If nothing else, the selection of Arie Luyendyk Jr. to play the leading man on The Bachelor shows that anyone can be in that role.
Seriously, anyone. But who will fill Rachel Lindsay’s shoes in the fourteenth season of The Bachelorette tentatively set for May?
Obviously, we don’t expect to know right away.
And there’s always a chance that viable contenders, or even one consensus choice, will emerge from Arie’s season of The Bachelor.
That doesn’t mean that we can’t consider the possibilities, though, because Bachelor Nation has some very strong candidates already.
After all, if Arie was still on producers’ radar FIVE YEARS after he finished second on Emily Maynard’s season, you just never know.
Some of these women are already beloved by Bachelor Nation. Others are … we don’t want to say reviled, but not quite as beloved.
So let’s look at who it might be! And hope that we’re not disqualifying all of these ladies just by mentioning their names!
Kristina Schulman
This girl won a lot of sympathy on Bachelor in Paradise during her love triangle with Dean Unglert. While his reputation sunk, her star has never been brighter. Should she become the Bachelorette?
Danielle Lombard
Being treated and wooed as the most beautiful woman to ever walk the earth on Bachelor in Paradise certainly wouldn’t hurt Danielle Lombard’s chances for the top job. The guys in Paradise weren’t wrong. Just saying.
Amanda Stanton
Single mom and franchise mainstay Amanda dismissed the idea of becoming the Bachelorette, but … that could be a deliberate deflection. She’s gorgeous, she’s charming, she’s a devoted parent, and she’d be great in that role.
Vanessa Grimaldi
You might be thinking that they’d never cast Vanessa, because she and Nick only JUST broke up. Well, Arie Luyendyk Jr. had a girlfriend until just a couple of days before he was announced as the Bachelor. The real question is, since Rachel Lindsay was just the Bachelorette, would they have two leading ladies back-to-back who hate each other?
Corinne Olympios
Hear us out on this one. The scandal on Bachelor in Paradise this summer wasn’t her fault or DeMario’s. She’s still entertaining and seeing her be the Bachelorette would be the stuff of dreams. She has a heart of gold and a platimun vagine — literally what more could you ask for? Plus, there’s a chance that she’s already in talks for it.
Andi Dorfman
“But she was already The Bachelorette!” Yes. But, especially given that it resulted in a tumultuous relationship with Josh Murray, doesn’t she deserve another bite at the apple?
Danielle Maltby
Danielle Maltby was one of the more striking women to compete for Nick Viall’s heart. Amazingly, she didn’t even make the hometown dates … we don’t think she’d have a problem getting guys to take her to theirs.
Ashley Iaconetti
She’s been on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise and she knows how to stay relevant even between seasons. Some might question her star power, but she could very well have what it takes to be the leading lady.l
Raven Gates
Yes, Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk are still dating after Bachelor in Paradise, but a lot can change between now and then, and Nick Viall’s runner-up has always popular, wholesome, sweet and well-liked.
Courtney Robertson
Just because she’s been labeled a “Bachelor Villain” doesn’t mean that she can’t be a Bachelorette Hero. She’s written a book about her experiences. Oh, and she’s also banged Arie Luyendyk Jr. before and even rated his sexual performance. Wouldn’t she be a perfect match to follow up his act?
Lauren Bushnell
Yes, Lauren Bushnell has already found love again (on Tinder, so 2017) after her split from Ben Higgins. But if that doesn’t work out, the previous Bachelor winner would have no shortage of willing suitors.
Britt Nilsson
Britt Nilsson lost out to Kaitlyn Bristowe as The Bachelorette in 2015, but she did test well enough in the role to become co-Bachelorette once before, and is among the more alarmingly hot females in show history. So if her new relationship doesn’t work out, she could be a great fallback option.
Michelle Money
Michelle Money took many shots at love on The Bachelor, and then Bachelor Pad, and Bachelor in Paradise, and somehow seemed to get cooler and more down to Earth (she was always very easy on the eyes) with each appearance, so if the producers are willing to bring back Arie after five years, it stands to reason that Michelle would be … bankable. (Sorry.)