The Bachelorette season 21’s front-runner may not have been named the lead, but she appears to be in a brand-new relationship after turning down the reality TV dating show post-breakup. After The Bachelor season 28 ended with Joey Graziadei proposing to Kelsey Anderson, the speculation turned to who would be the next Bachelorette. Though there were several contenders for the leading role, including Joey’s runner-up Daisy Kent, fan-favorite Maria Georgas, and sweet finalist Rachel Nance, the lead went to an unexpected candidate. As Jenn Tran takes on the journey of a lifetime, the other Bachelorette contenders are moving on, too.

“they attended college [together] at San Diego State University”

According to People, front-runner Daisy is in a new relationship after turning down the role of Bachelorette. At the After The Final Rose finale event, Daisy spoke to Bachelor Nation host Jesse Palmer about how it wasn’t the right time for her to become the lead, but that may have been due to a new romance on the horizon. According to the outlet, Daisy and her new boyfriend Thor Herbst “attended college [together] at San Diego State University” and reconnected after her time on The Bachelor. Though things are new, Daisy and Thor were spotted at Stagecoach music festival together.

Daisy’s Bachelorette Journey Explained

While Daisy’s time on The Bachelor was memorable, things weren’t easy for the Minnesota native in the competition. Making a connection with Joey quickly, Daisy was hopeful that her relationship would carry her through to the end. She was hopeful that she would be able to build a life with Joey, but it became clear after some time that his connection with Kelsey Anderson was stronger. Understanding that she would be his second choice, Daisy decided to break things off with Joey and move forward gracefully. Bachelor Nation was certain she would become the next lead of the franchise.

Many were shocked to hear that Daisy wasn’t interested in becoming The Bachelorette after her time on the series. Though she seemed to have a great experience, her Bachelor journey had been difficult, especially because Daisy’s hearing loss after illness left her dependent on a cochlear implant to hear. Navigating her journey on the series with a cochlear was difficult, and proved more challenging than Daisy anticipated. Though she made great connections on the show, she struggled to participate in the same way others could. With such added pressure, Daisy’s choice not to take on the Bachelorette role makes sense.

While Daisy’s decision was difficult for some to understand, her newfound relationship status may make things a bit more clear. Though it’s not certain that Daisy was in a relationship prior to getting the offer to be The Bachelorette, it seems possible that she was at least in touch with Thor. She may choose to remain private about her relationship, but Daisy may also decide to share her alleged new boyfriend with Bachelor Nation in the future. As Jenn’s journey as The Bachelorette gets started, Daisy is getting into a whole new situation of her own.