The 25th season of ABC’s “The Bachelor” begins with a two-hour episode at 8 p.m. Monday evening, with three women from Los Angeles and two from Orange County among the record field of 32 bachelorettes vying for the affection of the first Black Bachelor, Matt James.
Victoria Larson is a 27-year-old from Los Angeles who has started health and beauty businesses. Larson said she knows she has a big personality and needs a strong man who can keep up but who won’t be controlling in any way.
Marylynn Sienna is a 28-year-old event planner from Studio City who said she wants a stable man who will love her unconditionally, someone who is loyal to the core and who would be a rock for her when life throws the inevitable curve ball their way.
Sienna said in five years she hopes to be married with two or more rescue dogs, and living a productive, inspirational, healthy life with the support of her man by her side. She said she hopes to start several companies focused around promoting environmental welfare and healthy lifestyle choices.
Carolyn Vallejo is a 30-year-old Valley Village resident who is the managing editor of a newsletter. Vallejo said she has always been the caretaker in her relationships and now is looking for a man who will want to take care of her but also appreciate her for the self-sufficient woman she is.
Vallejo said she wants a bold man who won’t be afraid to challenge her and call her out if she needs it. She said she needs someone who will appreciate her intensity and bring an equal amount of passion to the relationship.
Casandra Suarez is a 25-year-old social worker from Newport Beach who said she is ready to find a man who she has a genuine connection with. She believes she is truly at her best stargazing and eating smores in her sweatpants with no makeup on.
Amber Andrews is a 30-year-old nursing student from Costa Mesa described by ABC as “a vivacious single mother whose world revolves around her 13-year-old son.” She is looking for a man with whom to travel the world and eventually have more children.
Andrews describes herself as caring, trustworthy and open-minded but also stubborn and a bit impatient.
The field of bachelorettes will be reduced to 24 by the end of the episode.
James was initially cast to be a bachelor on the 16th season of “The Bachelorette,” but when production was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, was switched to be the lead for the 25th season of “The Bachelor.”
James was a receiver for Wake Forest from 2011-14; is a New York City-based associate with CBRE Group, Inc. the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, providing brokerage and transaction management services to a wide range of companies; and founded ABC Food Tours, a nonprofit organization takes groups of children from underserved elementary schools to restaurants in their local communities.
ABC has long drawn criticism for the lack of diversity on “The Bachelor” franchise.
“We know we have a responsibility to make sure the love stories we’re seeing onscreen are representative of the world we live in and we are proudly in service to our audience,” said ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke.
“This is just the beginning, and we will continue to take action with regard to diversity issues on this franchise. We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on this journey with him.”