The Bachelorette fans have heard a lot about the show’s co-leads, tensions, and plenty of surprises.
But teasers only go so far.
Ahead of the July 11 season premiere, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia are opening up about what this was really like for them.
They can’t spoil their own ending … but they can certainly tell us a lot about their wild journey as co-leads.
Gabby and Rachel spoke to People to tease what’s to come, including fireworks, champagne, and “crazy” emotions.
They are dating 32 men between them, but they have their own love stories.
And the co-leads clarified that it wasn’t as competitive as people might imagine — at least, not for them.
“It was a huge learning process for everyone,” Gabby acknowledged.
She explained that this is “because it was such new territory.”
Gabby continued: “But the experience Rachel and I had as Bachelorettes was so special and memorable.”
“I don’t think we would have had it any other way,” Gabby said in reflection.
Gabby and Rachel became friends when they pursued Clayton, so they know the drill.
They’re not spoiling anything. They’re not going to “ruin” their own shared season.
But Gabby teased that “the story will definitely show and kind of tell itself once it starts airing.”
“I think people do know at this point,” Gabby speculated, “that we do each have our own love stories.”
Gabby and Rachel both valued having each other as an ally.
“Of course it was so nice to have each other to lean on,” Gabby expressed.
“And,” she continued, “have that built-in support as we were moving through.”
Rachel chimed in with her own take on the season.
“It’s just really amazing,” she commented.
“We both get to have our own journeys,” Rachel noted, “and our own stories.”
“But,” Rachel continued, she and Gabby “still have each other along the way.”
Even before filming began, Gabby and Rachel took steps to get on the same page.
“I think Gabby and I just went into it talking to each other,” Rachel shared.
“And knowing that throughout everything,” she continued, “we just had to have communication.”
“And that really just worked for us throughout the whole thing,” Rachel explained.
Gabby, meanwhile, noted that the two of them were very well aware that they might fall for the same man.
After all, it had already happened once, with Clayton.
“I think going in, knowing a little bit about it from Clayton’s season and stuff,” Gabby said.
“I feel like we both had the attitude to put each other first,” she added.
Gabby reasoned: “We know each other the best, our relationship above all is the most important.”
“Plus a man that’s worth it isn’t going to have us fight over him,” Gabby affirmed.
She continued: “nor would we ever compromise our relationship for it.”
Gabby acknowledged: “It’s only natural to be attracted to the same guys, here and there. We’re human.”
“But it would never be anything that Rachel and I couldn’t figure out on our own,” Gabby emphasized.
She said that this is true “especially always putting our relationship in the forefront of everything.”
Of the season’s endgame, Gabby assessed: “I think we feel good honestly.”
“And you learn so much about yourself going through this,” she reflected.
Gabby concluded: “So I feel like ultimately it’s just an amazing life experience together.”
“I think we’re both so grateful to have been given this and to be there together,” Rachel agreed. “We’re both just really happy.”
Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia Tease “Crazy” Bachelorette Season was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip .