuals have since found love outside of the Bachelor Nation, joining other contestants from season 20 who have also moved on.
Scroll through for an update on the most memorable contestants from Ben’s season:
Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABC
Ben Higgins’ Season 20 of ‘The Bachelor’: Where Are They Now?
Ben Higgins is likely to be remembered as one of the most adored Bachelors in the ABC franchise's history. However, season 20 of the show still had its fair share of drama. In 2015, Ben competed for Kaitlyn Bristowe's affection on season 11 of The Bachelorette. After that, he embarked on his own quest for love and developed feelings for both Lauren Bushnell and JoJo Fletcher. The season finale caused controversy when Ben admitted his love for both women, but ultimately, he proposed to Lauren B.
Ben admitted in an exclusive interview with We in June 2020 that he wonders if regret is the appropriate term to describe his feelings about the situation. He acknowledged that it was a complicated and unpleasant experience to both end a relationship and propose to someone else on the same day. Ben confessed that he may have been naive at the time, believing that proposing to the other person would prove his love and commitment to both individuals. However, looking back, he realizes that he didn't choose the right words and acknowledges that it was not a healthy approach in the long run.
Despite accepting a proposal from Ben during the finale of March 2016, Lauren and Ben decided to end their relationship in May 2017. Since then, both individuals have found love outside of the Bachelor Nation, following in the footsteps of many other contestants from season 20.
Scroll through for an update on the most memorable contestants from Ben’s season:
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Ben Higgins
The cohost of the podcast "Almost Famous" proposed to his girlfriend, Jessica Clarke, in March 2020 after dating for over a year. They got married in November 2021.
"It's not difficult for me to watch it again because I know what to expect. However, Jess won't be watching it as she has no desire to do so," Ben told Us regarding The Bachelor: GOAT. "She is my partner, and I want her to know that. I don't want her to experience any heartbreak or sadness from it. So she'll make an appearance on the show, but she won't be watching it. I think she's made up her mind... And if she wanted to, I would allow her. I mean, I don't really want to dictate her choices."
Ben additionally launched Generous Coffee Co., an enterprise that contributes all of its profits to charitable organizations. He also cohosted the Bachelor Live on Stage alongside former Bachelorette Becca Kufrin until the tour was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
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Lauren Bushnell
After ending her relationship with Ben, Lauren reconnected with Devin Antin, whom she had previously matched with on a dating app before joining the Bachelor franchise. However, their split was revealed by Us in August 2018 after being together for over a year. Following this, Lauren began dating country singer Chris Lane. The couple got married in Nashville in October 2019.
In an interview with Us in 2019, Lauren expressed her certainty that Chris is the person she wants to spend her life with. She described their relationship as incredibly enjoyable and the most effortless and genuine connection she has ever experienced.
The couple shared exciting news in December 2020 as they eagerly awaited the arrival of their first child. In June 2021, Lauren joyfully welcomed her son Dutton into the world. Keeping their fans updated, the designer took to Instagram in June 2022 to announce her second pregnancy. Their son Baker made his grand entrance in October 2022.
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JoJo Fletcher
JoJo was crowned the Bachelorette for season 12 and became engaged to Jordan Rodgers during the 2016 finale. Despite their plans to marry in June 2020, their wedding was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
On June 13, 2020, JoJo shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, commemorating what should have been their wedding day. She expressed her disappointment at having to postpone their long-awaited wedding due to the circumstances of 2020. However, she remained confident that their eventual marriage would be even more significant and meaningful. Looking ahead to 2021, JoJo eagerly anticipated their special day, emphasizing the anticipation and excitement they felt.
Finally, in May 2022, the couple joyfully exchanged their vows, sealing their love and commitment to each other.
The pair resides in Dallas, Texas, and has been the hosts of several reality shows in the past years. These shows include Cash Pad on CNBC and Fittest Couple on Paramount Pictures. In addition to her role as a fashion analyst for SEC football, JoJo introduced her clothing line, Fletch, in 2018.
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Caila Quinn
Following her appearance on Bachelor in Paradise season 3, it was revealed by Us in January 2020 that the contestant who came in second place had recently become engaged to her boyfriend, Nick Burrello, after two years of being in a relationship.
