The Untold Truth Of Bachelor Nation's Tayshia Adams
Although ABC's The Bachelorette was forced to pause production because of the coronavirus lockdown, fans should prepare for "the most dramatic season yet," because if the rumors are true, Bachelorette lead Clare Crawley's journey has sent producers scrambling to salvage the program once again.
In late July 2020, an insider told Life & Style that ABC has been actively pursuing Bachelor Nation's Tayshia Adams to take the lead after Clare threatened to quit after only 12 days of filming. The source claimed Clare "blindsided" the showrunners as she "told producers she no longer wanted to participate in the show" because she'd already fallen in love with 31-year-old football player Dale Moss since production's July 19 start date. Clare reportedly refused "to come out of her room," so producers are "frantically trying to pick up the pieces without having to start over completely." Thus, showrunners supposedly called upon Tayshia to swoop in and get swept off her feet by Clare's remaining men, as they've already been quarantined.
Like every contestant before her, Clare is under contract, which means she technically cannot quit the show, but with so much upheaval in the schedule already, ABC may opt for the path of least resistance so filming can resume with minimal delays. But who's the woman who's (possibly) slated to pick up where Clare left off? Well, according to both fans and former contestants, Tayshia was the "really good choice" long before Clare was ever announced as Season 16's unexpected lead pick.
Tayshia Adams was never truly part of Colton Underwood's final two
The Bachelor fans first met Tayshia Adams as she pursued Season 23's lead Colton Underwood. Though the former phlebotomist and fitness instructor hit it off with the former football player right from the start, Colton ultimately left Tayshia and fellow contestant Hannah Godwin long before anyone reached the altar, as he was in love with eliminated contestant Cassie Randolph. In fact, as Tayshia told Entertainment Tonight, she could already sense that "something was off" during their Fantasy Suite date.
"I saw such a real side of him when we were alone," she explained, "without cameras, without our mic packs on, and I just felt like if he needed to say something more to my face that he didn't want to say to the cameras, he was going to." As she predicted, Colton broke up with Tayshia and Hannah, but as Inquisitr noted, he specifically told Hannah that she did not deserve to be his "backup plan," clearly indicating she would have been his second choice.
Regardless of the outcome, however, Tayshia recovered relatively quickly. "I slept a lot, I ate a lot, I cried a lot. I took a lot of walks around the resort. It was a lot of me time," she told Vulture. "It was a lot of me time. And obviously I drank a lot of wine. A lot of wine. It was well-deserved." But that wasn't Tayshia's only adventure within the Bachelor franchise.
Tayshia Adams met ex-boyfriend John Paul Jones on 'Bachelor In Paradise'
With broken heart in tow, The Bachelor hopeful Tayshia Adams did what any of the show's most popular contestants would've done after the season wrapped — she joined Bachelor In Paradise! Though Tayshia was slow to start, she eventually found herself in a relationship with The Bachelorette's John Paul Jones. However, the pair split before their Fantasy Suite episode. But, in keeping with the franchise's "dramatic" nature, Tayshia and JPJ later announced that they wanted to give the relationship another go once BIP finished filming — and subsequently broke up again months later.
As Tayshia wrote on Instagram, in a post that has since been deleted, the couple attempted to make things work without the "pressures" of production so they could "simply figure things out on [their] own terms," but with lives on opposite coasts, it was impossible to sustain this relationship. "We truly did the best we could, but at this time have decided that what is best for the both of us is to go our separate ways," she explained (via Cosmopolitan). "We are the best of friends and will continue to remain in each other's life because regardless of the situation, we make each other happy."
A source also told E! News that their age difference might have impacted the relationship's longevity because Tayshia "needs somebody a little more mature." After all, Tayshia has already been married once, so she's no stranger to the intricacies of longterm commitment.
Tayshia Adams opened up about her divorce on 'The Bachelor'
As Tayshia Adams and Colton Underwood got to know one another on The Bachelor, Tayshia revealed an unexpected detail about her past — she's been married before. While an average person might not think Tayshia's divorcée status seems odd, it's unusual by The Bachelor standards, especially since she spoke about the matter so candidly on-air. "This past year and a half has been kind of hard for me and it's actually because I was married, and I got divorced," she told Colton (via Life & Style). "I actually married my first boyfriend and I was with him for about six years or so." But, as she noted, "you can't make someone want to be married."
Tayshia admitted that her "divorce used to be something [she] was ashamed of," because it meant she had failed at marriage, which she values highly. "It made me question my worth and completely dimmed the light inside of me that used to shine so brightly," she wrote on Instagram. "It's been a rough journey to pick up the pieces and rebuild my idea of the life I want, but I will tell you this: I would not be able to be the strong, independent, and smiling woman I am today without my faith or the support of my close family [and] friends that have supported me unconditionally."
While she and ex-husband Josh Bourelle couldn't make it work, she now knows what she wants from a relationship.
Tayshia Adams said she'd be 'more tough on the guys' as the Bachelorette
Before contestant Hannah Brown was crowned the Bachelorette in March 2019, Tayshia Adams was also rumored to be up for the role. Yet, while she didn't get the chance to date 30 men (that time around), Tayshia told Vulture she'd know exactly how to approach her own season. "I might be more tough on the guys, in the sense I'd need them to stand up a little bit more than Hannah," she noted. "She's pretty fun and doesn't take herself too seriously all the time."
"The guys would definitely have to be much older, I'd tell you that much," she added. "I require a little bit more life experience, someone who really knows who they are and still aren't trying to figure themselves out. Show up, or get out. No bulls**t, let's go, I'm trying to find a husband!" Tayshia also explained there's no audition process for the role, as one's time on The Bachelor allows producers to determine who'd be best.
And as someone with deep religious roots, Tayshia didn't let this disappointment get her down. "I pray about everything that happens in my life, especially big decisions, and if it was meant to be, it would've happened. The same with Colton. I'm okay with it. It would've been really, really nice to get The Bachelorette, but I'm really happy with where I'm at." Plus, it looks like she might get her wish anyway!