Hannah Brown is getting real about her struggles post-Bachelorette.
The former Miss Alabama USA took to Instagram on Monday night to candidly open up about how her life has changed over the past year, and reveal her battle to maintain her identity throughout all that’s happened.
“Honest policy: I’m struggling,” Brown began her lengthy post. “Life is so different. Since last August, I’ve been a pageant queen, a bachelor contestant, and the Bachelorette. I’ve been in love with multiple people, I got engaged, I broke off an engagement, and I shared it all with millions of people. My faith has been questioned by thousands who don’t know my heart, and my transparency with my decisions has labeled me promiscuous. Simultaneously, I’ve become a role model for young women and started bigger conversations around faith, and sex. // I’m living on my own for the first time and shuffling through this life of next steps with press, media, and opportunities galore.”
15 PHOTOS
Hannah Brown on Instagram
See Gallery
This is how I feel about my experience competing in the swimsuit competition. If those sky high eyebrows don’t scream confident and empowered, idk what will😂🤗 (y’all, I know the face is slightly terrifying..but let me live in this moment-girl was workin’ it💁🏼♀️) . I have been blessed to be surrounded by some of the most amazing women who are not only gorgeous, but extremely healthy and fit, and incredibly sharp leaders of our country. It’s okay to be all those things. You can still be a world changer, and turn heads in an evening gown or swimsuit. I appreciate my femininity and intellect and how both have made me the leader I am. #missusa #girlwerk #browgametoohigh #dontstopthatshine #missalusa #alabamahannah #18ateam #wedoboth
all smiles folks. 🤗#alabamahannah #lowqualitybts
happy valentine’s day to myself. I love you. XOXO 🥰🌹💕
sunny skies // squinty eyes #alabamahannah
IT’S OFFICIAL! MISS USA will be held May 21st in Shreveport, Louisiana {LIVE} on @foxtv! This is so surreal. Prayer warriors, let’s get goin’—peace and blessings all throughout this process! Y’all be ready to cheer on your #alabamahannah #brownforthecrown #rpmforthewin #missalusa #missusa #confidentlybeautiful
have hope, honey.
isaiah 40:31
ready for all the clapbacks tonight? #WTA #thebachelor
staring down monday like… can you give me a sec, I can’t deal. #sundayscaries ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
[a lil’ dramatic, I’ll get it together]
tripleHD [it’s. a. thing.] my ppl. #girlgang
2018. you were an unexpected ride I didn’t know I was in line for🎢. You know, the one that made me laugh and giggle from the thrill, but equally cry and scream as the ride got scary and my stomach dropped.
I was blessed in abundance this year. No doubt about that. But the ride took different turns than I expected or sometimes even wanted at the time. (crowns, cameras, and @coltonunderwood were not what I thought adulting was going to consist of, but blessed by all still the same)
But the greatest thing about 2018? I finally started sitting in the front row of my own ride. I got honest. I got raw and real with myself. And I really got to know me (the good me, the bad me, and the ugly me…also the weird, crazy-fun me) so I could let other people get to know the real Han too. It’s a great victory to know WHO you are and WHOSE you are, and for that 2018, I am grateful. Thankful that the grace and mercy of my God is one thing that’ll never change with each new year. so hollla hellooo 2019 whatcha got? I’m ready! 🙋♀️✨🎉💕
the one time I walked a runway in almost nothing and six-inch heels. don’t mistake me as a @victoriassecret angel, you didn’t miss me in the fashion show. I like sugar too much. darn. #myprime #onehitwonder
what have I eaten the past six months? 🤦🏼♀️🥨🥓🥞🍟🍔🍕🍞🥐🍦🍫🍿🍪🍩🍷🧂🥡 #allthesethings #gottagetitbacktogether
#serveday = #bestday with @abigail.lesley ! such a great day to join together as a church to be the hands and feet of Jesus all throughout our communities. #alabamahannah
hands up let’s do this. I’m packing up and feeling great. I laugh because I’m so calm, but also because this is truly happening. I feel like I should be freaking out—but fear is a liar so I’m gonna supermodel pose and be sunshine. Ahhh my #roadtomissusa two more daysss. Follow me here and @missalusa to stay updated. And yes, prayers are numero uno request. #missalusa #missusa #alabamahannah
I wish everyday was pool day—even with my sweet Roscoe who almost made me bust it in our failed photo shoot. 🙃👙☀️🐶 #roscoeiscamerashy #alabamahannah #missalusa
I had my national television debut and 8* seconds of fame yesterday on my favorite show @goodmorningamerica • • •
If you know me, you know I love me some GMA and coffee every morning so this was too cool. (disclaimer: Strahan is a giant)
See Gallery
HIDE CAPTION
SHOW CAPTION
of
SEE ALL
BACK TO SLIDE
The 24-year-old continued, sharing that she misses her friends and family back home in Alabama who have “watched my life explode.” “I feel guilty because I don’t have the time or emotional capacity to fill each of them in on my life right now. I can’t keep up with the people that matter most, because I can barely keep up with my own life right now,” she wrote.
“I am not complaining about this past year of adventures. The woman who has emerged would shock the mirror-image young girl from a year ago. I have so many blessings to be thankful for. However it’s uncharted territory for me, and it’s been hard to really process what the heck is going on,” Brown said. “Maybe I needed write this out to remind myself I’m human and it’s okay to be overwhelmed. And maybe, I just needed to remind you guys too.”
The Bachelorette concluded her message: “Life is beautiful, but wild. I think it’s okay to be strong-to know you’re strong-but to still feel weak simultaneously. I believe that’s when the magic happens. My spirit has opportunity to grow and blossom from this place. Healing and restoration can happen. I can rest knowing that My Savior has compassion and wants to help and love me through this journey. I’ve just got to let Him. I don’t know if I have been lately — but I am now because honestly, I think I would give out if I didn’t. So yeah, I’m not going to struggle to disguise my weakness — I’m just gonna give over the keys to my main man Jesus and let him bless me through this ride. Isaiah 54:10.”
Just two weeks ago, fans watched Brown’s season finale of The Bachelorette, which featured her breakup from fiance Jed Wyatt and her boldly asking out her runner-up, Tyler Cameron, for a drink. She and Cameron got that drink a few days later, and he spent the night at her place in Los Angeles. Two days after that, he was spotted on multiple dates with Gigi Hadid.
“I have feelings, but I’m also single and he’s single and I wanna keep my options open and he can keep his options open,” Brown told ET last Monday.
“We definitely hung out and talked about everything and… I know nobody will believe me [about] just hanging out and actually talking but it was good to be able to catch up. We had a lot to talk about,” she explained, noting it was “a lot” like the pair’s fantasy suite date. “We are trying to figure out how we feel.”
Brown has since posted to social media about “letting go,” with fans speculating she was referring to her possible relationship with Cameron.
“If I was Hannah, would I feel great? No,” former Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher told ET on Thursday. “I would feel really crappy. And that fact that it is Gigi Hadid…”
“I feel like he should just do what he wants, what makes him happy. She should do what she wants,” she added. “They’re both single.”
Brown has received tons of support from Bachelor Nation for embracing her independence during her season of The Bachelorette — and afterwards. See more in the video below.
More from ET Online:
Inside Miley Cyrus and Kaitlynn Carter’s hot girl summer
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth split after seven months of marriage
Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz are living their best lives while honeymooning in Italy
Let’s block ads! (Why?)