Expressing her gratitude, she shared, "I consider myself extremely fortunate because it seems that my purpose for going on the show wasn't to find love within that environment. Instead, it was meant for me to meet Nick. Without being on the show, I would have never become a blogger, and it was through that platform that we were introduced and had our first date. Hence, I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason, and I express my gratitude to God every single day."
Based in New York City, Caila manages a lifestyle blog. She made a public announcement in November 2020, revealing that she and Nick had chosen a wedding date and had decided to forego their initial plan of getting married in Italy. Eventually, the couple exchanged vows in May 2021.
Us exclusively revealed in September 2022 that Caila and Nick are expecting their first child.
They welcomed their daughter, Teddi Marie, via C-section in March 2023.
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Becca Tilley
Following her appearances on both season 19 and 20 of The Bachelor, Becca ostensibly stepped away from the realm of reality television. Instead, in 2019, she delved into the creation of a fashion line exclusively for Macys and presently serves as a host for the widely embraced iHeartRadio podcast "Scrubbing In," alongside her closest confidant, Tanya Rad.
Becca was in a relationship with Bachelorette alum Robert Graham from 2016 to 2017. However, she later entered into a new relationship that she prefers to keep private. In September 2019, Becca expressed her appreciation for the privacy of her current relationship, stating, "I just think that my relationship that I'm in is just, I like that it's private and it's my own. I had a public relationship before and it just felt like I had a lot of people involved."
In May 2022, Becca officially announced her romantic involvement with Hayley Kiyoko after dating in secrecy for four years.
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Emily and Haley Ferguson
For the first time in Bachelor history, Season 20 introduced viewers to a pair of identical twins as contestants. Although both twins participated in seasons 3 and 4 of Bachelor in Paradise, Haley returned solo for Season 6 after her sister Emily began dating Swedish hockey player William Karlsson. Meanwhile, Haley herself found love with a hockey player named Oula Palve, and the couple publicly announced their relationship on Instagram in January 2020.
The Fergie twins, residing in Las Vegas, had their own spinoff show on Freeform called The Twins: Happily Ever After? in 2017, which consisted of eight episodes.
In December 2020, Emily joyfully shared her engagement to Karlsson on Instagram. She expressed, "I SAID YES! I get to marry the man of my dreams ️. This is a moment I've cherished since childhood, and it surpasses all my expectations as it's with my ideal partner. I eagerly anticipate a future filled with laughter as we grow old together. 12/11/2020."
In May 2021, Haley shared the exciting news that Palve had proposed to her after dating for over a year. Expressing her joy on Instagram, she exclaimed, "I am engaged to the man of my dreams! @oula7 thank you for choosing me. Will I ever stop crying/smiling...probably not!"
Following their engagement, Haley and Palve tied the knot in June 2022, while Emily and Karlsson exchanged vows a month later. Just a few months after their wedding, Emily and her husband happily announced their first pregnancy in November 2022. Their son, Beckham, was born in May 2023. Adding to the pregnancy excitement, Haley revealed in October 2023 that she and Palve were also expecting their first child.
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Amanda Stanton
Amanda, who has two daughters named Kinsley and Charlie with her ex-husband Nick Buonfiglio, got engaged to Josh Murray during the filming of season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise in 2016. However, their engagement didn't last and Amanda returned for season 4 of Bachelor in Paradise. Although she had a brief relationship with Robby Hayes, Amanda decided to leave the show during week 4.
Amanda entered into a new relationship after her time on The Bachelor with Bobby Jacobs. They decided to live together in Laguna Beach, but unfortunately, they broke up in April 2019. During their time together, Amanda faced legal trouble with an arrest for domestic battery in Las Vegas. However, the charges against her were eventually dropped. Amanda chronicled her relationships with Nick, Ben, Josh, Robby, and Bobby in her 2019 book, Now Accepting Roses.
Reflecting on season 20, Amanda shared, "I had a conversation with Jen Saviano, and it seems like we are the only two single people left from our season. It's surprising to see that everyone else is either married, in a relationship, or engaged, even those who were eliminated earlier in our season."
