Prior to coming out as gay in April 2021, Colton Underwood dated a handful of women before and after his time on The Bachelor, including Aly Raisman and Cassie Randolph. However, after his appearance on Becca Kufrin‘s season of The Bachelorette in 2018 and starring as the season 23 lead in 2019, he began to take a closer look at his sexuality.
“This year’s been a lot for a lot of people and it’s probably made a lot of people look at themselves in the year and figure out who they are,” Colton recalled during an April 14 interview on Good Morning America.
“I’ve ran from myself for a long time, I’ve hated myself for a long time. I’m gay. I came to terms with that earlier this year, and the next step in all of this was sort of letting people know. I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life,” the Indianapolis native continued. “That means the world to me.”
Following Colton’s split from Cassie in May 2020, rumors began to circulate that The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV author was dating actress Lucy Hale. The pair was spotted hiking in Los Angeles in July 2020 and reportedly had been spending time together for weeks.
However, by August, Colton shut down any romance speculation. “I would consider myself single right now,” he explained to Us Weekly at the time. “My next relationship I’m already in, and that’s with myself. I’ve decided that I want to spend my energy and focus on all my attention on myself, which I’m actually weirdly loving. It sounds so crazy [and] so weird.”
Colton went on to reveal what he’s looking for in a future partner, as well. “I don’t want to say my exes weren’t this, but I just want somebody who complements and fits into my life seamlessly,” the former football player said.
“I think that’s something that I’m going to be looking for, and I don’t want to feel like it has to be forced or set up or feel like we have to compromise too much,” Colton added. “I think, while compromising is very important in a relationship, it’s something that you can only take so much of.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see Colton Underwood’s ex-girlfriends before and after The Bachelor.