Get To Know The Bachelor’s Sydney Hightower
Pop the champagne: the current season of The Bachelor has proven to be one of the most dramatic by far. In a matter of weeks, Bachelor Peter Weber managed to get his head smashed by a golf cart, received an emotional-support cow, and was even greeted by ex-Bachelorette Hannah Brown. At the center of the chaos was Sydney Hightower, who was one of the show’s frontrunners before she was shockingly sent home in Chile during week six. On the Costa Rica trip, Peter chose Hightower for a one-on-one date, where the two went on a romantic helicopter ride that landed them in the middle of a large field. Although Weber explained on the show how Hightower was “such an amazing rock” for him throughout the experience, he has also declared how she was “hiding a personality,” the impetus of the elimination. Below, Hightower shares her side of the story.
When and why did you decide to be on The Bachelor?
I had been thinking about applying for two years, but I was always back and forth about it. I didn’t know if I could deal with it, or I would start dating someone for a small amount of time. When things would die off, I would always think about how I should’ve gone [on the show]. One year ago, I was single and in a place where I wasn't really ready to date. I knew that [The Bachelor] had been on my mind,—I‘d tried dating in my normal life for so long, and it wasn't working. So I was like, "This is the time. If I don't do it now, I'm never going to do it. I have to do it." So I did it.
What was your first impression of Peter?
He‘s so much taller than I thought he was going to be!
Describe the process of picking out your outfit for the first night.
In the weeks prior, I went to a dress store, picked out a dress and thought it would definitely be my night-one dress. It was sexier and tighter than the one I eventually went with. Three days before flying out [to Los Angeles], I got sent some other dresses, tried one on, and said "Okay, this is it. There's no way I can't wear this the first night." I'm 5'4", and the dress was so long on me, so my mom was hand-fixing it before I flew out for the show. It was rushed, but it ended up working, and I felt really beautiful in it.
What was the first night like for you? Was it hard trying to find time to talk to Peter?
I got there and thought, “Oh my G-d. This is what it’s really like.” You have so many nights before going on the show to think about how it's going to be, what you're going to say, and how you want to act around Peter. But once you're in it, nothing else matters, and you just want to find him so you can talk to him. The first night, I talked to some of the production people and said how I wanted to do something relaxing and fun for him, nothing too serious. We played putt-putt golf and it was cute, super fun and lighthearted.
Who were some of your closest friends on the show?
My first friend was Kiarra [Norman]. She's from Atlanta. We clicked on either the second or third day that we were there, and we‘re still close to this day. I talk to her every day, twice a day. She's my best friend. I'm also very close to Natasha [Parker]. We talk daily. Those are definitely my girls!
What was your favorite moment of the entire experience?
My one-on-one with Peter. We were having a picnic in the Costa Rican jungle, laying there and thinking, "This is real. We're really here.” We were just so connected at that moment. It was exactly where I wanted to be with who I wanted to be with. That moment, to me, was the most influential throughout the whole journey for sure.
What was the most challenging part of being on the show?
I'm a very strong woman, and I‘m proud of that. But being in a house filled with 30 women, being around so many different personalities and having to keep your composure makes you feel a certain way. It's hard to handle all of your emotions. The toughest thing that I went through was learning how to be Sydney and always stay that way, to never not be myself. That was my biggest struggle.
What was your favorite and least favorite group date you went on?
My favorite group date was when we went to the pillow fight. I’m competitive and don't hold back, so I think getting a little physical really helped me therapeutically. My least favorite group date was the telenovela date. I did not enjoy that one bit—very cringe.
Unfortunately, you and Peter broke up during week six. Did that come as a shock to you?
I was so shocked, and I think a lot of other people were as well. We had our one-on-one, and in Costa Rica, the cocktail party was canceled, so I didn't get to speak to him. The first time we talked after our date was at the cocktail party on the night he sent me home. After our one-on-one, for about a whole week, there were other dates, and he connected to other women. By the time the next rose ceremony came around, I hadn't seen him, we hadn't connected, and I hadn't gotten the opportunity to talk to him. I was completely in the dark as to why he sent me home right after my one-on-one. It was a shock, but you just got to roll with it. If I wasn't his “one,” I understand that, but I think I definitely deserved to be walked out and given some kind of explanation. It is what it is.
Do you feel like Peter gave you an appropriate explanation as to why he sent you home? Do you have closure, or are you still looking for that from him?
I completely have closure. Peter and I are two different people who are looking for two different things. I wish him the absolute best going forward. Whoever he ends up, he’s going to be an extremely happy man. We just weren't for each other.
What advice do you have for people who are going through similar heartbreak?
In the days that followed the breakup, I had to come home and come to terms with the fact that I had just got broken up with. It's tough when you think you and your partner are on the same page, and you’re actually not. But I advise you to hold your head up and understand that you deserve so much. Don’t let one person, out of the millions of billions of people that are on this earth, ever dictate how you feel about yourself going forward.
Would you ever consider going on Bachelor in Paradise?
I don't know. Right now, I'm just trying to build myself up again and be the best version of myself. But I’m leaving my options open for sure.
Follow Sydney on Social Media:
Instagram: @sydneynicolehigh
Photo Credit: ABC Press