A final rose isn’t forever. Not every couple survives the reality TV curse, especially in Bachelor Nation. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the franchise is one of the most — if not the most — popular reality show on TV.
When The Bachelor first debuted in 2005, not even host Chris Harrison would have predicted that it would result in five different spinoffs: The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise, Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise and The Bachelor Winter Games.
In 2020, the show is a bit different after a handful of scandals surfaced. During season 4 of Bachelor in Paradise, production was shut down following a sexual misconduct complaint involving Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson. The situation made headlines for months and rules were changed the following season.
Now, one of the larger controversies is the number of background checks the production team are doing — something Harrison promises is getting better.
“I do know that measures were taken and people were hired to do some deep dives into peoples’ social media and to try to cover our bases as much — as much more — as possible,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019. “But at the end of the day, we live in a very different world than when the show started 17 years ago. We’re evolving and changing and doing the best you can. But there will be things that come up. You hate to be reactive; you’d love to be proactive. But you can only be so proactive. Stuff is going to happen, so you just do the best you can with the information you have at the time.”
Ultimately, as much as it’s a cliché, the show is constantly looking for people who are there for the right reasons. Us Weekly has gathered a list of all the winners of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette over the years — it’s up to you to decide who was competing for true love.
After accepting Alex Michel’s final rose in 2002’s first season of The Bachelor, the couple dated for a year before calling it quits. While later she married longtime friend Jay Caldwell and welcomed a daughter named Chloe, the duo got divorced. Amanda exclusively confirmed her engagement to her longtime love, Chris, on Us Weekly’s “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast in July 2020. “There was a time after I was divorced — I was divorced for several years before I met my fiancé — where I thought about reaching out to ABC and thought, ‘Should we give this a go,” she told Us. “But it is funny because I met my fiancé on Match.com because I knew I was going to relocate to Kansas City and he lived up here. … After the show [Alex] ended up working for Match.com, so it’s almost like I still thank him.” INSTAR Images
While she was the first contestant to receive and accept a proposal on the show, her relationship with Aaron Buerge ended weeks later. She works as a New Jersey school psychologist and is married to IBM consultant Andrew Goodman. INSTAR Images
Several months after the season 3 finale, Jen and Andrew Firestone called off their engagement.She went on to become The Bachelorette but turned down two marriage proposals. In 2009, she married Joe Waterman and the couple have two children. Shutterstock
At the end of season 4, Bob Guiney gave Estella a promise ring, but they split shortly after the show aired. She works as a San Diego sales rep. Shutterstock
In 2004, Jesse Palmer decided not to propose to Jessica, but the pair dated for a few months after the show ended. She now works as an attorney and is married to Omar Rawi. The pair have two children, Brady and Parker. Shutterstock
After accepting Byron Velvick’s proposal on the season 6 finale, the pair stayed together for years before calling it quits in 2009. She now owns a real estate company in Tampa, Florida. In 2015, she married James Kordomenos. Shutterstock
Sarah and season 7 Bachelor Charlie O’Connell had an on-off relationship after the finale aired. They split in 2010. Today, she lives in Dallas, Texas, and she and her husband share three sons. Shutterstock
Sarah briefly dated Travis Stork after he picked her — but did not propose — on season 8, but the pair did not last. She now is married with three daughters and is a cohost of the “Say It Southern” podcast. YouTube
Prince Lorenzo Borghese and Jennifer dated for a year after season 9 of The Bachelor before splitting in 2007. She now is married to an accountant but keeps most of her personal life off social media. INSTAR Images
Horst and Andy Baldwin were briefly engaged following season 10 but ended things in 2007, about six months after the show wrapped. She is now married to Tom Pickard and the couple share a son. She lives in San Francisco and is the founder of the Infant Growth Group. INSTAR Images
Shayne and Matt Grant didn’t last long after he proposed on the season 12 finale. She married Nik Richie in 2010 and the couple have two children. They also appeared on Couple’s Therapy on VH1. Shutterstock
