New 'Bachelor' Colton Underwood Is '100% Healed' & Ready To Find His Wife

First things first, ICYMI — Colton Underwood is the new Bachelor.
Fresh off the heels of his journey to find love on The Bachelorette and rollercoaster of a relationship with Tia Booth on Bachelor in Paradise, the 26-year-old is reeling with excitement for this next chapter.
Related: Watch Colton’s Debut As The New “Bachelor”
Underwood gushed to People about the new gig saying:

“I’m very excited. I’m so grateful. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been smiling.”

Fans of the hit ABC franchise have seen more tears than smiles from the former football player, though. But the Indiana native explains that his recent stints (and heartbreak) on the show have prepared him for this moment:

“Obviously you can tell how it was all so emotional for me. But it was also good for me. I can’t say enough good things about Becca and enough good things about Tia. They’ve helped me grow and discover who I am and what I’m looking for in a wife.”

For fans who might be calling bulls**t on Colton’s seemingly strong connection with Tia, he says:

“I committed fully into that relationship and I gave it an honest to God shot. But I woke up one morning and realized that a future wasn’t there. And it was a good thing to happen because now I can take what I learned in that relationship and apply it to future relationships. And Tia and I are in a very good place. And I wish her all the best.”

Well, alright then!
Underwood plans to continue to stand in his truth, but most importantly — he wants to come out of this with a wife:

“I’m going to live my life and do what I’ve always done. [Being a virgin] needs to be normalized; it’s just who I am and what I believe in. I hold a lot of value in it and I hold it to a high standard. I’m just waiting for the right heart.
This is the perfect time in my life to do this. I’m so unbelievably happy with myself and now I can focus on finding my wife. I’m so excited to find that. My heart is 100 percent healed and I’m going to give this my all. And hopefully I’ll come out of it engaged.”

Perezcious readers, will you be tuning in for Colton’s season and all of ABC’s cringeworthy virgin-related puns?
Sound off in the comments (below)!!
[Image via WENN]