Ben Higgins Announces Home Makeover Contest, ‘Bachelor’ Star Will Renovate A Fan’s Home
Ben Higgins is giving back. The former Bachelor star and his fiancée, Lauren Bushnell, have announced that they will help repair and renovate the home of a deserving Colorado resident. Higgins posted the announcement on Instagram, revealing that he and Bushnell are looking for nominations for “an unsung hero in the Denver area.”
Ben and his bride-to-be revealed that fans can nominate deserving individuals and that the contest would be suitable for anyone from a foster family to a devoted school teacher who could maybe use a helping hand with home renovations.
“Lauren and I are teaming up to help a deserving person or family in need of home renovations and repairs. We’re searching for an unsung hero in the Denver area — an inspiring family or individual who constantly puts others before themselves,” Ben wrote.
There was no mention of what the prize value will be or if there will be a budget for the room makeover, but some of Higgins’ makeover suggestions included helping a deserving winner finish a basement or add an addition to their home.
While Higgins didn’t elaborate on many details of the contest, his announcement made it clear that the winner would need to be willing to share his or her story on TV. While several Bachelor alums have gone on to appear on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Ben Higgins landed an ever sweeter deal. Higgins and Bushnell will star in Freeform’s The Bachelor spinoff series, Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After.
Higgins talked about the spinoff show in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying that it will focus on how much the couple’s relationship has grown post-Bachelor.
“What The Bachelor didn’t show is the foundational points to our relationship, which are communication, working through issues, our faith. Those things are really important and I hope this new show explores those things,” Higgins told EW.
Ben also teased that some of his Bachelor buddies may even make cameos on Ben & Lauren.
“I still have a lot of good friends from the show,” Higgins said.
“I still keep in touch with Tanner [Tolbert] and Jared [Haibon] and Ben Zorn and Shawn [Booth] and Chris Strandburg and Chris Soules and JJ [Lane]. I keep in touch with a lot of these guys! I feel like all my days are consisting of crazy group texts… I’m sure you’ll see them on the show because they seem to always be around.”
According to the Colorado Statesman, Higgins previously considered a run for a seat in Colorado state House and was considered to be a Republican frontrunner, but he later withdrew his candidacy. In a message on his website, Higgins wrote that while he wanted to pursue the opportunity, he “received information that has made such a pursuit unworkable.” Ben added that he still plans to “bring positive change” to his community and that he will move forward, although “on a different path.”
Higgins didn’t throw anyone under the bus, but according to the Denver Post, GOP Chairman Steve House said in a statement that Disney and ABC threatened Higgins.
“Disney and ABC’s decision to reportedly threaten Ben Higgins’ future with the network and even his wedding if he did not drop out of the (House District) 4 race is downright despicable,” House said.
While Higgins won’t be involved in his community in a political way, it appears that he will use his new reality show to better the Denver area — and the home of one lucky winner.
And just in case you’re wondering what type of handyman creds Ben Higgins has, he previously posted Instagram snaps of himself after he reroofed his own house and built a new sidewalk. Looks like this Bachelor star doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty.
In addition, yard work is another one of Ben’s specialties, so whoever wins the Bachelor star’s mystery contest is definitely in good hands.
Take a look at the video below for Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell’s new reality show Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After.
[Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images]
