Tayshia Adams reveals why she was hesitant to become the new Bachelorette

Plus, what it means for her to be the show's second Black lead.

November 10, 2020, 10:23 AM

It's a fresh start for "The Bachelorette" as Tayshia Adams officially takes over tonight.

The restart comes after this season 16's original star, Clare Crawley, dramatically found love and became engaged to contestant Dale Moss within the first few episodes of the show. Now, it's Adams' turn, but she admitted to ABC Audio she didn't immediately jump at the opportunity.

"I was a little hesitant just because, like, 'OK, why now? Is this really going to happen?'" she explained. "I'm not going to put myself in this position again in case it doesn't work out."

"Also, it kind of made me nervous that, you know, the guys were already dating Clare and will they be accepting of me?" she added.

Tayshia Adams, a huge fan favorite from Âś"The Bachelor"Âť and "Bachelor in Paradise" has arrived to find the love of her life.
Craig Sjodin/ABC

Adams told "Good Morning America" Tuesday another thing that made her take a pause was "being a second choice," but the suitors helped change her mind.

"Being a second choice is not a good feeling," the 30-year-old noted. "After having conversations with all of the men, they honestly welcomed me with open arms and made me feel so special and loved and like they wanted me to be there."

Adams first appeared on Colton Underwood's season of "The Bachelor" and later on "Bachelor in Paradise."

This time, however, she holds the reigns as the Bachelorette, telling ABC Audio fans can expect to see love, laughter and, of course, drama as they watch her journey.

"I mean, it's 'The Bachelorette.' Of course, there's drama," she admits. "You'll see that there are a lot of men that are not only attractive, but there's a lot of depth to them and they really give it their all. There is some drama between them, but what's the show without it?"

Tayshia Adams is "The Bachelorette".
Kwaku Alston/ABC

"But there's some amazing relationships that form," she continues. "And you might cry, you get a good laugh, you're going to have all the feels."

Aside from what happens on the show, simply being a part of the franchise as the show's second-ever Black Bachelorette, after Rachel Lindsay, is a moment of pride for Adams.

"I'm so happy to have the opportunity and the platform that I do to just identify with girls that look like me, that have never seen someone on their screens that represent them," she told "GMA."

Watch Tayshia Adams' "Bachelorette" journey begin tonight, Tuesday, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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