Say hello to America's sweet-hunk! Newly announced Bachelor Ben Higgins took a red-eye to NYC on Tuesday, Aug. 25, where he appeared on Good Morning America to discuss his stint as the next lead of Season 20 of ABC's smash series.
"I think opportunities like this don’t happen to people like me," Higgins, 26, said on GMA. "Last night, when I was flying here, was my first time in a first-class lounge. I had no idea those things existed. I just really want to take the opportunity to do this. I think you can’t pass up on that.” (Higgins follows in the footsteps of Season 19 Bachelor Chris Soules.)
Ladies and gentlemen, the next @BachelorABC: Ben Higgins! #Bachelor pic.twitter.com/dXFtm394WX
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 25, 2015
The software salesman from Denver, who was beloved by millions of fans (and show producers) when he rounded out the top three suitors on Kaitlyn Bristowe's recently concluded season of the Bachelorette, told GMA that he learned "a lot" from his ex Bristowe.
"I think you have to just try to be true to yourself, fair to the people involved," Higgins said of observing the Season 11 Bachelorette. "I think Kaitlyn did that to the best of her ability… I think Kaitlyn and I have different personalities and different things that we look for, obviously, she’s with one of my best friends now, but, you know, I think I did learn a lot from Kaitlyn."
That doesn't take away from the anticipation. Higgins, a native of Warsaw, Indiana, shared that his parents have been married for 34 years — and he's overwhelmed about dating 25 women at once. "I haven’t dated one well, ever," Higgins admitted on Tuesday. "I don’t think there’s any training for that…I’m processing how to do this."
Prior to signing on to be The Bachelor, Higgins told Us Weekly in June that he was weighing the pros and cons of stepping into the role. "I think it’s a great opportunity," he told Us at the time. "I think it’s something that any man, if asked, should consider. And I’ve been in the process now and I can see that it works."
Luckily he has the total support of both Bristowe and her fiancé, Shawn Booth. "I say to everybody. Every girl. Every man. Every dog," Bristowe told Us at the Men Tell All taping this past June. "Everyone out there would agree with me right now that Ben H. is the man."
Like Bristowe, Booth was equally supportive about Higgins being the next man. "He'd make the perfect Bachelor," Booth told Us in a conference call. "He deserves nothing but the best."
