The Bachelor star Colton Underwood admits the Fantasy Suite dates were a big deal for him, but not in the way viewers probably imagine.

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"It's no surprise to me that people are going to view the Fantasy Suites as this big week for me," Colton, a self-declared virgin, told People ahead of The Bachelor's Season 23 premiere.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SEASON 23: MEET ALL OF COLTON'S BACHELORETTES! (PHOTO GALLERY)

"People are probably going to put a lot of pressure [on it]... but for me, it was more about the private moments."

The 26-year-old charity founder and former professional football player revealed he's never had sex on The Bachelorette's fourteenth season starring Becca Kufrin.

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"I had no plans to share that I was a virgin," Colton admitted. "It was something in the moment with Becca. It was important for her to know. I didn't think it was going to be a big deal but obviously, a lot of people latched onto that."

Although Colton never intended for his virginity to become a major storyline on the show, he said he's "grateful" for the support of his fans.

"[Being a virgin is only a] small part of who I am," Colton insisted.

"It's a decision I consciously made, but it's just something that makes me into who I am. There is a stigma around athletes and I think the more that us as humans can do to break those, the better."

The stigma of athletes tends to be that they are players, sex-driven and likely to be unfaithful in relationships.


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RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

But that's clearly not the case for Colton, who has only dated a few women in his life. In fact, he never felt mutual, reciprocated feelings of love.

After dating Becca, Colton briefly dated Tia Booth on the fifth season of Bachelor in Paradise, but Colton dumped her in the middle of the show because he could tell she wasn't "the one" for him.

As for Colton's own expectations of the overnight Fantasy Suite dates, he told People, "It's the first time you get to spend with somebody off camera and you can really get to know them and ask the weird questions you might not otherwise."

"I treat it like another date," Colton noted, "an opportunity to get to know someone on an intimate level."

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The Bachelor's 23rd season is set to premiere on Monday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP WITH? (PHOTOS)

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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.