Goodbye, Hudson, Ohio — hello, Hudson River! The Bachelor‘s Caila Quinn, who recently lost out on starring as the season 12 Bachelorette, is moving to New York City and hoping that the new location leads to love, a source tells Us Weekly exclusively.
The Massachusetts native had been living in Ohio prior to falling in love with Ben Higgins on the ABC dating series’ recently concluded season 20. Quinn, 24, was the second runner-up, with the hunky software salesman sending her home brokenhearted from Jamaica during the February 29 fantasy-suites episode.
“She already had a job lined up [in New York City], and she is so excited!” the source tells Us about Quinn, who bonded with Higgins, 26, on The Bachelor over the fact that she had been working as a software sales rep. “She’s really focused on that right now and just happy about this new start in a new city.”
Her move follows the Monday, March 14, finale, in which host Chris Harrison announced that season 20 runner-up JoJo Fletcher will star as the next Bachelorette. The show’s producers had considered picking Quinn to lead season 12, and she even filmed her introductory package in Hudson earlier this month before Fletcher landed the gig.
Quinn — who is half Filipino and had been eager to help add more diversity to The Bachelorette — is optimistic that a change in scenery will lead her to her perfect match.
“Caila is excited and hopeful about the possibility of finding love in New York,” the source adds.
The Bachelorette season 12 premieres on ABC on Monday, May 23, at 8 p.m. ET.
