Rachael Kirkconnell on What She Wants People to Know After Split
Rachael Kirkconnell rose to fame after she won ex Matt James’ final rose during season 25 of The Bachelor, and she exclusively tells Life & Style that she’s ready for fans to get to know who she truly is as an individual following their split.
“I wasn’t seen as an individual person but more as a unit. So, really, I want people to know everything about me,” Rachael, 28, exclusively tells Life & Style while promoting her new “Golden Era” line with Showpo. “I don’t think there’s anything specific. I’m excited to let people in a little bit more.”
The Georgia native continues, “I think I’ve been more reserved in the last few years. And I think I was thinking about more than just myself when it came to every single aspect of my life and any decision I made.”
Now that Rachael is single following her split from Matt, 33, in January 2025, she says that she can now approach how she expresses herself in the public eye differently. “I don’t really have to think about anyone but myself,” she continues. “I just want to put myself out there in every way. So hopefully, everyone can get to know, really, everything about me.”
In addition to opening up about who she is, Rachael also talks to Life & Style about her new collaboration with Showpo and how it came about.
“I’ve been a fan of the brand for a minute. So, they reached out and just wanted to see if I was ever interested in doing anything with them and definitely jumped at the opportunity,” the Georgia native shares. “It’s called the ‘Golden Era,’ but the inspo was really like golden hour. A lot of the pieces were golden hour inspired.”
Rachael adds that “the whole line is mostly about just finding my confidence and getting those pieces that you just know when you put it on, it’s going to make you look good.”
The former reality star explains that versatility was a major factor in designing the brand. “You can style it a bunch of different ways. Wear them to so many different events,” she says. “Whether you’re out with your girls, whether you’re going on a first date, whether you’re going to a concert, anything, you’ll find something for every occasion.”
Additionally, Rachael shares what this new chapter in her life looks like for her. “I’m honestly just taking it one day at a time. I am just trying to make lemonade out of lemons,” she says. “I will say I think that’s what my goal is professionally, just to say yes to a lot more things than I usually would and just put myself out there.”
After noting that she’s been “more reserved” in the past, Rachael says she’s “trying to get myself out of that comfort zone and just kind of learn more about myself along the way.”
Rachael adds that she’s “still trying to figure” out what her personal goals are. “It’s mostly about just getting my confidence back or being nicer to myself or a lot more positive affirmations towards myself,” she says of her current mindset. “And I think this collection is honestly a really good representation of that. I think that I feel incredible in these pieces, but I’m also thinking, ‘OK, I guess I have to go out and do something now because I have this gorgeous dress.’”