Becca Tilley on confirming Hayley Kiyoko relationship: 'Haley has really made me feel brave'

Becca Tilley is overwhelmed by the support she's received from fans after confirming her relationship with girlfriend Hayley Kiyoko.

"The Bachelor" alum, 33, appeared as a love interest in Kiyoko's music video for "For the Girls," where Kiyoko cast herself as the first lesbian "Bachelorette" star.

On Tilley's podcast episode of "Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley & Tanya Rad" on Monday, the reality TV alum discussed her decision to keep the couple's four-year-long relationship private.

"Hayley and I never were secret, we were very much ourselves, we held hands in public … (but) I really made sure to make that distinction between 'private' and 'secret,' " Tilley said. "There's such this warped perception of privacy via social media because we're so expected to share everything."

Hayley Kiyoko, Becca Tilley relationship: Couple debuts in 'Bachelorette' inspired music video 'For the Girls'

The influencer said a music video debut was always how she wanted to share her relationship with Kiyoko, 31.

"I've always said, 'We can go public if I can be in one of your videos,' " Tilley said, noting that Kiyoko "always hires legit actresses" so she found it best to play a pseudo version of herself.

The Louisiana native admitted to "fearing the reaction of other people for four years," but reminded herself that she has "a big group of people that had my back and were going to support me and love me and encourage me and us in our relationship and have championed our relationship since day one."

"So I was prepared for anything and everything, but I was not prepared for the amount of love and support that we got," Tilley said as she broke down in tears.

She added: "Haley has really made me feel brave, and she was always like, 'People love you and they want to see you happy.' And I'm just so thankful for you guys."

Phoebe Bridgers, Troye Sivan, Lil Nas X: How LGBTQ pop stars are thriving like never before

Kiyoko's music video "For The Girls," which debuted Friday, stars the singer as the star of a reality dating show that looks suspiciously like "The Bachelorette," from creative limo entrances to contestant drama to rose petals galore.

The singer is met with a revolving door of potential suitors trying to make their mark before Tilley makes an eleventh hour limo entrance, exchanging a knowing smile with Kiyoko.

"Summer's for the girls, the girls that like girls / The girls that like boys, the girls, the girls, the girls," Kiyoko sings.

Hayley Kiyoko cast as Velma: Mindy Kaling defends South Asian Velma on 'Scooby-Doo' spinoff

Tilley previously became the runner-up Chris Soules' season of "The Bachelor" in 2015 before competing again the next year on Ben Higgins' season, where she came in fifth place. After appearing on the show, she also dated fellow franchise alum Robert Graham.

Kiyoko and Tilley had not previously publicly confirmed their relationship. Tilley joked Friday on social media that it was "hard to say if this is a hard or soft launch, but it is a launch," sharing a video of sweet moments between the two.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Becca Tilley: Hayley Kiyoko 'made me feel brave' to share relationship