Ben Higgins' season of "The Bachelor" was one of the most controversial in recent history after Higgins told the two finalists, Lauren Bushnell and JoJo Fletcher, that he was in love with both of them. On Monday night's season finale, the 27-year-old popped the question to Bushnell - and she said yes.
The newly engaged couple stopped by "Good Morning America" this morning to discuss the show, their new life together and Higgins' feelings about runner-up Fletcher.
"You know what... I think I said it in one of the episodes, that I thought it could be a possibility [for Ben to feel that way about JoJo], so I wasn't shocked initially," Bushnell said. "And I think that day that he did get down on one knee and then told me and was totally honest, I think from that day we just made a commitment to move forward."
Bushnell did admit that she had not watched every single episode of the season, but only "bits and pieces." "I've kind of taken the approach where, the last few episodes, I've watched mostly just our parts, because, obviously, that's so nice to relive," she said. "I don't know if it's necessary to relive the other parts."
The couple has been secretly engaged since the season finale taped this past November and are happy to openly start living life together. "I'm looking forward to just starting a normal life," Bushnell said. "We've been engaged, but secretly for the last few weeks, and so I'm excited to go on a date!"
During last night's "After the Final Rose," which aired directly after the finale, the newly engaged couple passed on host Chris Harrison's offer to get married on live TV, something many couples from "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" do.
"We've done this fairly odd the way it is - let's try to make things as normal as possible from here on out," Higgins said.
While Higgins and Bushnell go on with their lives without cameras, the woman who lost out to Bushnell, Fletcher, will continue her journey to find love as the next Bachelorette. The announcement came as a surprise to most fans as producers initially offered Caila Quinn, who finished in third place, the opportunity the be the star of "The Bachelorette," but went with Fletcher at the last minute.
"I want to find my husband," Fletcher said. "I want to find the person who will complete me and who will love me as much as I love him. I'm more ready than ever!"
