Despite what sounds like a season far different than any other, Clare Crawley is looking on the bright side.
Not only has Chris Harrison teased an "explosive" first few episodes of The Bachelorette season 16, but the reality hit will also look different in that it was filmed at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, Calif., not Villa de la Vina. And though production was delayed by a few months (from March to June) because of the coronavirus pandemic, it sounds like more good than bad came from the shakeup.
Speaking with People, Clare, 39, opened up about having to wait a little longer to meet her suitors. "There were definitely a lot of emotions," she said. "It was stressful. But there were honestly so many pros to it getting shut down."
What were the pros? An updated roster of men she'd absolutely hit it off with.
"Producers were able to recast some of the guys and get some that were more appropriate for what I was looking for," she said. "I wanted a guy who was genuinely there for me. There was a lot of talk about, ‘Oh, I'm the older Bachelorette, are these guys too young?' But it was also about: Am I too old for them? It went both ways. So we were able to hone in on what everybody was looking for."
Reflecting on her experience, she said she was looking for "the ones that wanted to be there after the hoops they had to jump through."
Yes, the early days of production may have been rosy ("It really was magical!" she said of the first night), but the rest of the season is about to blow up. In August, multiple sources confirmed to E! News that Clare will be replaced midseason by Bachelor in Paradise alum Tayshia Adams.
How? Why? During which episode? That's to be determined.
For now, we suggest looking at our own bright side: The Bachelorette premieres in less than a week.
Scroll down to see Clare's updated roster of men.
Season 16 of The Bachelorette premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.