\"I haven't been on social media so I haven't seen that much yet, but the cast members that I was on the season with have been great,\" Lindsay said. \"Family and friends have been wonderful too. I'm just glad I don't have to keep a secret anymore.\"

Lindsay said she jumped at the opportunity to become the next leading lady on the ABC reality show.

\"I'm a skeptical person, so I was excited that they asked me to do it but I was also equally nervous,\" she said. \"But then, when I started to weigh out the pros and the cons, I decided that this is too good of an opportunity to turn away.\"

Rachel makes her \"Bachelorette\" debut on May 22. You can see her in a brand new episode of \"The Bachelor\" next Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

ABC News' Lesley Messer contributed to this report

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