'Bachelor' Star Zach Shallcross Says Fans Will See A New Side Of Him

Zach Shallcross is ready to find love in his upcoming season of “The Bachelor.”

“There’s no words, I’m just taking this in right now,” Shallcrossss said after he was announced to be the next lead of the franchise. “I’m obviously really nervous right now but this is once in a lifetime.”

The 26-year-old is looking to “find my best friend, fall in love with my best friend, and really walk away with someone for the rest of my life.”

Those who are part of Bachelor Nation know that every season is claimed to be "the most dramatic season" yet -- though Zach Shallcross is not going with that take and, instead, is saying it will be the "most emotional season."

"It might not be the most dramatic season, but it's the most emotional season that they've ever had," Shallcross told PEOPLE. "But that's not to say that this season will not have some drama. There's no shortage of drama."

When asked how he felt he handled this season, the 26-year-old told PEOPLE "there was a few instances where I think everyone could have handled something better," however, he feels he handled "everything the way that felt right."

"I was following what was right for my heart and my gut," he said.

"I went into this whole thing wanting to find my best friend, wanting to find my future, and you can't force that," he continued to explain. "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. If it's not, it's not. If you let your heart figure it out, the right thing will happen. I truly believe that."

Fans are not thrilled that Shallcross was announced to be the next lead as many feel he doesn't have much of a personality, however, he is now claiming fans of Bachelor Nation will get to see a new side of him.

"Fans are going to see my full personality because I wear it on my sleeve," Shallcross said. "With last season, that necessarily wasn't the case. I think I'm going to surprise some people with who I am."

Shallcross was blindsided after the Fantasy Suites during Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey's season, but not all was lost as he learned a valuable lesson from his time with Recchia.

"I think the biggest takeaway and something that I tried to maintain throughout this season is really encouraging all the women to be open with how they're feeling with everything," he says. "Having that constant line of communication, always being open and vulnerable through it all so that there aren't any chances of a blindside."

The 26-year-old shared a photo to Instagram of himself, getting his fans and followers ready for the "Bachelor" premiere, writing "Totally not nervous for Monday…"

Zach Shallcross will meet 30 women on his upcoming season of "The Bachelor, which will premiere on January 23 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.