While Jason Mesnick proposed to Melissa on the finale, he dumped her on the after-show and decided to choose runner-up Molly Malaney instead. Melissa starred on multiple reality shows through the years, including two seasons of Dancing With the Stars, before going on to host Bachelor Pad and Redneck Island. In 2009, she married Tye Strickland. They have three children. Shutterstock
Jake Pavelka proposed to Vienna at the end of season 14 but the couple split several months after the show wrapped in 2010. She went on to date Bachelor Pad 2 alum Kasey Kahl and later NASCAR racer Todd Allen. Shutterstock
When Brad Womack returned for season 15, he proposed to Emily … but they split after a few months. In 2012, she became the Bachelorette and was briefly engaged to her winner, Jef Holm. In 2014, she married Tyler Johnson. Emily shares four children with Johnson. She is also the mother of daughter Ricki, whom she welcomed with late fiancé Ricky Hendrick in 2005. Shutterstock
Ben Flajnik proposed to Courtney at the end of season 16; the pair split, then got back together and re-engaged during the live after show. However, it didn’t last. She went on to briefly date Arie Luyendyk Jr., who went on to become the Bachelor. In December 2019, Us broke the news that she is engaged to Humberto Preciado. The pair are expecting their first child. The couple wed in October 2020, four months after the birth of their son, Joaquin Ramon. She is currently pregnant with a baby girl. Shutterstock
Sean Lowe and Catherine got engaged during season 17 of The Bachelor. The couple tied the knot in a television wedding in January 2014. Two years later, they welcomed their first son, Samuel. In 2018, they had another son, Isaiah. Days before Christmas 2019, they welcomed their first daughter, Mia, via C-section. “I haven’t been able to help much with the boys while I’m in surgery recovery but he’s been dad of the decade already and it’s only day two of 2020,” she wrote on Instagram on January 2, 2020. Shutterstock
While she won Juan Pablo Galavis' heart at the end of season 18, the duo split months later in 2014. In October 2016, the nurse practitioner married Tyler Vanloo. The couple have had a rocky marriage and briefly separated before reuniting in November 2019. Shutterstock
Chris Soules proposed to Whitney at the end of season 19 in 2015. Months later, the pair called off their engagement. Later that year, she met Ricky Angel on Bumble and the two married in 2017. They welcomed their first child, a son, in May 2019. Shutterstock
Lauren and Ben Higgins got engaged on the season 20 Bachelor finale and went on to star in their own spinoff, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After? However, they split in 2017. She began dating country singer Chris Lane in November 2018, and they married in October 2019. The couple announced in December 2020 that they are expecting their first child and she gave birth to son Dutton in 2021. Shutterstock
Nick Viall proposed to Vanessa in 2017 during the finale of season 21 of The Bachelor. However, in August of the same year, the pair split. In January 2019, she made her relationship official with Josh Wolfe. They announced their engagement in August 2020. Grimaldi and Wolfe tied the knot in Montreal in August 2021. Shutterstock
Arie proposed to Becca at the end of season 22 of The Bachelor, but before the season aired, he changed his mind and called off the engagement. Becca went on to become the Bachelorette and get engaged to Garrett Yrigoyen. Becca and Garrett called it quits during the summer of 2020 after two years together. Shutterstock
During Colton Underwood’s season of The Bachelor, Cassie went home when he told her he loved her. However, he sent his remaining two women home and flew to visit her, asking if she wanted to date — not get engaged — and see where it went. She agreed and the two dated until May 2020, when they announced their split. The grad student was subsequently granted a temporary restraining order against Colton after she accused him of harassment and stalking in September 2020. The order was dropped in November 2020. Shutterstock
Two months after Peter Weber got down on one knee in Australia during the season 24 finale of The Bachelor, he broke up with the model because he had unresolved feelings for Madison Prewett, who quit during the final week. During their live reunion onstage in March 2020, Hannah Ann did not hold back. “Word of advice,” she quipped. “If you want to be with a woman, you need to become a real man.” In April 2020, Hannah Ann confirmed on the “Off the Vine” podcast that she moved to Los Angeles and was going on virtual dates with a “mystery man” amid the coronavirus pandemic. The relationship didn't last, however, with her later confirming her single status. ABC/John Fleenor
