TV & Movies
The 10 Top Contenders For Next Bachelorette So Far
Including one Love Is Blind star.
We’ve had more Bachelorettes in a single year than we have in several seasons. Not only did Season 16 feature two leads — Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams — in 2020, but ABC cast another two leads in 2021: Katie Thurston and Michelle Young. Now, another Bachelorette season is once again impending. And though ABC hasn’t made any announcement about who the Bachelorette will be in 2022, all eyes are on the women from Clayton Echard’s ongoing Bachelor season.
ABC typically announces the next Bachelorette during The Bachelor’s After the Final Rose special in March, so viewers will likely have to wait several more weeks to find out who clinched the role. However, the Bachelor and Bachelorette producers are known for dropping early clues. In all likelihood, ABC is waiting to see how that season plays out and who viewers respond to before locking in a choice. In the meantime, here are the top contenders fans — and even some Bachelor Nation stars — are pulling for.
Elizabeth Corrigan
After Clayton sent Elizabeth home in favor of Season 26 “villain” Shanae Ankney, she quickly became the new Bachelorette frontrunner among Twitter users. (After watching the episodes, even Clayton apologized for sending Elizabeth home, not knowing the extent to which Shanae had bullied her).
“She didn’t deserve what they allowed Shanae to do to her,” one user tweeted during the episode, adding that Elizabeth “better be the next Bachelorette.” Another “enraged” fan wrote that Elizabeth “got robbed” and that if she isn’t the next Bachelorette, they’re “coming for the producers.”
Following her elimination, Elizabeth tweeted what many users interpreted to be a very Bachelorette-like photo of herself surrounded by red rose petals, along with a motivational message about overcoming differences with integrity and respect. Fans immediately flooded the comments with their wishes that her “Bachelorette promo vibes” become a reality.
Susie Evans
Another contestant from Clayton’s season, Susie made a strong first impression with her “electric” personality, earning the first one-on-one date along with plenty of admiration from viewers. On night one, multiple Bachelor Nation stars including Joe Amabile and Andrew Spencer threw her name in the hat for next Bachelorette.
Rachel Recchia
Though Rachel Recchia is rumored to make it far on Clayton’s season, several fans are rooting for her to be the next lead if she doesn’t get the final rose. “If Clayton doesn’t choose Rachel, she better be the next bachelorette,” one fan tweeted, noting that Rachel is “drop dead gorgeous and perfect in every way possible.” Like other previous Bachelors, Rachel’s job as a pilot could provide plenty of fodder for aviation-themed dates. And even Clayton couldn’t figure out why Rachel is still single in a much-criticized moment from his season.
Teddi Wright
Teddi make a big first impression on Clayton, and her bubbly personality won over viewers quickly, too. One user even noted that she already teed up a possible Bachelorette storyline, having revealed to Clayton that she’s a virgin — a commonality previous Bachelors have shared.
After Clayton sent Teddi home, the campaign for her to become the next Bachelorette only gained momentum, and she even hinted in a Feb. 22 Instagram caption, “I’m sure you’ll see me again.”
Serene Russell
Though Serene made it to Clayton’s final four, he gave her a vague, “just following my heart” explanation for sending her home. To add insult to injury, she’d just opened up to Clayton about the recent deaths of her grandmother and cousin prior to introducing him to her family in her Oklahoma City hometown date. Despite the painful rejection, she walked away with her head held high — and “nothing else to say” to Clayton — something viewers noted would make her great Bachelorette material. As was the case with Gabby, other fans also hoped to see more of Serene’s brother Roland, who won raves during hometowns, with one suggesting a joint Bachelor-Bachelorette sibling edition.
Gabby Windey
During hometowns, Gabby’s family — namely her grandpa and dad — prompted numerous viewers to call for her to be the next Bachelorette if things not work out with Clayton. Some nominated her dad and grandpa to co-host the next Bachelorette season, others suggested her grandpa compete on the upcoming Senior Bachelor show, and a few even suggested a “Gabby and grandpa” spinoff. “If Gabby isn't the next bachelorette, I’m divorcing the series,” one fan tweeted. “The whole fam is adorable and I'm crying.”
Serene Russell
Though Serene made it to Clayton’s final four, he gave her a vague, “just following my heart” explanation for sending her home. To add insult to injury, she’d just opened up to Clayton about the recent deaths of her grandmother and cousin prior to introducing him to her family in her Oklahoma City hometown date. Despite the painful rejection, she walked away with her head held high — and “nothing else to say” to Clayton — something viewers noted would make her great Bachelorette material. As was the case with Gabby, other fans also hoped to see more of Serene’s brother Roland, who won raves during hometowns, with one suggesting a joint Bachelor-Bachelorette sibling edition.
Deepti Vempati
Though not a member of Bachelor Nation, Love Is Blind star Deepti Vempati has been trending as a possible Bachelorette pick ever since she rejected her fiancé Shake at the altar in Season 2. Fans of the Netflix dating show have rallied behind the 31-year-old information analyst for choosing herself, rather than marrying a man who — right up until the wedding — was telling anyone who would listen that he wasn’t attracted to her. While one user tweeted that she “deserves to have 20+ men fighting for her,” another implored the networks to “please give this woman her own dating show.”
Natasha Parker
Natasha first competed on Peter Weber’s season of The Bachelor before joining Bachelor in Paradise for Season 7. However, her experience was derailed by Brendan Morais, who gave her his rose but coupled up with Pieper James — who he’d been casually dating before the show — as soon as she arrived on the beach. Since then, many fans have campaigned for Natasha to be the next Bachelorette. “I know we’re 2 Bachelorette seasons in a row and should be talking about the next Bachelor but nah… Natasha for Bachelorette,” one viewer wrote on Sept. 6. Another fan tweeted that they want Natasha to be Bachelorette “to show Brendan she has a line of dudes waiting to be with her” in response to his comment that she had no other prospects besides him on the show.
Tammy Ly
Tammy may have been considered a villain on Peter’s season of The Bachelor, but fans have nonetheless been rooting for her to become the next franchise lead. “I don’t want to hear how great Tammy will be on paradise, she needs to be the next bachelorette,” one person tweeted in 2020. Her appearance on BiP last summer only intensified those calls. She even has Bachelor Nation alums Demi Burnett and Dylan Barbour’s votes.
Other Bachelorette possibilities floated by fans include Marlena Wesh, Sierra Jackson, Gabby Windey, Jessenia Cruz, Chelsea Vaughn, and Deandra Kanu, but that list is sure to change as Clayton’s season progresses.
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