‘Bachelorette’ Leads Then and Now: Photos of 17 Stars on Their Seasons & at 2026 Reunion
Everything’s coming up roses ahead of the new season of The Bachelorette. Before The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul starts handing out roses on Season 22, she’ll be sitting down and celebrating with past Bachelorettes.
On The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose, airing on March 15 directly after the Oscars, 18 former Bachelorette leads (including Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos) will look back on their journeys to find love on TV and offer their advice for the franchise’s newest rose. From early Bachelorette stars like Trista Sutter and Meredith Phillips to newer leads like Charity Lawson, this special is a wonderful reunion of Bachelor Nation stars we know and love.
In honor of Before the First Rose, Swooon has taken a trip down memory lane with the former Bachelorettes. See photos of the leads (the ones who participated in the special) then and now, before getting an update on where they are today.
The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose, March 15, After the Oscars, ABC and Hulu
Trista Sutter (Season 1)
The one who started it all! Trista Sutter (née Rehn) was chosen as the first-ever Bachelorette lead after Alex Michel chose Amanda Marsh at the end of The Bachelor Season 1.
Trista’s season premiered on January 8, 2003, and became an instant hit. The Indiana native found her true love on the show and married Ryan Sutter that December. They now have two kids: Maxwell and Blakesley.
Meredith Phillips (Season 2)
Meredith Phillips was the Season 2 lead of The Bachelorette after looking for love on Bob Guiney‘s season of The Bachelor. Her season premiered on January 14, 2004, and she got engaged to Ian McKee. The couple split a year later. Meredith then went on to marry Michael Broady in 2011, but they have since split, according to The Sun.
DeAnna Pappas (Season 4)
After getting rejected by Brad Womack, DeAnna Pappas became the lead of The Bachelorette Season 4, which premiered on May 19, 2008.
She got engaged to Jesse Csincsak in the finale, but they broke up a few months later. DeAnna married Stephen Stagliano in 2011 and had two kids, Addison and Austin. DeAnna and Stephen separated in 2023.
Ali Fedotowsky (Season 6)
Ali Fedotowsky debuted on Jake Pavelka‘s season of The Bachelor before stepping into the leading role on The Bachelorette Season 6, which premiered on May 24, 2010. Ali fell in love with Roberto Martinez, and he popped the question in the finale. They split in November 2011.
Ali married Kevin Manno in 2017. They had already welcomed their daughter, Molly, in 2016 and their son, Riley, was born in 2018.
Ashley Hebert (Season 7)
The Bachelor Season 15’s third-place finisher, Ashley Hebert, got the chance of a lifetime when she was named the lead of The Bachelorette Season 7. Her season debuted on May 23, 2011, and she found love with J.P. Rosenbaum. They said “I do” in 2012 and had two kids, Fordham and Essex.
Ashley and J.P. announced their separation in 2020, and their divorce was finalized the following year. Ashley dated Yanni Georgoulakis for at least two years after her split from J.P., but it’s unclear if they’re still together.
Emily Maynard (Season 8)
Emily Maynard got engaged to Brad Womack during his second season of The Bachelor, but their romance was short-lived. This paved the way for Emily to become the lead of The Bachelorette Season 8, which premiered on May 14, 2012. The single mom got engaged to Jef Holm, but they had broken up by October.
Emily, who had a daughter, Ricki, with the late Ricky Hendrick, married Tyler Johnson in 2014. They’ve since welcomed five children.
Desiree Hartsock (Season 9)
Desiree Hartsock didn’t find love with Sean Lowe on The Bachelor, but she did find her forever person, Chris Siegfried, on The Bachelorette Season 9, which premiered on May 27, 2013. The bridal stylist got engaged to Chris in the finale, and they wed in January 2015. The couple has three children: Asher, Zander, and Noah.
Andi Dorfman (Season 10)
Andi Dorfman famously walked out on Juan Pablo Galavis on The Bachelor and walked into The Bachelorette Season 10. Her season premiered on May 19, 2014, and she fell in love with Josh Murray. They got engaged but split in 2015. Andi married Blaine Hart in 2023, and they welcomed their daughter, Harper, in 2024.
