With Season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise being unprecedentedly successful when it came to engaged couples, it's only natural to be curious about what contestants from past seasons have been up to. One of those is Juelia Kinney from Bachelor in Paradise Season 2 and The Bachelor Season 19 since she was always a contestant worth rooting for. Juelia spoke to Bustle back in June about her life post-Bachelor Nation and at the time, she was planning a move from Portland, Oregon to San Diego, California with her three-year-old daughter Ireland. Based on her current Instagram photos, the relocation has officially happened and it looks like both of them are enjoying the beach life. However, along with that, there has been one major development in her life in the few months since speaking with Bustle — Juelia is now dating JJ Lane from The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, which JJ revealed to People magazine.
For those needing a refresher, here's an explanation of how Juelia and JJ are a part of Bachelor Nation. Juelia was on Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor, alongside fellow Bachelor in Paradise contestants Jade Roper (now Jade Tolbert), Carly Waddell, and Ashley Iaconetti, as well as future Bachelorette, Kaitlyn Bristowe. JJ was on Kaitlyn's season of The Bachelorette with Nick Viall, Ben Higgins, Jared Haibon, and Tanner Tolbert. Both Juelia and JJ were on Season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise and although JJ had considered giving Juelia a rose one week, the pair never dated. However, that doesn't mean they didn't share a connection.
During Bachelor in Paradise, Joe Bailey sweet-talked Juelia into giving him a rose, but swiftly dumped her when Samantha Steffen came to Paradise. While that isn't an unheard of move to do on the show, what made it skeevy was that Joe and Sammi seemed to have planned on meeting up in Paradise, so Joe was using Juelia to stay on the show until Sammi showed up. JJ, who had been a notable villain on Kaitlyn's season of The Bachelorette, found this move to be rightfully despicable and got in a fight with Joe about it, defending Juelia. Because of all that, JJ and Juelia's current relationship is particularly cute and I can't believe all of Bachelor Nation didn't see this coming.
Juelia and JJ left Paradise without finding love (JJ voluntarily left to pursue a relationship outside of the show that didn't work out) and besides their time on Bachelor in Paradise, these two have another thing to bond over — the fact that they are both parents. Juelia has her daughter Ireland with her husband Dustin Kinney, who tragically committed suicide in 2013, and JJ has his daughter Gemma with his ex-wife. They also had a friendship after Bachelor in Paradise, which was highlighted when the two walked down the aisle together during Jade and Tanner's wedding. As JJ told People upon announcing this new relationship, "What started as a tremendous friendship has grown organically and both of us are very happy and excited."
As exciting as it is to see couples successfully form on Bachelor in Paradise, I'm more drawn to the love story that Juelia and JJ have started since they began as friends and have gotten to know one another better. While they can still credit Bachelor Nation for setting them up, there's definitely something to be said for a relationship that happens when the cameras aren't rolling. So let's hope this happy couple can stay together since they both deserve happiness on and off TV.
Images: Rick Rowell, Matt Petit/ABC
