After debuting in 2002, The Bachelor immediately took reality television by storm. With an alluring male lead on an epic journey to find true love among numerous female contestants, the show captivated audiences worldwide. However, season twenty-one, the current season, appears to be the most entertaining yet, featuring controversial Bachelor pick Nick Viall, a previous two-time Bachelorette contestant.

As usual, drama circulated among competitors, who vied for Nick’s attention in shark costumes and napped instead of attending rose ceremonies. Several fights also broke out among the women as soon as the season started. With “the promo also teasing a big twist by promising that there will be a ‘Bachelor first’ on the After the Final Rose special,” viewers were constantly on the edge of their seats [1]. Each and every spectator awaited the final rose ceremony to see which woman’s expedition would come to a halt and which woman would prevail as the ultimate winner of The Bachelor and receive a proposal from Nick.

“It was tense,” Dhristi Raval ‘20 tells the Advocate. “After a series of eliminations, Monday’s episode came along with the greatest expectations of all.” Just as Nick twice disappointedly became a runner-up, viewers eagerly anticipated which contestant, Vanessa or Raven, would be greeted with the same fate. When the news broke that Vanessa was declared the “victor,” shocked viewers flooded social media with posts congratulating her, while other fans lamented Raven’s loss.

Not only did Nick finally find love, but also this season’s Bachelor diverges from previous ones in that the producers announced the next Bachelorette before the current season concluded. Rachel Lindsay, who was sent home right before season twenty-one’s finale, will embark on her own journey for love. From the beginning, her driven nature and fun-loving personality captured the hearts of audiences nationwide, making her a fan favorite. After twelve seasons of The Bachelorette, a show featuring predominantly white contestants, Lindsay also has the honor of being the first African American bachelorette.

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, Rachel admitted that she is extremely proud to represent her race; however, she believes that her journey should not be centered around her skin tone. She believes that her race should neither determine her actions nor others’ reactions to her. Lindsay further expresses that though the previous season was tough, she is coming into The Bachelorette with a clear goal in mind. She is here for one reason and one reason only: to find love [2].

The new bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, and her foreseeable suitors have enormous expectations to meet as Bachelor Nation prepares for the best season yet. The drama continues when The Bachelorette season thirteen premieres on May 22, 2017.

[1]http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/bachelor-season-21-finale-promo-promises-a-bachelor-first-w471207

[2]http://people.com/tv/the-bachelorette-rachel-lindsay-accepting-love-after-nick-viall/