In 2002, “The Bachelor” aired on ABC and became an instant hit. People all over America tuned in every week to see who the hunky bachelor would eventually choose. As the show continued to gain popularity, viewers began to notice the need for more diversity. Splinter News found only 36 Black “Bachelor” contestants from the show’s inception to February 2016. Meanwhile, ABC declined to produce a complete list of contestants.
In 2012, a class action lawsuit was filed against the franchise, alleging racial discrimination. Consequentially, viewers also began to boycott the show, demanding more diversity.
The producers of “The Bachelor” treated Black contestants poorly, in addition to not having enough diversity on the show. Season 12 contestant Marshana Ritche told BuzzFeed News that behind the scenes, racism was rampant.
The show’s counterpart, “The Bachelorette,” has faced the same criticism. Until 2017, all franchise leads were white (except for Juan Pablo Galavis in 2013). Rachel Lindsay was cast as the first Black lead in “The Bachelorette.”
Unfortunately, Season 25 of “The Bachelor,” which cast the first Black male lead, Matt James, was considered a disappointment for many fans. The season frontrunner, Rachel Kirkconnell, was found to have an anti-black history on social media. Additionally, former “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison defended Kirkconnell, causing an uproar that led to him stepping down.
All these missteps identified a real issue with the franchise regarding race. However, ABC is slowly progressing. The network released the cast info for Season 28 of “The Bachelor” weeks before the Jan. 22, 2024, premiere. Black contestants comprise eight of the 32 women competing for Joey Graziadei’s final rose. Here is a look at the Black “The Bachelor” contestants for this season and a few from the past!
1. Chandler, 24
Chandler is a graphic designer from New York. Chandler loves spending time with her mom and sister, trying new restaurants, and running on the West Side Highway.
2. Edwina, 25
Edwina is an entrepreneur from Atlanta. She was born in West Africa, where she learned to crochet. The 25-year-old now has a business where she sells her clothing.
3. Erika, 25
Erika is a leasing agent from New Jersey. She loves reading and dreams of writing her own bestseller.
4. Evalin, 29
Evalin is a nanny from San Antonio, TX. The 29-year-old comes from a big family, as she is one of eight siblings.
5. Kayla, 27
Kayla is a guidance counselor from Hamilton, OH. She loves reading “Harry Potter,” watching “Schitt’s Creek,” and hanging with her rescue animals.
6. Kelsey T., 31
Kelsey is an actress from LA. She loves game nights with her friends and playing beach volleyball.
7. Kyra, 26
Kyra is a paralegal from Miami. She says she is looking for an honest, loyal, and funny man who she can laugh with.
8. Talyah, 23
Talyah is an esthetician from Huntington Beach, CA. The 23-year-old enjoys watching “Gossip Girl” with her chihuahua, Lil Mama.
“The Bachelor” typically sent Black contestants home early in past seasons.
Consequently, 59% of Black contestants were sent home within two weeks, according to Splinter News. Before Season 21, no Black contestant had made it further than Week 5. Rachel Lindsay broke that streak by making the Top 4 before being eliminated during Week 9. After a few years, viewers saw a steady change in Black contestants making it to the Top 4 in Season 25 and beyond. Here are some former Black contestants on “The Bachelor.”
1. Jubilee (Season 20)
Jubilee was featured on the 20th season of “The Bachelor.” She felt out of place, despite growing up in a predominately white community and being adopted by white parents.
“I felt like an exotic zoo animal … I wasn’t like all the other animals in the zoo, so people who would ooh and aah at me, but it wasn’t … it’s fascination, like I’m the unknown,” she told BuzzFeed News.
2. Alicia (Season 25)
Alicia appeared on Season 25 of the show, with James as the lead. Ultimately, she was eliminated in Week 1.
3. Deandra (Season 24)
Deandra graced televisions on Season 24 of “The Bachelor.” She is among the few Black contestants who made it past Week 2. She was eventually eliminated in Week 4.
4. Daria (Season 26)
Daria was one of 31 contestants on Season 26. She hails from New Hampshire and was also a law student at the time. She was eliminated in Week 1.
5. Brianna (Season 27)
Brianna was a contestant on Season 27 of the show. She quit the show on Week 3 after feuding with another contestant, Christina M. Eventually, she decided to protect her peace because she felt like she was being mistreated.
It’s no secret that “The Bachelor” franchise has been under a microscope as fans have noticed issues with diversity. Hopefully, ABC and production will keep inclusivity top of mind in future seasons. Catch new episodes of “The Bachelor” on Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
What was your favorite season of “The Bachelor”? Let us know in the comments below.
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