‘Bachelor’ Ben Higgins Reveals Strategy In New Preview Clip [Video]
Bachelor fans are just one week away from the debut of the new season and are getting their first look at the women who will compete for Ben Higgins’ affections. Higgins, who was one of Kaitlyn Bristowe’s castoffs, has not said much about his chance at love on the series. But in a new preview clip provided to Entertainment Weekly, Higgins reveals a little bit about how he’ll handle things — and aggressive advances are not welcome.
In the clip, Lace, a real estate agent from Denver, tells the camera she’s kissed Ben and wants to solidify the memory for him with another lip-lock. When she approaches Higgins, however, she’s rejected. Ben says he wants to get to know everyone before getting caught up in physical attraction. Have a look at the clip below to see how Higgins sets the tone for his Bachelor season.
In an interview with Parade, Ben picked up on this idea when responding to a question about public displays of affection. For Higgins, it’s what’s inside that’s more important, at least in the beginning.
“I really wanted to concentrate on getting to know these women inside, more than just the physical aspect. I think that’s always important in a relationship, but I wanted to make sure that we spent our time getting to know each other one-on-one and not necessarily kissing the whole time.”
Although he had no “deal breakers” when he went on The Bachelor, he told Parade he’d like to find someone with a similar faith and “somebody that offers grace.”
Higgins’ faith is remembered fondly by people in his hometown of Warsaw, Indiana, as IndyStar reported. Ben is known there, affectionately, as a “nobody,” who was the quarterback of his high school football team and Sunday school instructor. He’s participated in missionary trips and followed the spiritual trails in Machu Picchu, Peru.
Troy Akers, Higgins’ high school football coach, told IndyStar even Bachelor producers were floored at Ben’s perfection.
“The producers were like, ‘He really is like every mother-in-law’s dream. He is more than a decent young man.”
As much as Higgins enjoyed his time with Bristowe, he told Us Weekly that he wasn’t seeking a woman exactly like her. Bristowe ultimately chose Shawn Booth as the winner of her season after creating her own controversy by not shying away from the physical aspect of the Bachelor/Bachelorette process.
“I definitely know that Kaitlyn is an incredible woman and one that I’m happy and glad that I got to meet.
“Yes, I respected Kaitlyn a lot, and I enjoyed my time with her, but I think when it comes to this season, I was looking for somebody that had their own individual characteristics.”
Longtime viewers of The Bachelor will recognize some familiar faces in Ben’s group of contestants. Becca Tilley and Amber James both competed alongside Bristowe for Chris Soules’ affections. Soules ultimately chose Whitney Bischoff, but the couple parted a few months after the Bachelor season finale and Soules’ turn on Dancing with the Stars.
Amber James was eliminated by Soules on Week 3, but she’s still a Bachelor franchise veteran; she was also on one season of Bachelor in Paradise. Tilley, as fans will remember, was Soules’ runner-up after he eliminated Bristowe.
Another look from @beccatilley5‘s Favorites Collection! pic.twitter.com/M8URR26Rgr
— sugar love boutique (@shopsugarlove) December 15, 2015
As Higgins gets set for his own Bachelor journey, Bristowe and Booth are planning their wedding. The couple is active on social media, even showing off some bride-and-groom style on Twitter.
Picture perfect The Bachlorette @kaitlynbristowe in a BERTA From her engagement pics with @shawn_booth18 pic.twitter.com/T6KFzBpKiC
— BERTA (@bertabridal) December 24, 2015
The new season of The Bachelor featuring Ben Higgins debuts on Monday, January 4 on ABC. Happy New Year, Bachelor fans!
[Image via ABC/Instagram]
