Clare Crawley swooned upon meeting Dale Moss on Tuesday during the season 16 premiere of The Bachelorette and later gave him the key ‘First Impression’ rose.
The 39-year-old hairstylist from Sacramento, California was left breathless shortly after former pro football player Dale, 31, stepped out of the limo.
‘I knew it,’ Clare said directly into a camera as Dale walked away after they introduced themselves to each other and hugged.
Instant connection: Clare Crawley swooned upon meeting Dale Moss on Tuesday during the season 16 premiere of The Bachelorette and later gave him the key ‘First Impression’ rose
‘I definitely felt like I just me my husband. Oh my god. I’m shaking,’ Clare continued while standing in an elegant glittering gown in the driveway.
Show host Chris Harrison, 49, then appeared out of nowhere to clarify what she said.
‘Did you say you think you may have just met your husband?,’ he asked.
‘Yeah,’ replied Clare who became the oldest lead in the history of the Bachelor franchise.
Strong impression: Dale, 31, as soon as he stepped out of the limo had Clare breathless
Husband feeling: ‘I definitely felt like I just me my husband. Oh my god. I’m shaking,’ Clare said while standing in an elegant glittering gown in the driveway
Double checking: Show host Chris Harrison, 49, appeared out of nowhere to clarify what she said
‘Every other guy, I felt a confidence with, but with Dale everything else went dark around me. I don’t even know what I just said. Did I sound okay? Did I say anything at all?,’ Clare said to Chris.
‘You really got hit,’ Chris stated.
‘I felt everything that I haven’t felt ever,’ Clare said.
Went dark: ‘Every other guy, I felt a confidence with, but with Dale everything else went dark around me. I don’t even know what I just said. Did I sound okay? Did I say anything at all?,’ Clare said to Chris
‘I felt it. I just know. I’m 39, like you know these things. I know what I want,’ she added.
Clare agreed to meet the rest of the contestants despite admitting that when Dale stepped out of the limo that it ‘took my breath away’.
Dale and Clare when they first met exchanged compliments and after calling himself a ‘hugger’ he lifted her off the ground in an embrace.
Football player: Clare agreed to meet the rest of the contestants despite admitting that when Dale stepped out of the limo that it ‘took my breath away’
‘I needed this so bad, you have no idea,’ Clare said.
‘While it’s been a long time coming I couldn’t be more excited to take this journey with you and I really do feel that this is going to be special,’ Dale told her.
They gave each other a hug good-bye and Clare then made her declaration of love at first sight.
Feeling it: They gave each other a hug good-bye and Clare then made her declaration of love at first sight as Dale walked away
It’s been widely reported that Clare found love within the first two weeks of production and will be replaced mid-season by Tayshia Adams, 30.
The two-hour show opened with a recap of Clare’s long journey to find love in the time of coronavirus.
She was shown being announced as The Bachelorette in March and then having her season put on hold following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Coronavirus challenges: The two-hour show opened with a recap of Clare’s long journey to find love in the time of coronavirus
The show after a delay was moved from Los Angeles to the resort city of La Quinta, California in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County.
Clare and her suitors underwent coronavirus testing before they were cleared to join the show.
The veteran of two stints on Bachelor In Paradise and The Bachelor Winter Games told Chris before meeting the 31 contestants that she hasn’t given up on love and was ready to ‘walk off into the sunset with the man of my dreams’.
Virus testing: Brendan and the other suitors lived in quarantine and were tested for coronavirus before they could join the show
Resort city: The show was moved from Los Angeles to the resort city of La Quinta in Riverside County
‘I’m tired of braving this world alone and having to be strong all the damn time,’ Clare later shared in a confessional after talking about caring for her mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
She met the contestants as they arrived in limousines, a station wagon and a Rolls-Royce.
Some guys made a strong effort to stand out and arrived rolling in a giant plastic bubble, wearing a suit of knight’s armor, showing signs of pregnancy and in a straitjacket.
Dramatic entrance: Clare met the contestants as they arrived in limousines, a station wagon and a Rolls-Royce for Bennett
Bubble guy: The contestants tried to make an impression on Clare with their entrances, including Ed in a bubble
Shiny armor: Another suitor named Chasen arrived in a suit of knight’s armor
Going crazy: Clare met Jay was was going crazy and wore a straitjacket
Clare and Dale had a candid conversation about her mother during the cocktail party and he recalled watching TV when she was announced as The Bachelorette and was taken by her excitement.
Chris put the First Impression rose on the table and Clare soon sought out Dale for more one-on-one time.
‘I’ve talked to so many men and you’re the one that I still want to keep talking to,’ Clare told Dale before offering him the First Impression rose.
Party talk: Clare and Dale had a candid conversation about her mother during the cocktail party and he recalled watching TV when she was announced as The Bachelorette and was taken by her excitement
She pinned the rose on him and asked if they should ‘do it’ before they exchanged a single kiss and hugged.
Clare then pulled Dale toward her again for more kissing.
There was minor drama as Tyler C told Clare that Yosef had been engaging in questionable behavior on Instagram.
First rose: Clare pinned the First Impression rose on Dale and asked if they should ‘do it’ before they exchanged a single kiss and hugged
More kissing: She then pulled Dale toward her again for more kissing
Clare held a meeting with both of them and after learning the details left it up to them to settle.
The rose ceremony followed and Yosef received the final rose as Tyler C and several other contestants were sent home.
A preview of the upcoming season showed Chris telling Clare that she was ‘blowing up The Bachelorette’ and ended with a limo pulling up and door opening with a new addition to the show.
The Bachelorette will return next week on ABC.
Minor drama: There was minor drama as Tyler C told Clare that Yosef had been engaging in questionable behavior on Instagram
Rose ceremony: The rose ceremony followed and Yosef received the final rose as Tyler C and several other contestants were sent home