
Tonight, on the latest episode of The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons—Ever! (opens in new tab), we'll get the Ben Higgins story. If you recall, Higgins famously told two women he loved them (opens in new tab) on his Bachelor season—Lauren Bushnell, his final rose (whom he broke up with in 2017) and JoJo Fletcher, who has since gone on to get engaged to her final rose pick, Jordan Rodgers. Get ready to relive that craziness—or, in my case, watch it for the first time since I wasn't following the show yet. Since then, Higgins has found love again with Jessica Clarke, and the two will undoubtedly make an appearance on tonight's broadcast. Chris Harrison is clearly dying for some dramatic news he can share (apparently Jason Tartick was offered the chance (opens in new tab) to propose to Kaitlyn Bristowe last week during their interview) but the pair already got engaged earlier this year and have said they're probably going to have a long engagement. But, it'll be the chance for Bachelor Nation to officially get introduced to the new love of Higgins' life. So what do we know about her?
Jessica Clarke is an entrepreneur and student.
Clarke (opens in new tab), who's 25, lives in Nashville, graduated from the University of Mississippi, and apparently sold LED lights but is apparently now co-owner of fitness platforms SweatNET Nashville and SweatNET Denver. She's also just announced she's going back to school to get her esthetician's license (opens in new tab). "I am excited to learn about ingredients, treatments, and how products can improve different skin types and tones! Then I’ll come back here and get to share my knowledge with all of you," she explained on Instagram.
Higgins explained that he technically met Clarke by sliding into her DMs several months before he announced the relationship in February 2019, but that they met a couple weeks later IRL. "Jessica kind of came inside this whole thing and said ‘I get your struggles, and I just like you for who you are,’” he said. “With the right person this does feel great, exciting, peaceful. And I know that I’m not super messed up! Somebody actually likes me!”
Clarke and Higgins got engaged in March.
Another quarantine proposal! Higgins detailed that he got down on one knee in her backyard, since they've had no contact with the outside world, and it sounds really sweet:
A post shared by Ben Higgins (@higgins.ben) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
"I’m full of love for you," Clarke said one month later.
A post shared by Jessica Clarke (@jessclarke_) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
Until quarantine, the two hadn't lived in the same city together. They shared (opens in new tab) that they're waiting to have sex before marriage, even though they're currently in the same house together. Quarantine may affect their wedding planning, he said: "I have a feeling it's gonna be a longer engagement and here's why. We don't know what this virus is going to affect."
Higgins also explained (opens in new tab) recently that they'd like kids, and are particularly thinking about adoption in the future. Clarke also wants a puppy, which, same.
Higgins isn't exactly looking forward to his own season.
Much like Kaitlyn Bristowe, Higgins acknowledged the epic weirdness of watching yourself fall in love with a bunch of women while literally everyone watching knows that it all fell apart:
Hey #bachelornation I decided to watch the screener for tomorrow nights #TheBachelorGOAT. And when I say watch I mean covering up my eyes, smacking my forehead, turning red and praying for grace from all of you tomorrow! See you all tomorrow!June 21, 2020
But Higgins has also said (opens in new tab) that he and ex Bushnell are in a good place after their split: When Bushnell got engaged in 2019, he congratulated her warmly and explained, "I hope this is a chapter being closed completely because I don't know Lauren anymore and my life isn't tied to her."
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
SUBSCRIBE HERE (opens in new tab)
Related Stories
What Happened to 'Bachelor' Sean and Catherine? (opens in new tab)
Everything We Know About Matt James (opens in new tab)
Katherine’s a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle—from “Clueless” to Everlane to news about Lizzo. She’s been a freelancer for 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. It’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
-
Jamie Lee Curtis Posed Topless on a Magazine Cover at 50 and People "Lost Their Minds," Apparently
Why are people like this?
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Don't Sleep on Sulfur for Acne
It’s stinky, but it works.
By Samantha Holender
-
Selena Gomez Shared Gorgeous Makeup-Free Selfies Feat. Her Natural Curls
Yes to this.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
The 75 Best K-Dramas You'll Be Completely Hooked On
Wait, how is it already 2 a.m.?
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Selena Gomez Revealed Meryl Streep Is Joining 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3
Fans are losing it.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell
-
Sophia Brown on Joining the World of ‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’
The actress opens up about the “surreal process” of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy
-
The Unstoppable Alia Bhatt
Bollywood’s silver-screen darling is both at the top of her game and just getting started.
By Neha Prakash
-
29 Nude Movies With Porn-Level Nudity
All the nudity of porn, but with the plot and storylines of mainstream film.
By Kayleigh Roberts
-
The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide
The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recast—again.
By Andrea Park