Gabby Windey Says She Wasn't 'Actively Trying to Hide' Relationship with Her Girlfriend (Exclusive)

The former 'Bachelorette' star is dating Robby Hoffman

When Gabby Windey came out to the world in August and revealed that she is dating girlfriend Robby Hoffman, her friends and family already knew.

“We were out in our personal lives. Our friends and family knew, so we weren't actively trying to hide anything,” the former Bachelorette star told PEOPLE exclusively at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Friday.

“It’s just nice being open about it and just being able to be ourselves and celebrate our relationship,” she continued.

Added Windey, who walked hand in hand with Hoffman — a TV writer and comedian — at the event: “We were so excited in private, and now it's like we all just want an excuse to celebrate and be happy, so we got to be in public and be able to be proud about it.”

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Related: Who Is Gabby Windey's Girlfriend? All About Robby Hoffman

Before dating Hoffman, Windey ended her 2022 season of The Bachelorette engaged to Erich Schwer, but they later called it quits that November.

During an appearance on The View this summer, Windey announced her new relationship.

“I always just want to live my truth, and my story,” she said on the show. “And so I have been seeing someone for a couple months, and I’ve been keeping it a little more private because it is like a bigger story and a bigger conversation, because I’m dating a girl!”

Windey later went Instagram official with Hoffman, sharing a collection of photos of them together with the cheeky caption, “Told you I’m a girls girl!!”

Related: Former Bachelorette Gabby Windey Reveals She's Dating a Woman: 'Told You I'm a Girls Girl!'

Continuing to speak with PEOPLE, Windey said she is excited to keep up with the Bachelor franchise, particularly the upcoming Golden Bachelor, which will star 72-year-old Gerry Turner.

"I'll be paying close attention. I feel like everyone's really excited to watch, and we're right along there with them,” she said.

“I think it'll be interesting to watch," added Windey. "I mean, I get nervous for all the old women and the drama, but other than that, I think it's something we've never seen before, which is why people are so excited.”

The Golden Bachelor premieres Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Read the original article on People.