Abigail Heringer Reflects On ‘Bachelor’ Journey As First Deaf Contestant
Abigail Heringer’s time on The Bachelor has come to a close. She gained national attention as the first deaf person to compete on the popular ABC dating show. Sadly, she did not win Matt James’ heart, but she is okay with that. After her ouster, she took to her Instagram to reflect on her journey.
Abigail Heringer’s Bachelor Journey Ends in Heartbreak
During Episode 7 of The Bachelor, Abigail Heringer finally got some alone time with Matt James. The conversation quickly took a swerve and by the end of it, she was in the car, heading home.
One of the handful of fan-favorites from the get-go, viewers were frustrated throughout the season with Abigail’s little amount of face-time with Matt James. In fact, she was one of the few who didn’t get a one-on-one date with Matt James.
Her hometown paper, Statesman Journal, reports Abigail was very confused by her lack of time with Matt James. Especially considering that she earned the First Impression Rose on night one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRUF4AXlS0o
During her conversation with Matt, she asked him straight out where she stood. He praised her as “compassionate” and said it was a “no-brainer” to give her the First Impression Rose. However, he also admitted to developing stronger feelings for some of the other women.
When she was in the car giving her exit interview, she said something that resonated with a lot of viewers. She said that when men date her, they always realize “what they want next [in their life.]” But they never want it with her.
Bachelorette cast-off Mike Johnson “felt that.” He took to his Twitter to extend his sympathies to Abigail. He even asked her to give him a shot at helping her find happiness.
But She Doesn’t Regret Doing the Show
Getting dumped isn’t the best feeling in the world. But for Abigail, it’s not the end of the world. While the show is airing, the contestants can’t give away how far they make it or any other spoilers. But since “that’s a wrap” on her time on the show, Abigail Heringer is free to discuss her experience.
And she has nothing but praise for her short time on Bachelor Nation. While she didn’t find love with Matt James, she found “amazing friendships” with some of the other contestants. Abigail shared a series of photos from her time on the show. Several of them showcase her growing bond with the other women.
Despite her early exit, Abigail doesn’t feel she “left empty handed.”
‘New Sense of Confidence’ With Hearing Loss
Not only did Abigail get new friends out of the experience, she gained confidence. In her Instagram post, she addresses the impact the show had on her self-esteem. Abigail writes that being on The Bachelor gave her a “new sense of confidence” in herself, as well as in her hearing loss.
ABC didn’t air much footage about her discussing her hearing loss. At one point, she did confide in Matt James that her future children will likely be deaf, too. Abigail and her sister were both born deaf, receiving cochlear implants as toddlers.
She didn’t let the topic of representation go by without a mention. Abigail considers it “a pleasure” to “raise awareness” for the deaf community.
Many Bachelor Nation fans are hoping to see Abigail as the next Bachelorette. ABC has yet to confirm or deny reports that Katie Thurston will be the lead for Season 17.
By the end of the latest episode, there were just 4 women left to compete for Matt James’ final rose. Watch The Bachelor Mondays on ABC to see how his journey ends.
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