Kaitlyn Bristowe has a message for her critics, just in time for the new year. On Monday, December 30, the 39-year-old Bachelor Nation star shared an Instagram reel set to Danny Gonzalez and Drew Gooden’s song, “We Are Not the Same Person,” featuring a side-by-side of her from her Bachelor days circa 2015 and a present-day photo.
“Believe it or not I’ve done more work on the inside,” she captioned the post. “You can’t physically see that, but I’ve never felt it more. To the people who always wanna comment ‘you were so much prettier before all the work you’ve had done.’ I suggest you do the important work on the inside before judging what’s on the outside.”
The vulnerable post sparked a wave of reactions, but the overwhelming response was supportive. “You were beautiful then and beautiful now,” one fan wrote. “But the most beautiful part is how you know yourself and shine from the inside out.” Another shared, “I know I don’t know you personally but you continue to be an inspiration to me to live our lives as authentically as possible.”
Bristowe hasn’t shied away from addressing her appearance over the years. In 2021, she responded to a tweet questioning her look, candidly listing the changes: “6 years since I was on the show, Brow lift, brow micro blading, got my teeth bonded, some filler In my lips, aging, darker hair, and I finally learned how to contour. Oh and I put on some weight.”
Her takeaway? Inner growth deserves just as much attention as outer changes—especially since it’s the kind of transformation that often goes unseen but matters the most.