Amanda, the founder of the Lani the Label clothing line in 2019, maintains a friendly relationship with both Ben and Lauren. She expressed her appreciation for Ben's consistent kindness and support, mentioning that he has always been there for her during difficult times such as breakups, the release of her book, and the launch of her clothing line. Whether it's sending congratulatory texts or extending birthday wishes, Ben has always shown his genuine care.
Amanda made her relationship with attorney Oren Agman public on Instagram in August 2020, following a period of secret dating. Following their breakup, Amanda began a relationship with Michael Fogel. In December 2021, Fogel proposed to her, and the couple tied the knot in September 2022. Amanda revealed in August 2023 that she is expecting her third child, the first with Fogel.
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Jubilee Sharpe
Jubilee made appearances on seasons 3 and 5 of Bachelor in Paradise without successful romantic connections. In February 2020, the Army veteran residing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was arrested for driving under the influence.
Jubilee has chosen to keep her social media accounts private, but she made an exception on Instagram in response to fans who were disappointed that she was not included in The Bachelor: GOAT follow-up interview. She clarified that she willingly declined the interview and camera appearance. In her message, Jubilee expressed gratitude to her supporters for always being so kind to her. She also provided a brief update on her life, stating that she is doing well and prefers to maintain a low profile.
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Leah Block
Leah, a Denver, Colorado, native, made her return for Bachelor in Paradise season 3, but unfortunately, she didn't find love in Mexico. In 2017, she faced criticism after comparing Rachel Lindsay's season of The Bachelorette to an episode of Love & Hip Hop. However, she later issued an apology.
The social media and events specialist has been seeing boyfriend Ryan Smith since 2018.
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Jennifer Saviano
In Bachelor in Paradise season 3, Jen formed a bond with Nick Viall. Although they eventually separated, Nick went on to become the subsequent Bachelor. Jen made a comeback in the 2019 season 6 of BiP but faced elimination in week 3. Alongside her involvement in the show, Jen manages a lifestyle blog and serves as the host for the podcast "Whinning" based in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Olivia Caridi
Following her appearance on The Bachelor, Olivia openly discussed the impact the show had on her mental well-being. During an episode of her “Mouthing Off” podcast in 2018, she revealed, "Recovering from the entire experience took an extensive amount of time. I struggled with the aftermath for a prolonged period." She went on to describe the severity of her emotional state, stating, "I reached a point where I felt suicidal. My battle with depression has been ongoing throughout my life. When the show was airing, I received messages encouraging me to take my own life and questioning my self-worth. I genuinely felt victimized and bullied while on the show."
In addition to her podcast, Olivia embarked on a new journey with Delta after completing her Bachelor's degree. Although she confirmed her relationship status as taken in February 2020, Olivia surprised everyone by announcing her single status in June 2020. Furthermore, in August 2020, she commenced her graduate studies at New York University.
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Lauren Himle
Lauren H., a participant from season 3 of BiP, shared the news of her engagement to Doug, another real estate agent, in December 2019. The couple is planning to exchange their vows in Petoskey, Michigan, in September 2020.
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Lace Morris
After leaving Ben's season, Lace discovered love with Grant Kemp on the third season of Bachelor in Paradise. The couple, known for their "Grace" tattoos, ended their engagement in November 2016 after a few months.
In 2017, the realtor encountered her current boyfriend Russell on Bumble.
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LB Barr
Although LB's appearance on Ben's season was short-lived, she became a prominent figure in the media in November 2018 when Lauren and her now-husband Chris made their first public outing together. According to a source, it was revealed that the country singer "I Don't Know About You" had actually dated LB prior to entering a relationship with his now-wife Lauren.
LB, who never publicly confirmed her relationship with the singer, started seeing her current boyfriend, Hunter, in 2019. They reside in Nashville.
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Izzy Goodkind
Izzy discovered romance with Vinny Ventiera during the third season of Bachelor in Paradise, following a brief appearance on Ben's season. However, their love story was short-lived. Residing in New York City, Izzy works as a graphic designer and creative director in the wedding industry. Additionally, she is the proud founder of her own apparel company, named THE GOODKIND.
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Tiara Soleim
While the chicken enthusiast was sent home during night one, she returned for Bachelor in Paradise season 3. Tiara was eliminated during week 5.
Tiara, who resides in Seattle, Washington, is close friends with Olivia and documents her love for horses and hiking via Instagram.
