Season 16
Millions of viewers shared the heartbreak of Ben Flajnik (pronounced Flannick) when his soulful and heartfelt proposal was rejected by Ashley Hebert in the emotional finale of last season's The Bachelorette.
Now Ben is ready to put all the disappointment and hurt behind him in order to move on with his life, his phenomenal success as a businessman and his search for the right woman to be his wife and to start a family with, as he stars in the next edition of the hit romance reality series, The Bachelor.
Winemaker and former suitor on The Bachelorette, Ben Flajnik may have left broken-hearted after Ashley Hebert rejected his proposal, but he's getting his own chance to find love again.
Flajnik, a 28-year-old winemaker from Sonoma, California is the next Bachelor. During his run on The Bachelorette, Flajnik was never shy about his search for not only love, but for a woman to start a family with.
The winemaker loves his hobbies, including crab fishing, sailing, golf, skateboarding, surfing, playing piano and singing in a tribute band.
Potential candidates should know that Flajnik has a very special place in his heart and his life for his Jack Russell Terrier, Scotch.
The sixteenth season begins with the 29-year-old winemaker from Sonoma, California, arriving at the Malibu mansion and being introduced to his 25 bachelorettes - including Erika, a young law student who informs Flajnik the verdict is in and he's convicted of being sexy; Emily, a germ-conscious epidemiologist who sanitizes both herself and The Bachelor star before snagging the season's first kiss; and Anna, who struts past him and heads directly into the mansion without any words spoken.
Flajnik will also get a surprise from Sheryl, a senior citizen who confesses she is madly in love with him for an undisclosed reason, and meet Lindzi, a bachelorette who arrives on horseback.
The competition to win Flajnik's heart heats up quickly during the initial cocktail reception, which will feature Shawn, a single athletic mom pulling him aside for a quick soccer game; Elyse, a personal trainer commanding him to complete pushups; Emily deciding to perform a rap she wrote for him; and Jenna, a New York blogger, breaking down into tears over early drama with fellow bachelorette Monica.
In addition, Flajnik will also present his first-impression rose to one lucky woman.
The premiere will conclude with Flajnik whittling his 25 bachelorettes down to 18 during the season's first Rose Ceremony.
The 25 women competing on The Bachelor's sixteenth edition are:
Amber Bacon, a 23-year-old labor and delivery nurse from Port Coquitlam, Canada
Amber Tierney, a 29-year-old critical care nurse from Waverly, NE
Anna Snowball, a 25-year-old student from Detroit, MI
Blakeley Jones, a 34-year-old VIP cocktail waitress from Charlotte, NC
Brittney Schreiner, a 26-year-old medical sales representative from Denver, CO
Casey Shteamer, a 26-year-old trading clerk from Leawood, KS
Courtney Robertson, a 28-year-old model from Santa Monica, CA
Dianna Martinez, a 30-year-old non-profit director from San Gabriel, CA
Elyse Myers, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Chicago, IL
Emily O'Brien, a 27-year-old PhD student from Chapel Hill, NC
Erika Uhlig, a 23-year-old law student from Chicago, IL
Holly Johnson, a 34-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative from Salyersville, KY
Jaclyn Swartz, a 27-year-old advertising account manager from Newton, MA
Jamie Otis, a 25-year-old registered nurse from Dryden, NY
Jenna Burke, a 27-year-old blogger from New York City, NY
Jennifer Fritsch, a 28-year-old accountant from Oklahoma City, OK
Kacie Boguskie, a 24-year-old administrative assistant from Clarksville, TN
Lindzi Cox, a 27-year-old business development manager from Seattle, WA
Lyndsie James, a 29-year-old internet entrepreneur from Scottsdale, AZ
Monica Spannbauer, a 33-year-old dental consultant from Salt Lake City, UT
Nicki Sterling, a 26-year-old dental hygienist from Hurst, TX
Rachel Truehart, a 27-year-old fashion sales representative from New York City, NY
Samantha Levey, a 26-year-old advertising account manager from Los Angeles, CA
Shawn Reynolds, a 28-year-old financial advisor from Phoenix, AZ
Shira Astrof, an actress of undisclosed age from Los Angeles, CA