Officially in Love! Kendall LongIs openly talking about her future plans with boyfriend Mitchell Sage — and why it was time for her to share with Bachelor Nation.
“It’s weird because when I was on the show, I was almost, like, a commitment-phobe or I was afraid of marriage and afraid of all that happening. The show taught me a lot. [about] actually being able to visualize my future and wanting marriage and talking about wanting marriage,” the 30-year-old BachelorSeason 22 alumnus said on Us Weekly’s “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast. “So I told myself that I would never be public or be in a full, like, relationship unless I saw that future with that person. Right now with Mitch, I feel like that’s the direction that we are headed and I’m comfortable with that and I’m excited about that. It’s crazy to be in a relationship where you’re like, ‘Oh wow. I can see it with this person and not be terrified.’ So I think the show has definitely taught me a lot about what I’m looking for in a relationship and looking forward to that next step with somebody.”
Kendall Long and Mitch Sage Kendall Long/Instagram
After appearing on Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of the ABC show, Long met Joe AmabileSeason 5 Bachelor in Paradise. The couple dated for two years, before ending their relationship in 2020. Both Long and Amabile were back on the beach for season 7, when Amabile proposed to Amabile. Serena Pitt.
“I have dated since being on the show — multiple different people, been out in the dating scene. And for me, what was really important is that I wanted to be in a solid place with somebody before I introduced them to the public,” the Just CuriousThe author said Use. “Because as soon as you introduce someone you’re dating, everyone has an opinion. I wanted to make sure we had a really strong base and foundation before going public.”
After meeting through a mutual acquaintance in December 2021, Long and Sage became Instagram official in April.
“I feel really confident about our relationship currently and where we’re going,” she continued. “And I feel confident in him as a person.”
Long added that the couple have been “officially dating” since February. “He asked me to be his girlfriend on Valentine’s day in Hermosa Beach, a cute little set up,” she said.
Long spoke out about her past in Bachelor Nation. Us that Sage hasn’t watched her on the show — but he is eager to.
“He finds it funny,” she said, noting she’s hesitant to relive the seasons she was on. “You don’t wanna see me kissing someone else or dating someone else. … I’d be open to watching [Arie’s season], I feel like that’d be fun. Everything else in Paradise, it’s basically, you know, someone that I almost married. It’s weird.”
