The Bachelor’s Rachel Wishes She ‘Didn’t Cry as Much’ While Addressing Racist Messages on Women Tell All (Exclusive)

Rachel Nance used her time in the spotlight to call out the racist messages she received from Bachelor viewers.

During Monday’s episode, Bachelor Joey Graziadei eliminated Rachel, 26, after they spent the night in the Fantasy Suite. This meant Rachel took to the stage with host Jesse Palmer for the Women Tell All segment of the show, during which she became emotional as she spoke about the hate she’s experienced online throughout the season.

“I was nervous to talk about it because I know some people feel uncomfortable hearing that racism still exists in 2024,” Rachel tells PEOPLE. “But I think people should sit and feel uncomfortable because, how do you think I feel receiving these messages?”

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The reality star calls seeing the hateful messages “very uplifting,” but she wanted to speak out about them to help other people in her situation.

“I thought that for further people who look like me, who are going through what I’m going through, I need to talk about what’s going on and shed light on it because ignorance is not bliss,” Rachel says. “And I wish I hadn’t cried so much, but I think you could really feel how much it affected me when you shared it.”

Rachel Nance and Joey Graziadei in ‘The Bachelor’.

Disney/John Fleenor

Rachel says that it really bothers me that her family sees these painful messages because I want them to enjoy this whole trip.

Viewers were introduced to her Filipino and African-American family when Joey, 28, took her on a date in her hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, California. “Seeing hate after something so beautiful is disheartening,” says Rachel. “But hopefully we’ll progress better and people will be kind and pick up on what you say. Think before you speak. It’s not that hard.”

Rachel Nance and Joey Graziadei in ‘The Bachelor’.

Disney/John Fleenor

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The critical care nurse, who grew up in Hawaii, ultimately considers herself “blessed to represent people who look like me.”

“Growing up as a mixed-race girl in Hawaii, there weren’t a lot of people who looked like me on TV,” she continues. “I’m very honored that, moving forward, the girls can say, ‘Hey, if Rachel can do it, so can I. If Rachel can speak her truth, I can speak my truth.’ Being in an interracial couple, there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s totally beautiful and I don’t see why it should be a problem. And I hope that girls who look like me can get that recognition, that representation more.”

The series also taught Rachel another important lesson. “Before I got into this, I didn’t have a lot of confidence. I was just dating because I thought, hey, I don’t want to be alone,” she admits. “And after I dated Joey, he really taught me that I can get what I deserve and that there is someone out there for me. It wasn’t him, that’s perfectly fine. Whoever it is, call me because I’m tired!”

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BachelorThe season 28 finale airs Monday at 8:00 PM ET/PT on ABC.

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Source: HIS Education