While Matt opted not to propose to Rachael during the finale, which aired in March 2021, they left the show as a couple. The twosome had secretly split, however, in February 2021 after she was accused of being racist and photos of her at an antebellum-themed party on a plantation in college resurfaced. Rachael apologized for her actions twice via Instagram before sitting down with Matt and guest host Emmanuel Acho during After the Final Rose. “When he first called me to end things, my initial reaction was I was very confused. I was very blindsided,” Rachael said on the special. “But once that initial reaction went away, I thought about, you know, how strong I thought our relationship was. So for him to end things, like, he must have been very, very hurt by everything. It was hard, because I lost the love of my life." After they were spotted together in April 2021, Matt and Rachael confirmed that May that they were giving their romance another shot. ABC
Ryan won the first season of The Bachelorette in 2003, getting engaged to Trista Rehn. The couple married in a TV wedding in 2003 and live in Colorado with their two children. In November 2020, Trista revealed that Ryan is “struggling to get answers” amid a health scare. “We found out that Ryan doesn’t have cancer. A HUGE relief … without a doubt, especially after fighting to find a doctor to take symptoms that lined up with lymphoma seriously and advocating for the scans to rule it out. But part of us was wanting a diagnosis,” she wrote via Instagram. “Wanting to be able to fight for him to be cured instead of fighting for an answer. How messed up is that? Don’t worry, I know. It’s messed up. But, that’s where we are. In a holding pattern of not knowing. And believe me …I know it could be worse, so for that, I am thankful. Thankful to not have to be separated from a loved one who is dying due to COVID. Thankful to not have 2 children with a cancer diagnosis. Thankful to have each other and health insurance and jobs and a home and food on the table and healthy family members and all the things that make this life struggle-free.” In May 2021, Ryan revealed he was battling Lyme disease after his “immune system was weakened through exposures to toxins and especially to mold.” Shutterstock
A year after getting engaged to Meredith Phillips on season 2 of The Bachelorette, the pair called it quits. He works as the CEO of Solidos, Inc., a recycling company. Shutterstock
During the finale of season 3 of The Bachelorette, Jen Schefft turned down Jerry’s proposal; the pair dated briefly after the show but later split. In 2011, he married actress Natasha Goss. In 2014, they welcomed a son. Shutterstock
In 2008, Jesse proposed to DeAnna Pappas at the end of season 4 of The Bachelorette. However, the pair split. A few months later, the pro snowboarder went on to marry Bachelor contestant Ann Lueders in 2010 and the pair have three children, Noah, born in February 2011, Carter, born in December 2016, and Charlotte, born in March 2014. Shutterstock
During season 5 of The Bachelorette, Ed left Jillian Harris’ season to focus on his job with Microsoft, only to return, win and get engaged. They split in 2010 and he competed on Bachelor Pad season 3. In 2015, he married Good Day Chicago host Natalie Bomke. He works as the Senior Vice President of Digital at Kambio Group. INSTAR Images
Roberto and Ali Fedowsky got engaged in 2010 but split in November 2011, 18 months later. Roberto lives in Colorado Springs and works as a State Farm Insurance Agent. In December 2019, he shared on Twitter that he is engaged to Kristiana Elliott. “When you know you know. Found my forever sweetheart,” he captioned three photos of the couple — which he later deleted. In June 2021, Ali exclusively told Us that she spoke to Roberto after season 6 of The Bachelorette reaired as part of The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever! during the summer of 2020. “I just wrote him and said I respect his decision not to be on the show because he decided not to be and just said, ‘I hope everything's going well.’ And he just wrote back and said, ‘Yeah, I'll never forget it. It was a special time for me, but I'm sort of doing my own thing,’” she explained, noting they check in with one another “every couple years” or so via text messages. “I'm still friends with his dad on Facebook, you know, there’s, like, no animosity there, anything. And his dad actually the other day posted a picture of him and his brother. And I'm like, ‘Oh, he looks good. I hope he's doing well.’” Courtesy Roberto Martinez/Twitter
J.P. got engaged to Ashley Hebert in 2011 during the season 7 finale. The pair married in 2012 and welcomed their first son in 2014. Two years later, they welcomed a daughter. They renewed their vows in 2018. The following year, J.P. was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome. J.P. and Ashley announced their split in 2020 after nearly eight years of marriage. Shutterstock
