The Bachelor alum Rachael Kirkconnell has revealed whether she'd be interested in starring on The Bachelorette now that she's had time to heal from her split with Matt James.
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While ABC is skipping a new season of The Bachelorette this year, it's likely the show will eventually return -- and many fans are rooting for Rachael to be its Season 22 star.
"I see that all the time, like on the Internet, just people talking about it or people posting fake things that I'm in talks, and I don't think I am," Rachael told Jason Tartick during a recent episode of his "Trading Secrets" podcast.
"I feel like these days, those men are not signing up to actually meet the woman. They're not. They're signing up for TV and hopefully to switch career paths after."
Rachael continued, "I really genuinely don't feel like -- maybe one or two guys are about [finding love]."
Jason interjected by saying he believes pretty much all of the men going on reality TV have dollar signs or some career trajectory on the brain.
"I just don't know if I would trust a single [guy]," Rachael agreed.
"A lot of people go on the show for that and then they're surprised with themselves when they actually [fall for the girl]. I think that's what I see on Love Island all the time."
The Bachelor alum also pointed out how many contestants join The Bachelor or The Bachelorette cast without even knowing who the lead is going to be.
"And that's when it's like you don't even care who it is because you're not going on for them," Rachael explained.
Jason asked Rachael to give him a percentage she'll be the next Bachelorette, and she replied, "Five. I think it's so unlikely. I don't even think they would ever ask me... And I don't know if I could put myself through that again, honestly."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWRELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
But Rachael confirmed ABC had asked her to join the Season 10 cast of Bachelor in Paradise.
"I basically said, 'If I'm scratching your back then you have to scratch mine too,'" Rachael recalled of her conversation with casting.
"I felt like it would be good for them if I were on that show, but would it be good for me? Probably not. It's not that I felt used or anything."
Rachael elaborated, "I just knew it would be a big deal if I went, but what would I get out of it? Because I didn't think I would really leave in a relationship. I don't even know how I feel about dating anyone in Bachelor Nation. I don't think I would do it again."
Rachael also told Jason that she thought she'd have to film Bachelor in Paradise "to even be considered" for The Bachelorette down the line.
But Rachael -- who was apparently close to competing on Special Forces -- refused to reveal what exactly she had asked ABC for in exchange for going on Paradise.
Rachael seemed more open to the idea of being the Bachelorette when she spoke to The New York Post in April.
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"I think it would be just a very, very, very long discussion and a very long process of really thinking if that was good for me or not."
Rachael added, however, that she was definitely looking for her person and was "excited" to start dating again at some point.
On The Bachelor's 25th season in early 2021, Matt James selected Rachael as his winning bachelorette and the pair proceeded to date for four years until he broke up with her in January.
Rachael is currently finding her independence and place in the world after her devastating split from Matt, with whom she admittedly lost her identity.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
Matt broke up with Rachael during a trip to Tokyo and then publicly announced their split via Instagram on January 16 without giving Rachael any warning.
The January 16 breakup post read, "Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord."
Rachael previously said on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast that she was sitting on a Georgia-bound plane waiting for it to take off when she saw Matt's Instagram post.
Rachael recalled her phone blowing up with text messages and calls, only to lose WiFi signal and have no phone connection for the next 12 hours.
Rachael admitted she felt "pure shock" and "so much confusion" about Matt's decision considering he had been so vocal in the media about his desire to propose marriage to her and start a family in the near future.
Rachael said that Matt didn't view her as his perfect person. He was allegedly concerned about how emotional she got during challenging times and how she allegedly struggled to apologize and take accountability for her mistakes.
Rachael shared how she hopes to become friends with Matt again down the road but there's very little hope of them ever getting back together.
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Rachael said she also wants her future boyfriend to accept her for who she is -- "flaws and all" -- and be an "uplifting" and "supportive" teammate.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
