Caelynn Miller-Keyes on Colton Underwood and Her Bachelor Experience

Christopher Rosa
She and Colton had a powerful—and important—conversation during tonight's episode.

Caelynn Miller-Keyes wasn't sure she liked Colton Underwood at first. “I think [I was asked what I thought] the day after Bachelor in Paradise aired, and I said, ‘Uh, not really into him. I think he’s kind of a jerk,’” she told Glamour a few weeks before The Bachelor premiered. As the season progressed, though, her opinion changed, and she was able to open up to him about serious, more personal issues—as in tonight's episode. In a watershed Bachelor moment, Caelynn opened up on her one-on-one date about being sexually assaulted. "It's the most difficult thing in the world," she told him. "It's affected every single person in my life. It's so painful."

People magazine published the story about Caelynn's story before the episode aired. “My life was flipped upside down,” she tells the magazine. “And even though I’ve moved on, it is something I will struggle with forever.”

The incident happened during Caelynn's sophomore year of college at a party. “These situations happen when you’re safe,” she tells People. “They don’t necessarily happen when you’re walking down a dark alley. It’s when you’re comfortable and when you let your guard down.”

Viewers took to Twitter in droves and commended Caelynn for speaking out—as did Colton on their actual date. "He’s a really great guy, and he’s really grown on me," Caelynn tells Glamour.

Caelynn, who is the reigning Miss North Carolina, was the first girl Colton kissed in the house, and they've had a deep connection ever since. Of course, this only grew during tonight's episode. She says she did "extensive research" on Colton beforehand and was drawn to his philanthropic efforts. "I was hospitalized as a child and given a 10 percent chance of ever walking again, and I love that he works with children’s hospitals," she says.

As she advances further and further into this competition, Caelynn admits she's worried about heartbreak, but she's optimistic. "I’ve had a lot of heartbreak in my life, so I would hate for that to happen again, but [you have to put] yourself out there," she says.

To learn more about Caelynn Miller-Keyes, follow her on Instagram here.

If you'd like to speak to someone about sexual assault, don't hesitate to reach out to RAINN's hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673).