Clare Crawley Admits To Being In 'A Really Dark Place' After Dale Moss Engagement

Clare Crawley is best known for her time on the “Bachelor” television franchise.

She first appeared on the 18th season of “The Bachelor” and went on to become the leader of the 16th season of “The Bachelorette.” She also appeared on both seasons 1 and 2 of “Bachelor in Paradise” and on “Bachelor Winter Games.”

When she was the lead on “The Bachelorette," she left the show early as she thought she found the one with Dale Moss. The two got engaged but then went on to have an on-again, off-again relationship. In October 2021, the two announced their split.

The 41-year-old recently appeared on the January 11 episode of the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast, where she told hosts Becca Kufrin and Michelle Young about her time after becoming the lead of the show.

"After the end of my previous engagement and relationship, I was in a really dark place, a really low place -- and struggling really, really bad post-show," she said in regards to her engagement with Dale Moss.  

At the time of her engagement, she was also caring for her mother, who was in hospice as she battled Alzheimer's and dementia. "It was a moment that never happened before. It was a moment I never expected... Time is so valuable and time is so limited. There was a point a year-and-a-half ago when we thought that was the end," she continued to share.

"And so to be able to -- this is going to make me cry -- but to share [that with my mom], I never thought that moment was possible," she said holding back tears. "I was so upset for so long about my previous relationship because I felt like [Dale] took that moment and took that time away from me and my mom that was special and I had been waiting to share with my mom."

The 41-year-old has spoken out about her father on past seasons of "The Bachelor" franchise, and so having her mother involved in the engagement was extremely important to her.

"I felt robbed of that before, and I felt taken advantage of that before and used for that before, and not knowing how precious that is to me," Crawley explained.

The 41-year-old has finally found love with her fiancé Ryan Dawkins after getting her heart broken multiple times on the “Bachelor” franchise.

When speaking on her new relationship, Crawley said, "And so this time with Ryan, it's like that moment was so beautiful. And he got emotional, which made me so emotional. He was so, just, respectful and loving -- and he is still so kind to my mom."

She continued, "You never know where life is going to lead you. I'm 41 years old, going on 42, almost. And I thought, 'I'm still so lucky to have that moment with Ryan and with my mom.' But not only that, my mom is still here and she's still giving her best! She's comfortable and happy right now."