During The Bachelorette in 2012, Jef proposed to Emily Maynard. However, they split shortly after. While he was later linked to Bachelor in Paradise alum Kristina Schulman, he is not very active on social media. He lives in Venice and is the CEO of People Water, a for-profit company to help provide clean water for those in need. Shutterstock
Ever since getting engaged to Desiree Hartsock on season 9, the pair have lived in Seattle together. They tied the knot in January 2015. One year later, they had their first son. In 2019, their second son arrived. Shutterstock
Six months after proposing to Andi Dorfman at the end of season 10 of The Bachelorette, the pair split. In 2016, he appeared on season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise and proposed to Amanda Stanton. However, they later called off their engagement. He last appeared on MTV’s Champ vs. Stars. Shutterstock
During season 11 of The Bachelorette, Booth got engaged to Kaitlyn Bristowe. The pair moved to Nashville where he opened BoothCamp Gym. However, in November 2018, they called off their engagement after three years together. He is still living in Nashville and training. Shutterstock
The former NFL quarterback proposed to JoJo Fletcher during the season 12 finale of The Bachelorette in 2016. However, the pair wanted to enjoy their engagement and in August 2019, he proposed again. The Cash Pad costars, who planned to marry in the summer of 2020, had to push their wedding back due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shutterstock
After proposing to Rachel Lindsay on the season 12 finale of The Bachelorette, the chiropractor and the lawyer went on to live a fairytale. They married in August 2019 in Mexico, honeymooned in Greece and are planning to begin a family soon. Shutterstock
On the season 14 finale, the medical sales representative proposed to Becca Kufrin. Following his 2020 split from Becca, she moved to Los Angeles and he remained in San Diego. Garrett introduced his followers to his new girlfriend, Alex Farrar, in October 2020 via Instagram. Shutterstock
Although he and Hannah Brown got engaged on the season 15 finale, she called it off shortly after the show wrapped when she found out he had a girlfriend. Since the show, he has apologized and moved on. Since November 2019, he has been dating personal trainer Ellen Decker. ABC/John Fleenor
The former football player quickly hit it off with Clare Crawley while filming season 16 of The Bachelorette in July 2020. So much so that the hairstylist broke up with the 16 remaining contestants within the first two weeks of filming for him. Dale subsequently proposed to Clare and they left the Palm Springs set engaged. While Dale and Clare announced their plans to live in her native Sacramento, fans noticed he was spending a lot of time in New York City in January 2021. That same month, Dale confirmed that the twosome ended their engagement. A source told Us at the time that their romance "caused friction with Dale's friends and family” and the twosome couldn’t work through their “serious issues.” Us broke the news in February 2021 that Dale and Clare were giving their romance another shot. Seven months later, a source told Us that things were over again, with Dale wanting to remain in New York and Clare living in Sacramento. ABC/Craig Sjodin
The addiction specialist proposed to Tayshia Adams during the December 2020 finale of The Bachelorette. They subsequently revealed on Good Morning America that they will have a bicoastal engagement and take their time wedding planning. “I mean, I want a big wedding when the day comes. She might think differently and she’s going to get what she wants,” Zac said on GMA at the time. “But, no, I want to date. I want to take you out and do all those things.” In November 2021, the duo called it quits nearly one year after their engagement aired on ABC. “Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark are no longer a couple,” a spokesperson told Us at the time. ABC; ABC/Kwaku Alston
After appearing on season 16 of The Bachelorette, Blake returned for season 17 to pursue Katie Thurston. . In the end, he proposed during the August 2021 finale and they began splitting their time between Canada, where Blake is from, and her new home in San Diego. Thurston confirmed in October 2021 that the pair ended their engagement. “It is with mutual love and respect that we have decided to go our separate ways. We are so grateful for the moments we shared together and the entire journey that has unfolded this year, but we ultimately have concluded that we are not compatible as life partners, and it is the most caring choice for both of us to move forward independently,” the Washington native wrote via Instagram at the time. “We ask for kindness and privacy as we both navigate this transition. Both of us will forever want the best for one another and ask you to please support us in our decision.” ABC
0 Comments