Rachel Kirckonnell/ Tiktok
Are Bachelor Nation’s Rachel Recchia and Blake Moynes Dating? Updates After Africa Vacation
Besties to lovers? Bachelor Nation’s Rachel Recchia and Blake Moynes refueled dating rumors after sharing content from a recent trip to Africa in April 2025, which screamed more baecation than vacation. Life & Style breaks down all the clues that are leading fans to speculate that Rachel and Blake are dating.
Are Rachel Recchia and Blake Moynes Dating?
The pair first sparked dating rumors after they developed a platonic friendship on Bachelor in Paradise season 9, which fans saw during the 2023 reality series.
It was after their time on the beach, however, that had Bachelor Nation buzzing.
In August 2024, Rachel supported Blake when she attended the 17th annual Oceana Seachange Summer Party with Nautica in Long Beach. The pair walked separately on the blue carpet, but that didn’t stop fans from wondering if there was something romantically sparking between them.
However, the season 19 co-Bachelorette quickly shot down the dating rumors.
“We went to an event together. Everyone wants us to be a couple so bad,” Rachel said during the August 19, 2024, episode of “The Ben & Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast.” “I feel like we always address the rumor over and over again. We’re still not a couple. We’re friends.”
She revealed things never got physical between her and Blake, adding, “He’s my most solid guy friend. I go to him for everything. Who would I go to then if we had that weird kiss, and then things got awkward?”
Rachel Recchia and Blake Moynes Reignite Dating Rumors
The reality stars caught fans’ attention when they went on a trip to Africa in April 2025.
Rachel gave her followers a glimpse inside their safari getaway via TikTok, but the one with Blake’s appearance was one of the highest-viewed videos.
“I forgot this was the whole point,” a text read over a video of Rachel and Blake driving through the fields of Africa during a scenic sunset.
Blake was driving the open-top motor vehicle, with one hand on the wheel – and the other around Rachel’s leg.
“Blake’s arm placement says it all guys,” a fan wrote in the comments section of the April 25, 2025, TikTok post.
“NO BECAUSE PLEASE IVE BEEN ROOTING AND WAITING FOR THIS HARD LAUNCH SINCE AFTER PARADISE THE CHEMISTRY WAS ALWAYS THERE,” a second person exclaimed.
A third simply wrote, “The best thing to ever come out of Bachelor in Paradise is whatever the hell is going on with Rachel and Blake.”
Blake and Rachel weren’t on the trip solo and instead enjoyed the experience with a group of peers.
Two days after Rachel’s post, Blake shared a series of action shots of Rachel’s reaction to seeing her first elephant via Instagram Stories.
When Did Rachel Recchia Join Bachelor Nation?
Fans first met Rachel during Clayton Echard’s season 26 of The Bachelor. She became the first co-Bachelorette alongside Gabby Windey in the following season of The Bachelorette, season 19.
Rachel ended her journey engaged to ex-fiancé Tino Franco, but their relationship ended shortly after when he kissed another woman.
When Did Blake Moynes Join Bachelor Nation?
Blake was a contestant during season 16 of The Bachelorette. Clare Crawley left the season early with Dale Moss, leading Tayshia Adams to take place as the lead. Blake was sent home during week 7.
The Ontario native had better luck when he returned the next season when he joined Katie Thurston’s group of men and got engaged during the season 17 Bachelorette finale in August 2021.
Katie and Blake ended their engagement two months later.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Life & Style does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.