Windey, who teamed with Flamin’ Hot to helps fans find a “new flame” with another spicy “sidechip,” tells PEOPLE she looks back on her reality TV time “fondly”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Gabby-Windey-as-The-Bachelorette-091624-b1341e58019f4d0d912631580dcd7e68.jpg "GABBY WINDEY")
The Bachelorette didn’t lead to everlasting love for Gabby Windey, but it gave her invaluable experiences.
“Going on TV, you really learn who you are, because there’s no one else to really lean on besides yourself,” Windey, who partnered with Flamin’ Hot to encourage Flamin’ Hot Cheetos lovers to try one of the brand’s 25+ spicy “sidechips,” tells PEOPLE. “It’s something I always look back on fondly and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I cannot believe I did that.’”
After appearing on Clayton Echard’s season of The Bachelor, Windey, 33, became the franchise’s first co-Bachelorette with Rachel Recchia. Windey ended her season engaged to Erich Schwer, but the pair split up two months after the finale aired in September 2022. The Long Winded podcast host has since come out as a lesbian and recently moved in with her girlfriend, comedian Robby Hoffman.
Still, when “people are like, ‘How was The Bachelorette experience?’ I’m like, ‘Honestly, I would do it again and again for the accommodations if I was single,’” Windey says. “Being flown first class around the world, great French champagne, amazing food, you really can’t compare!”
Windey feels like her partnership with Flamin’ Hot “makes sense” since “at one point, I had 25 boyfriends on TV.” With back to school season in full swing, Flamin’ Hot wants to give fans a hall pass to step out on the signature Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and try another Flamin’ Hot snack (Windey particularly loves the Doritos). To make this happen, Flamin’ Hot will offer fans the chance to enter to win exclusive “Burner Phones” that come with a direct connect to Chester Cheetah; the mascot will make sure a selection of Flamin’ Hot sidechips get delivered straight to winners’ doors for one year. Interested snackers have 18 until Nov. 8 to enter via Windey’s Instagram or FlaminHotUniversity.com.
“Flamin’ Hot is obviously known for being fiery and spicy, and I’ve been known for my fiery and spicy personality,” Windey says. “You can enter into a sweepstakes to get a burner phone for a year — what you do with that is none of my business — but what you can do with it is get Flamin’ Hot products on demand just with a touch of a button. You get an excuse to cheat on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos with your other sidechip. I think the concept is amazing and it’s really fun.”
After looking for love on TV, Windey headed to Dancing with the Stars for season 31, on which she placed second with partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
“Dancing with the Stars feels like a Hollywood set all the time,” Windey says. “You’re in trailers, on live TV in these amazing outfits.”
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The upcoming season of DWTS will feature two stars from Bachelor Nation for the first time when Joey Graziadei and Jenn Tran step into the ballroom. Windey says she hasn’t reached out to either of the franchise alums because “I’m sure they’re just in the throes of practicing, but I’m so excited for them.”
“It’s such an amazing experience,” Windey continues of the ABC competition show. “Anybody who gets the opportunity, I’m like, ‘Do Dancing with the Stars. It’s the best thing you can do ever.’ So I’m really excited to watch them and cheer them on.”
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