Lucy Hale claimed she's not dating anyone amid reports that she's been seeing former "Bachelor"Colton Underwood .- "I feel more single than ever, but it's fine," she told
Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, adding that she's on dating apps but hasn't met up with anyone during the pandemic. - On Friday, TMZ published a photo of Hale and Underwood on a hike together in Los Angeles, California, and claimed that the two have been spending time together.
- The photo comes months after Underwood split with Cassie Randolph.
Lucy Hale claimed to be single despite recent speculation that the actress is romantically linked to the season 23 "Bachelor" Colton Underwood.
"I feel more single than ever, but it's fine," she told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday.
Hale admitted that she used to "hate being alone" but is now "so happy" to have her own routine. And while the actress said she's on a dating site, she explained that she's been "too nervous" to meet up with anyone.
"I feel the only way I'm gonna date someone next is if they make my life better," she added.
On Friday, TMZ published a photo of Hale and Underwood hiking the Paseo Miramar Trail together in Los Angeles, California.
The report comes shortly after Underwood's split with Cassie Randolph, the winner of his season of "The Bachelor," in May.
Sources told TMZ that Hale reached out to the reality star after his breakup was official and has been on several "casual hike dates" with the former football player in recent weeks.
"He is moving on as much as he can, has been dating and is excited about this new chapter," a source told Us Weekly on Thursday. "There is no chance that Colton and Cassie will get back together."
Though Hale, a fan of the "Bachelor" franchise, hasn't commented on the reported romance, she did give Underwood a nod of approval when he was first cast as the lead on the popular reality show.
"He's wholesome. He's a good guy it seems like," she told PeopleTV in 2018. "He's really beautiful to watch."
In the past, Hale reportedly dated The Cab keyboard player Alex Marshall, country singer Joel Crouse, and electronic musician Anthony Kalabretta.
The "Pretty Little Liars" actress opened up about how her taste in romantic partners has evolved with age, especially as she's moved into her 30s, during a January interview with Cosmopolitan. She explained that she's made a conscious effort to stop trying to fix "damaged" people.
"I used to be really drawn to, like, damaged people who had been through some s---," she said. "Now, I'm like, 'You can be nice but not boring. Nice but not a dud.'"
Representatives for Hale and Underwood did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.