'Bachelor' Colton Underwood talks new season

Colton Underwood returns for another shot at love, starring in the 23rd season of ABC's hit romance reality series "The Bachelor," premiering Monday. Credit: ABC / Craig Sjodin
Colton Underwood, star of "The Bachelor” season 23, premiering Monday at 8 p.m. on WABC/7, is gamely addressing the oft-discussed issue of his virginity.
"I was very open and candid about my virginity and I think a lot of people maybe misunderstood it, or still don't understand why I am a virgin," Underwood, a fan-favorite suitor from "The Bachelorette" season 14, starring Becca Kufrin, said in a conference call with reporters. "I think those answers might come out this season," he tantalized, but added, "I don't know if people will ever be satisfied with the answer because they just don't understand who I am yet."
Underwood, who turns 27 on Jan. 26, lamented his public persona. "Instead of it being 'Colton Underwood, Bachelor,' it's 'the virgin Colton Underwood.'" That aspect, he stressed, "happens to be a small part of my life."
He told Newsday one reason he has not yet found the right woman was his concentrated focus on football, where after being a standout at Illinois State he found himself relegated to the practice squads of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders from 2014 to 2016.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and raised in Washington, Illinois, he currently resides in Colorado near his divorced parents, Scott and Donna, and says he has been living on his football savings.
As well, he says, he has spent at least a year involved with the two primary "Bachelor" shows as well as "Bachelor in Paradise,” where he was a star of season five, and he remains the non-salaried head of his namesake foundation to help those with cystic fibrosis.
"I always said from the beginning I'm waiting for the right heart,” reflected Underwood, who dated Olympic gold-medal gymnast Aly Raisman for several months from 2016 to 2017. Calling the "Bachelor" franchise not about marriage per se but rather about proposals, he nonetheless said he wanted someone "I can share the rest of my life with … and I think that's what 'The Bachelor' is all about, is trying to find that.”
Without spoiling the outcome, he said his season "wasn't the easiest for me. There were ups and downs and at times it got really challenging — it got really hard and it really pushed me."
Regardless, he added, he is now "the happiest I've ever been."
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