Kaitlyn Bristowe (Season 11)
Kaitlyn Bristowe came in third during Chris Soules‘ season of The Bachelor and was chosen as the Season 11 lead of The Bachelorette, which premiered on May 18, 2015.
Kaitlyn accepted Shawn Booth’s proposal in the season finale. The couple split in 2018. She then found love again with fellow Bachelor Nation alum Jason Tartick, and they got engaged in 2021. They broke up in 2023. There have been rumors that Kaitlyn is dating Season 16 winner Zac Clark, but they have yet to confirm their relationship.
JoJo Fletcher (Season 12)
JoJo Fletcher was Ben Higgins‘ runner-up, but she ended up the main star of The Bachelorette Season 12. Her season debuted on May 23, 2016, and she quickly fell for Jordan Rodgers. The two got engaged at the end of Season 12 and took their time planning their wedding. After a COVID delay, the two said “I do” in May 2022. JoJo and Jordan welcomed their first child, Romy, in December 2025.
Rachel Lindsay (Season 13)
Rachel Lindsay came in third place on Nick Viall‘s season of The Bachelor, and then made Bachelor Nation history as the first-ever Black franchise lead. Her season of The Bachelorette premiered on May 22, 2017.
She married her final pick, Bryan Abasolo, in August 2019. He filed for divorce in 2024, and their split was finalized in January 2025. In their divorce settlement, Rachel had to pay her ex $500,000. As of March 2026, Rachel is dating a new guy.
Becca Kufrin (Season 14)
Becca Kufrin‘s journey on The Bachelor ended in heartbreak. She initially got engaged to Arie Luyendyk Jr., only for him to break up with her to get back with his second choice, Lauren Burnham, with whom he is still married today. Becca got a second chance at love on The Bachelorette Season 14, which premiered on May 28, 2018.
Becca got engaged to Garrett Yrigoyen at the end of the season, but their romance only lasted until 2020. After meeting on Bachelor in Paradise, Becca married Thomas Jacobs in 2023. They have a son, Benson, and another baby on the way.
Hannah Brown (Season 15)
Bachelor Nation favorite Hannah Brown became The Bachelorette Season 15 star after her run on Colton Underwood‘s season of The Bachelor. Her TV journey to find love kicked off on May 13, 2019.
Hannah got engaged to her first pick, Jed Wyatt, in the finale, but they had broken up by the time After the Final Rose was filmed. Despite trying to explore a relationship with runner-up Tyler Cameron, they decided to stay friends. Hannah said “I do” to Adam Woolard in July 2025.
Tayshia Adams (Season 16)
Tayshia Adams was a co-lead of The Bachelorette Season 16, which premiered on May 13, 2020, with Clare Crawley. After Clare left with Dale Moss in Episode 4, Tayshia was the solo lead. She fell in love with Zac Clark, and he popped the question in the finale. Zac and Tayshia’s relationship wasn’t meant to be. They split in 2021. (Clare’s romance with Dale also didn’t last.)
Katie Thurston (Season 17)
After her run on Matt James‘ season of The Bachelor, Katie Thurston stepped into the leading role on The Bachelorette Season 17, which premiered on June 7, 2021. Katie accepted Blake Moynes’ proposal, but they split in October 2021. A month later, Katie revealed she was dating one of her Season 17 suitors, John Hersey. They split in June 2022. Katie is now married to comedian Jeff Arcuri.
Rachel Recchia (Season 19)
Rachel Recchia was a co-lead alongside Gabby Windey during The Bachelorette Season 19, which premiered on July 11, 2022, after they competed for Clayton Echard‘s heart on The Bachelor. Rachel got engaged to Tino Franco, but their relationship ended when Tino admitted to cheating on Rachel.
Rachel and Clayton crossed paths again on Perfect Match Season 3, but that went nowhere. She found a connection with Ray Gantt, but they’re just friends.
Charity Lawson (Season 20)
Charity Lawson didn’t find everlasting love on The Bachelor, but she did find it with Dotun Olubeko during her season of The Bachelorette. Season 20 debuted on June 26, 2023, and gave us another Bachelorette couple to root for — and Joey Graziadei. Charity and Dotun got engaged in the Season 20 finale and are planning to marry in 2026.
