Love, drama, and roses are back as ABC's The Bachelor returns for its 29th season. Since 2002, the franchise has been serving up a potent cocktail of romance and reality TV drama, with one eligible bachelor navigating a pool of potential life partners while America watches, judges, and inevitably creates memes.
This time, the spotlight falls on Grant Ellis, the 30-year-old former professional basketball player turned day trader from Houston, who first captured viewers' hearts during Jenn Tran's season of The Bachelorette.
Known for his infectious smile and self-proclaimed mama's boy status, Ellis is trading his basketball shorts for tailored suits as he steps into the role of leading man. As January 27, 2025, approaches, Bachelor Nation is buzzing with anticipation to see if this finance whiz can score love's ultimate slam dunk.
Meet The Bachelor Season 29’s catch Grant Ellis
Grant Ellis might have left The Bachelorette during week 6, but his journey to find love is far from over. The Houston native brings a refreshing combination of Wall Street savvy and NBA experience to the mansion. Talk about taking it from the courtside to courtship!
When not analyzing market trends, you might find him practicing his karaoke skills or proving his prowess at the bowling alley. Unlike some of his dramatic predecessors, Ellis earned a reputation on Jenn's season as the guy who focused on romance instead of mansion politics – imagine that.
Meet the ladies vying for Grant’s love on The Bachelor Season 29
ABC has unveiled an impressive roster of 27 women hoping to catch Ellis's eye. From the East Coast to the West, here's who's stepping out of the limo:
New York leads the pack with five contestants: Sarafiena (29), Kelsey (26, Brooklyn), Radhika (28), Beverly (30), Zoe (27), and Chloie (27). California brings its power players with Alexe (27, Los Angeles), Ella (25, Los Angeles), Rebecca L. (28, Los Angeles), and Carolina (28, West Hollywood).
The Southern charm arrives courtesy of Bailey (27, Atlanta), Neicey (32, Blythewood, SC), Kyleigh (26, Wilmington, NC), and Allie Jo (30, Fort Lauderdale). Florida adds more sunshine with Andrea (23, Miami) and Allyshia (29, Wesley Chapel).
The Midwest and Mountain regions aren't left out, with Christina (29, Fargo), Rose (27, Chicago), Dina (31, Chicago), Parisa (29, Birmingham, MI), and Litia (31, Draper, UT). Rounding out the cast are J'nae (29, Colorado Springs), Rebekah G. (31, Dallas), Natalie (25, Louisville), Juliana (28, Waltham, MA), Savannah (27, Charlottesville), and Vicky (29, Las Vegas).
What does Grant’s season mean for the franchise?
While Grant's season promises fresh starts, the franchise has recently weathered its share of storms.
Recent controversies have included allegations of producer manipulation and the troubling revelation that some past contestants had restraining orders filed against them – talk about background check failures! The most notable case involved Jenn Tran's chosen one, Devin Strader, whose past included a restraining order from an ex-girlfriend seven years before filming.
Grant's selection as The Bachelor appears to be a strategic move by producers to restore faith in the franchise. His drama-free run on The Bachelorette, where he focused on building genuine connections rather than stirring the pot, makes him a refreshing choice.
While other contestants on Jenn's season seemed more interested in creating storylines for screen time, Grant's authentic approach to finding love stood out.
As Bachelor Nation prepares for another season of champagne, tears, and "the most dramatic season ever," Grant Ellis represents hope for a return to what the show does best: creating genuine opportunities for finding love.
Whether he'll find his perfect match among these 27 women remains to be seen, but one thing's certain – viewers are in for an interesting journey when The Bachelor returns to screens on January 27, 2025.
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Season 29 of The Bachelor is set to premiere on January 27, 2025.
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