Kaitlyn Bristowe selected The Bachelorette bachelor Shawn Booth and dumped runner-up Nick Viall during Monday night's Season 11 finale on ABC.

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Booth ended up proposing marriage to Bristowe, which she was thrilled to accept. The newly-engaged pair is now embracing their relationship in public and dealing with the aftermath of a very controversial season.

Bristowe and Booth talked to Reality TV World on Monday about their experience on the show, their love and what happens next. Below is a portion of their interview. Check back with us soon for more.

Reality TV World: A question for the both of you. I want to get a sense for what your lives were like while The Bachelorette was airing. Shawn, did you watch most or all of the season like you said in last night's episode? Were there tough things Shawn saw on TV that understandably sparked arguments? And how often did you see each other?

Shawn Booth: Yeah, I focused on watching just our parts and I didn't want to watch anything else, so we did a good job with that. And life with us was we were basically on the phone with each other all day, FaceTiming, and every other weekend or so, we would have little getaways for four or five days, which were amazing. So now we're just excited to be out in the world as a couple and looking forward to it.

Kaitlyn Bristowe: I think honestly the toughest part of the whole season was just me -- I feel like I was dealing with a lot, so he was very supportive of me through that. So it was nice.

Reality TV World: Kaitlyn, you've been labeled the most controversial Bachelorette ever, but at the same time, many women have given you props for being real and true to yourself. Do you feel you empowered future Bachelorettes and maybe set the precedent for them to act the way they want to in any given moment, or do you think the backlash you've received will have the opposite effect -- make them unfortunately more afraid to steer away from the norm and expectations of them?

Kaitlyn Bristowe: If you're going to find somebody for the rest of your life and fall in love, I think you should probably be exactly who you are, because then you have a better chance of lasting. So I guess I hope I've empowered women to be themselves.

Reality TV World: There's been a lot of talk about how Ben Zorn and Ben Higgins would both make amazing Bachelors. And I'm sure, Kaitlyn, you agree because you saw awesome qualities in them both. What would you guys think about a Ben vs. Ben showdown on The Bachelor? I mean, Kaitlyn, you had to go through the same thing with Britt Nilsson.

Kaitlyn Bristowe: Yeah, I think it's great! Do it! (Laughs)

Reality TV World: Shawn, you're quiet. I know Ben H is your friend. Do you think that's too cruel? (Laughs)

Kaitlyn Bristowe: It is cruel, but!

Shawn Booth: Well, they're both amazing guys and that would be pretty fun to watch, because I know America loves the Bens.

Kaitlyn Bristowe: Battle of the Bens! Duke it out.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.