ABC revealed the 30 women competing for Zach Shallcross’ heart when The Bachelorette season 19, which featured dual leads, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia. Zach declared his intentions for Rachel and made it to Fantasy Suites week before he decided to self-eliminate. The 26-year-old tech executive from Southern California was selected as the Bachelor season 27 lead, which was announced at the “After The Final Rose” special for The Bachelorette. Shortly after the announcement, Zach met five of the women competing for his heart in front of the "After The Final Rose" live studio audience.
Now all of appearing in Zach’s season. The cast ranges in age from 23 to 30 years old and included women from all over the United States as well as a single contestant from Vienna, Austria. The women’s professions also vary and include some unique careers never featured in the Bachelor franchise before. One such example is Brooklyn, a 25-year-old rodeo racer from Oklahoma. The Bachelor season 27 cast also contains perhaps the most nurses ever to be featured in a single season: Kaitlyn, an emergency room nurse; Genevie, a neonatal nurse; and Kylee, a postpartum nurse. Recruiters, marketing managers, and a financial adviser also round out the Bachelor season 27 ladies.
Jesse Palmer Says Bachelor Season 27 Is 'Most Romantic Season'
The other Bachelor season 27 cast includes Aly (26), Anastasia (30), Ariel (28), Bailey (27), Becca (25), Brianna (24), Cara (27), Cat (26), Charity (26), Christina (26), Davia (25), Gabi (25), Greer (24), Holland (24), Jessica (23), Katherine (26), Kimberly (30), Lekha (29), Madison (26), Mercedes (24), Olivia L. (24), Olivia M. (25), Sonia (29), Vanessa (23), Victoria J. (30), and Viktoria E. (29). The pre-show buzz and teasers from host, Jessie Palmer, suggest Zach found love in this impressive group of women. "I would say this is the most romantic season and the most emotional season of any of the shows I have been a part of since coming back and hosting," Jesse revealed to Us Weekly. “It’s really all about the love story and romance and a little bit less about the drama, I think.”
The casting of Zach as The Bachelor lead was a highly contentious and discussed topic. Bachelor Nation called for a recasting as they wanted to see other men such as Rodney Matthews and Ethan Kang in the leading role. Zach’s mature and even-keeled temperament did not appeal to fans who have become so accustomed to chaos and drama. However, a season focused more on love and less on catty drama and theatrics may actually breathe new life into The Bachelor.
The Bachelor has a disastrous success rate, especially compared to spin-offs when Hannah Brown was announced as The Bachelorette lead. Despite an initial lack of faith from the fans, Hannah’s season was arguably one of the best. Bachelor Nation should not count Zach out just yet.
The Bachelor season 27 premieres January 23 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Sources: Variety, Us Weekly, The Bachelor/Instagram, The Bachelor/Instagram