Rachel Lindsay — who was recently named the first black lead of The Bachelorette is ready to walk down the aisle — which should come as no surprise, since she’s nearly made the trip in the past!

In the new issue of In Touch, on newsstands now, a source exclusively tells the magazine that she was in a very serious relationship — and nearly engaged — before she went on The Bachelor and almost found love with Nick Viall (the Dallas-based attorney, 31, made it to his final four).

MUST SEE: Spoiler Alert! Find Out Who Nick Picks on ‘The Bachelor’

An insider tells In Touch that she was super serious with her last boyfriend — until distance came between them after four years together.

“They were talking about starting a family. She definitely saw herself marrying this guy,” the insider explains. “But they lived in different cities and [distance] ended up dividing them. They officially ended things last spring.”

MORE: Nick Viall and JoJo Fletcher Enjoy a Flirty Night Out!

A friend of Rachel’s insists that she’s ~there for the right reasons~ — and is truly seeking a relationship rather than fame.

“Her friends are getting engaged and married right now and she wants that too,” the pal explains. “She’s hoping becoming the Bachelorette will open her dating pool and expose her to guys she normally would never meet.”

She made it clear that she intends on finding love when her casting was announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She gushed to the talk show host, “I am excited! I’m ready. I’m ready to find love. I’m looking for someone who’s ready for what I’m ready for. At this point in my life — at 31 — I’m ready to find a husband, someone who’s ready to start a family. Someone who can make me laugh [and has] a great smile.”

And when it comes to meeting the one, there’s no denying that Rachel is open to anything.

“She’s definitely open-minded when it comes to guys,” the insider explains. “In high school she dated white guys, and then in college she had a long-term black boyfriend. Race doesn’t matter to her.”

MORE: Chad Johnson Reveals Which Lady He Wants to Win ‘The Bachelor’

She does, however, have one requirements according to her pal. The only “must” on her list is “somebody who is funny. Rachel loves to laugh.”

For more on this story, pick up the latest issue of In Touch — and for more exclusive content sign up for our newsletter!

itw cover 2/22

Have a tip? Send it to us! Email In Touch at contact@intouchweekly.com.