Several Bachelor Nation stars, including Ashley Iaconetti, Sean Lowe, Colton Underwood, and Becca Tilley, have spoken about their virginity on the show. Underwood addressed the criticism he received for his virginity in a July 2018 Instagram post, stating that it shouldn’t define him as a person. Madison Prewett, another contestant, also revealed that she was saving herself for marriage but waited to tell Bachelor Peter Weber.
Bachelor Nation has had several cast members, including Colton Underwood, Ashley Iaconetti, Sean Lowe, and Becca Tilley, who publicly spoke about their virginity on the show and faced criticism for it.
In Bachelor Nation, virgins are few and far between. Some cast members, such as Ashley Iaconetti, Sean Lowe, Colton Underwood, and Becca Tilley, have famously talked about holding onto their V-cards on TV. Underwood, who publicly came out as gay in April 2021, has further reflected on his decision to discuss his virginity on the show. During the July 2018 Men Tell All special after his elimination from Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette, Underwood shared that he felt like people thought less of him for being a virgin. When other cast members made comments about his virginity, Underwood said, “My virginity shouldn’t have to be defended or used to describe me as a person.”
Madison Prewett, another cast member, revealed in a February 2020 confessional interview that she was saving herself for marriage. In an April 2020 episode of Kaitlyn Bristowe’s “Off the Vine” podcast, she shared that sharing her decision to wait until marriage was a very intimate and vulnerable thing to open up about, but it was something she was proud of. She acknowledged that perhaps she should have shared her choice with Bachelor Peter Weber sooner, but she couldn’t be sure if it would have made a difference.
While some people in Bachelor Nation celebrate their virginity, they’re not immune to criticism from other members of the show. During his time on The Bachelorette, Underwood was triggered by comments made by some of the other contestants. He wrote on Instagram, “If I have to continue to take cheap shots about my virginity — which is only a small part of who I am — so that others like me can feel comfortable & relate — Bring it on!”
Many cast members have shared intimate details of their lives on the show, including their sexual history or lack thereof. For some, opening up has helped them connect with viewers who share similar experiences. However, it’s important to remember that these vulnerable moments don’t define the person. The Bachelor franchise’s most infamous virgins through the years have shown that they are more than their sexual choices and that it’s okay to embrace who you are, flaws and all.
