Fans remember him as the hunk who vied for the heart of Kaitlyn Bristowe from Season 11 of The Bachelorette. On Monday, ABC officially announced Ben Higgins the next The Bachelor for season 20 during the live episode of After Paradise, the Bachelor in Paradise after-show. The 26-year-old software salesman from, actually came in third place on Kaitlyn's heart despite showing some promise early in the show.
His announcement does not came as a surprise as it has been long speculated Higgins will be the show's next leading man.
In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, the baby-faced charmer from Denver discussed about his views on marriage and his crush
"I'm ready to share my life with somebody," he said and added, "And I'm not fearful of the idea of getting married. As soon as I can find that person, it seems like the better life will be."
And the woman he is looking for? Well, Higgins said he has a crush on Ryan Reynold's wife Blake Lively. "I've always been attracted to Blake Lively," Higgins said. "She is the all around good girl." Higgins, revealed, he is looking for a "partner and best friend" and further added, "Somebody who doesn't get along with people in the house is not the best girl to get in a relationship with."
Height is also not a problem, despite towering at 6'4", Higgins said it does not concern him to date somebody much smaller and regardless of shape. In fact, he said had a girlfriend in high school who stands 5'3". "I'm a good kisser when I bend over fully!," he joked.
Commenting on Kaitlyn's decision to dump him in The Bachelorette, Higgins revealed his intention and feelings for her were genuine. "I was falling in love with Kaitlyn," he told the magazine. "She's an amazing person. But after watching the season back, I realized that there were other relationships that seemed a little more right than ours. Also, [Kaitlyn's fiancé] Shawn [Booth] and I are really good friends, and I see how happy he is and how happy she is, and that allowed me to move on and build a relationship with them as friends."
For the upcoming The Bachelor, Higgins hopes that the season would end with him proposing to the right woman. "That would be a really cool thing."
Higgins Excited With The Bachelor
In a separate interview with Variety, said he was excited for the upcoming season. "Everything leading up to this has just been incredible and I'm just ready to get started."
Higgins previously spoke Variety at the Men Tell All taping, and admitted he really wanted to be the next The Bachelor.
"I think when that opportunity, if it happens, presents itself, it's something you have to go at. It's a great opportunity," he said then. "I think being in this experience now has taught me...it's not ideal, but it can work."
Season 20 of The Bachelor premieres in January 2016.
