Former Bachelor star Rachel Nance shared her experience with racism from viewers of the reality show in a personal essay. She revealed that she had to block certain triggering words on social media following her appearance on the show. Rachel, who is of Arab, Black, and Filipino descent, saw the show as an opportunity to showcase her culture during her time on Joey Graziadei’s season. She introduced the Bachelor to Filipino customs during her hometown date, but started receiving negative messages and comments after the episode aired.
Despite initially trying to brush off the hateful comments, Rachel found it difficult to deal with the attacks on her family and culture. She began deleting comments on her social media posts to protect her family from the hurtful words, but the negativity became overwhelming. However, speaking up about her experiences at the Women Tell All segment of the show helped Rachel feel supported by her fellow contestants and the audience, which was a significant turning point for her.
Growing up, Rachel learned to suppress her emotions, but now she is ready to heal and share her story openly. She revealed in her essay that she is a two-time sexual assault survivor and is passionate about advocating for survivors and mental health in the healthcare field. Despite the challenges she faced, Rachel found strength in embracing herself and her identity after her time on The Bachelor. She expressed uncertainty about returning to reality television and emphasized the importance of being a voice for those who have been silenced in society.
Rachel reflected on how not ending up with Joey on the show allowed her to rediscover her self-love and appreciate her family’s support. While she continues to work as a full-time nurse, she remains dedicated to advocating for sexual assault survivors and promoting mental health awareness in her field. Rachel acknowledged that she is unsure of what the future holds for her, but she hopes to continue using her platform to speak out against silence and discrimination. She concluded her essay with a message of empowerment and resilience, encouraging others to seek support if they have experienced sexual assault by contacting the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
