In recent years, The Bachelor franchise has had a lot of contestants come on the show merely looking for Instagram fame and brand deals over a true fairytale ending with the love of their life. Despite the premise of the show being to find a happily ever after, it seems that the cast of recent seasons have been competing more in their own self-interest.
However, there have been a good chunk of contestants from the past 10 seasons that have been in it for the right reasons, and have been relatable to the average viewer. Whether it's the way they dress, their lack of influencer identity, or their sense of humor, these contestants have won the hearts of viewers for the way their relatability, making many fans feel like they could compete on the show someday.
Ashley Iaconetti (Season 19)
Ashley Iaconetti originally appeared on Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor and went on to compete on Bachelor Winter Games and Bachelor In Paradise, where she met her eventual husband, Jared Haibon.
Ashley wore her heart and emotions on her sleeve, frequently breaking down in tears that made for meme-worthy television stills. She was also persistent in her pursual of Jared, something that was relatable to audience who have had a crush that they just can't seem to let go of. Ashley served as proof that going for what you want can pay off, and it's okay to cry on national television.
Astrid Loch (Season 21)
Astrid Loch competed on Nick Viall's season of The Bachelor, and while she didn't make it very far, she was praised for the laid-back, calm, and collected energy that she brought to the season.
Since her time on the show and an appearance on the fifth season of Bachelor In Paradise, Astrid has been candid about her fertility struggles on social media. She and her fiance Kevin Wendt have shared their desire to grow a family, and since announcing her pregnancy, she has documented her difficult journey. Kevin and Astrid were a very popular and memorable couple in their season of Paradise, and years later, Astrid remains a relatable contestant, continuing to inspire and relate to fans through her Instagram profile.
Kaitlyn Bristowe (Season 19)
Kaitlyn Bristowe made her Bachelor Nation debut on Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor, where she exited the limo in a stunning red gown with a dirty joke for the farmer lead. This instantly made her likable and relatable for her potty mouth and goofy personality.
Kaitlyn, of course, went on to be the lead of her own season and has since remained one of the most popular Bachelorettes. She was originally criticized on her season of The Bachelorette for her sex-positive attitude toward the fantasy suites, but in recent years, she has been praised for her openness and unapologetic nature.
Mykenna Dorn (Season 24)
Mykenna Dorn went on The Bachelor in hopes of stealing the heart of pilot Peter Weber, but she walked away more as meme inspiration than a bride-to-be.
Mykenna wore her true feelings about everything on her face, much to viewers' delight. Though some would go on TV trying to be more graceful and elegant, Mykenna let her eyes bulge and tongue stick out when she was listening instead of talking. She leaned into this goofy personality off-screen and continues to be relatable by sharing memes making fun of herself on social media.
Kendall Long (Season 22)
Kendall Long was one of the younger cast competing for the heart of racecar driver Arie Luyendk Jr. on the 22nd season of The Bachelor.
Kendall stood out for her quirky personality and love of taxidermy. She ended up making it to the final three and was most famous for her two-on-one date with Arie and Krystal Nielson. On the date, Kendall gave an empowering speech calling out Krystal for her villainous mean girl behavior, all the while remaining calm and collected. Viewers praised Kendall for her nice girl next door energy, something she continued to bring to her subsequent appearances on Bachelor In Paradise.
Michelle Young (Season 25)
Michelle Young showed up late in the game on Matt James' season of The Bachelor. The 27-year-old teacher from Minnesota was adored by fans for the confidence and sweetness she brought to the season that was filled with a lot of mean girls.
Michelle connected with fans because of her down-to-earth personality and "real" offline job, as opposed to the plethora of influencers that have recently competed on the show. For her hometown date, Michelle introduced Matt to her students who she cared for deeply. She cared so much about teaching, in fact, that when selected as the next Bachelorette, she specifically asked to film her season in the summer, so as not to miss a school year with her kids.
Catherine Giudici (Season 17)
Catherine Giudici won the heart of Sean Lowe on the 17th season of The Bachelor, but she also won over fans with her charming yet silly personality. The two of them remain one of the most popular couples in Bachelor history, according to fans on Reddit.
On the show, Catherine was incredibly relatable as a girl who was just trying her best and looking for love, not fame and attention. Her relationship with Sean was built on a strong foundation of mutual respect, and their social media presence, years after the show, documents their growing family and just how much they adore one another and their shared sense of humor.
Katie Thurston (Season 25)
Katie Thurston was the most recent Bachelorette, but before she was a lead herself, she competed for the heart of Bachelor Matt James on the 25th season of the show.
Katie immediately won fans over when she introduced herself and her vibrator to Matt in the season premiere. She explained that the device was her closest companion during the quarantine of 2020, forcing the Bachelor into a fit of giggles. Katie distinguished herself from the rest of the cast of The Bachelor as the quirky, funny contestant and these traits made viewers want to see her as the next Bachelorette.
Becca Kufrin (Season 22)
Becca Kufrin was a fan-favorite on Arie's season of The Bachelor, and fans were delighted when she won the final rose and got engaged to him. They were just as enraged when he called off the engagement to pursue his runner-up, breaking Becca's heart in one of the biggest betrayals in Bachelor Nation.
When Becca was announced as the next Bachelorette, fans were elated that she was going to get a proper shot at finding love. They loved her for her "let's do the damn thing" catchphrase and enthusiastic energy. Becca was relatable for being a girl just looking for love, and viewers have continued to her long after her season aired.
Cassie Randolph (Season 23)
Cassie Randolph competed on the 23rd season of The Bachelor and eventually walked away as the winner and recipient of the final rose. Despite initially being resistant to the final stages of the process and expressing that she wasn't ready for marriage, Cassie decided to give the relationship a shot in the real world before splitting with the Bachelor in 2020.
After the show, Cassie took a step back from influencer culture and shared her journey to become a speech pathologist. Cassie's relatability was apparent in her down-to-earth nature, her friendships with everyone on her season, and her ion for her education after the show.