Being vulnerable.  

Bachelor Nation fans got to know Lexi Young on Season 28 of “The Bachelor,” where she opened up to Joey Graziadei about her journey with endometriosis.

Lexi eventually decided to self-eliminate from the show because she and Joey were on different timelines when it came to having kids.

Since her time on “The Bachelor,” Lexi has shared more about having stage 5 endo and how it impacts her even after having surgery.

This week, she joined Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts on the “Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour” podcast to share updates about how she’s doing now, her dating life, and what she’s looking for in the future.

Susan and Kathy asked Lexi how her life has been after “The Bachelor,” and she shared that her struggles with endometriosis have not been easy when it comes to dating.

Lexi said, “Endo is the type of disease where it can hit you at any point, and that’s also tough during dating. Because I can be getting ready for a date feeling fine, and then just hit with a flare where I'm debilitated in cramps, and how do you explain that to someone you just met?” 

Kathy followed up by asking if she ever discloses that information with people while on a date, to which Lexi answered that it depends. 

“It’s a fine line. I do try to disclose it now more early on because it’s a part of my life,” she shared, “but I don’t want to do it on the first date because I have trauma from my past where my ex had an issue with that. He saw it as a negative to me as a person.” 

Lexi did say that during her time on the show, Joey helped her feel like she could have those types of conversations with others in the future, but it’s something she’s still working on. 

Wondering more about her love life, Susan asked Lexi if she believes in soulmates and if her feelings on that are any different now. 

Lexi answered, “I think if you had asked me that at 26, I would have been like yes, 100 percent! But it’s so funny as you date and as you get older while you’re dating, you realize you could have multiple soulmates, you realize you can fall in love multiple times.” 

She went on to say, “I always look back to the person I thought I was going to marry, the person I broke up with before going on the show, and I’m so grateful that we did not. And you see all those things afterwards… Everything happens for a reason. I’m so grateful it didn’t work out, but it does make you reevaluate how you think about soulmates, at least for me.”

Due to her experience with her ex and what she learned from the show with Joey, Susan and Kathy asked Lexi what she’s looking for now in a partner and if her expectations are different.

“They’re so different… It used to be that I had to be with this tall man. I had this hyperfixation on [height]. I don’t care, they could be 5-foot-4,” she said, “I want someone who has a good soul, who is smart and driven, and very empathetic, and has the same long-term goals as me in terms of having a family and building something together. I don’t care really about the physical anymore.” 

Lexi expanded by sharing how she’s learned that physical attraction can grow over time.

“I’ve gone on dates with people that I was not excited about looking at their pictures. And then I got to talk to them and I was so attracted to them,” she admitted. 

The two podcast hosts asked the Bachelor Nation star how dating life is going for her right now, as well as if it’s different now than it used to be. 

Lexi confessed, “It’s tough out there!” And when it comes to dating differently, she shared, “I used to hold things back or give people chances, but if I see red flags, I kind of just keep it moving now.”

Susan then inquired about what Lexi’s favorite and least favorite part of being single is, and she opened up that her least favorite part is going to life events. 

“I go through the minutiae of these big holidays with all my friends and I love them and they’re amazing, but sometimes I wish that I could share that with someone else,” she admitted.

However, she shared that her favorite part is having flexibility in her life and the ability to pour a lot of energy into herself in a way she’s not quite able to do while dating someone else. “I’m working on a side project right now outside of work,” she shared, “and I can take that trip and go visit a friend.”

Susan chimed in, “You can do whatever you want!” 

Kathy asked Lexi one more question about whether she does anything to keep herself so positive every day, to which Lexi answered that it’s hope. 

“I feel a sense of hope because… I’ve been through a lot of seasons for being 31, so I feel there is hope that it will happen when it’s supposed to happen,” she shared. 

“I do feel that he’s out there right now and we just haven’t crossed paths for a reason and we will soon, and when it happens. I feel like it’ll probably happen quickly for me because my life’s set up to bring someone in and I would hopefully meet someone that matches that,” she expressed. 

We love hearing from Lexi and know that her continuing to share her story will help so many others with similar struggles. We are cheering her on and can’t wait for her to meet that special someone.

Listen to the full interview in the “Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour” episode below!