Ben Higgins knows the day will come when his daughter Winnie discovers a little show called The Bachelor.
“I understand how my days of changing diapers will quickly move into Winnie going off to school and making friends and going to sleepovers and learning to drive and being asked out on her first day,” Higgins, 36, wrote in the expanded version of his book Alone in Plain Sight. “Someday she’ll probably watch season 20 of The Bachelor. I hope that if she ever watches it, she’ll say, ‘Dad, you were so cool when you were young’ other than, ‘Oh my gosh, Dad. This is cringe!’ (I know, a man can dream).”
Higgins served as the lead of ABC’s reality show in 2016 after first competing on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of The Bachelorette. He ultimately chose to propose to Lauren Bushnell, but they split one year later.
The host of iHeartRadio’s “Almost Famous” podcast found his forever rose when he married Jessica Clarke in November 2021. They are now raising Winnie, 7 months.
Ben Higgins’ Season 20 of ‘The Bachelor’: Where Are They Now?
“When I spend time with my daughter, I never think about what I’m giving up,” Higgins wrote in his book. “These moments with her are some of the most special I will ever experience in life. I know I’m just getting started on this parenting journey.”
In this expanded edition of Alone in Plain Sight, Higgins writes about how he found the deeper connection he longed for in a disconnected world.
While five years have passed since his book was originally published, the Bachelor Nation member remains committed to his belief that bridge-building is more important than ever before.
“We need real connection: with ourselves, with one another — even romantically — and especially with God,” he wrote when recognizing how difficult COVID-19 was for many. “The question is how to make that happen in a world more divided than ever.”
Although it’s been nearly 10 years since Higgins appeared on The Bachelor, he remains grateful for the experience.
In fact, Higgins assures fans he’s on good terms with Bushnell, 35, and even plays golf with her husband, Chris Lane.
“I listened to [Bristowe’s podcast] and she has this moment where she talks about the guys from her season and how proud she is. I feel the same way,” Higgins previously told Us Weekly in July at iHeartRadio and Vrbo’s Pickleball Tournament. “I look at these women. I don’t have close connections to most of them anymore, but it’s just so cool to see.”
Former Bachelor Ben Higgins and Pregnant Jess Clarke’s Relationship Timeline
With past contestants like JoJo Fletcher, Becca Tilley, Caila Quinn, Amanda Stanton and more finding their forever partner, Higgins is happy to see strong connections continuing to grow.
“My prayer when I was the Bachelor was, ‘I don’t know how to do this, and I don’t know where this is going to spit us out, but if everybody comes on the show and they leave being glad they did it, then it was a win for me,” he said.
Alone in Plain Sight: Searching for Connection When You’re Seen but Not Known is available now.
