WARNING!!!!! This article contains SPOILERS!!!!
Bachelor in Paradise season 9 premieres September 28, 2023 at 9 p.m. EDT on ABC, and a new trailer and Reality Steve reveal many of the cast members who will look for love. According to Reality Steve, the reality dating show began filming on June 6 in Mexico, with returning host Jesse Palmer and bartender Wells Adams. Bachelor in Paradise season 8 featured a record 44 contestants, but only one couple’s still together. Michael Allio and Danielle Maltby are currently dating, while Brandon Jones and Serene Russell ended their engagement in May.
Bachelor in Paradise begins with an initial group of people from past seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Throughout the season, contestants come and go, connections are made, and relationships begin or end. Now, the trailer and Reality Steve have revealed the first few people who have gone to Mexico for Bachelor in Paradise season 9, with the majority of the women coming from Zach Shallcross’ season of The Bachelor, and most of the men originating from Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette. In addition, a former Bachelorette will appear on the show.
Related: Bachelor In Paradise Season 9: Every Potential Spoiler Revealed So Far
Blake Moynes
According to the Bachelor in Paradise season 9 trailer (shared via Instagram), 32-year-old Blake Moynes, a wildlife manager from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, will join the cast. He’s tried his luck on two The Bachelorette seasons. In 2020, Blake appeared in Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams’ season. He then returned the following year for Katie Thurston’s installment, and they got engaged. However, they broke up a few months later.
Aven Jones
Aven Jones is a 29-year-old sales executive from Salem, Massachusetts, who was Rachel Recchia’s runner-up on The Bachelorette season 19. During the “After the Final Rose” episode, Rachel confronted Tino Franco about his cheating, which led to the end of their engagement. Aven then appeared, and asked Rachel if she wanted to catch up. She agreed, and left the stage with him. However, their relationship didn’t seem to go much further than that.
Tyler Norris
Tyler Norris is a 26-year-old small business owner from Wildwood, New Jersey. He got his Bachelor Nation start on Rachel and Gabby Windey’s season. Rachel broke up with him during the first part of his hometown date, before she met his family. He then joined Bachelor in Paradise season 8, and Tyler left Mexico in a relationship with Brittany Galvin. However, they broke up shortly after filming ended.
Jordan Vandergriff
Jordan Vandergriff is a 28-year-old drag racer from Alpharetta, Georgia. He appeared on Rachel and Gabby’s season of The Bachelorette. Rachel infamously eliminated Jordan during her first one-on-one date of the season.
Will Urena
Will Urena, a 31-year-old academic interventionist from Grand Rapids, Michigan got his Bachelor Nation start on Michelle Young’s Bachelorette season. Throughout the season, Will clashed with Peter Izzo. During a spelling challenge on a group date, he wrote Peter’s name as a joke when the men were asked to spell the word narcissist. Will was very upset when Peter threw a jacket Will won on a date with Michelle into a swimming pool. The jacket was from a Top Gun movie-themed date. Will didn’t think that Peter was on the show for the right reasons.
Eliza Isichei
Eliza Isichei is a 27-year-old marketing manager from Berlin, Germany, who got her start on Clayton Echard’s season of The Bachelor. She later appeared on Bachelor in Paradise season 8, during which she found herself in a love triangle with Rodney Mathews and Justin Glaze. Both relationships ultimately fizzled, and she will now return to the beach for a third chance at love with the franchise.
Samantha Jeffries
Samantha Jeffries is a 28-year-old occupational therapist from Dayton, Ohio. She was first seen on Clayton’s Bachelor season. Samantha is known for being the contestant who made quite a limo entrance in a bikini in a tub filled with bubbles, drinking champagne. However, she was never seen again on the show, not even during the first rose ceremony.
Kat Izzo
Former The Bachelor contestant Kat Izzo will be joining Bachelor In Paradise season 9. She is a 26-year-old registered nurse from Tampa, Florida. Zach formed a connection with Kat during his season. However, they eventually broke up. Kat will now try her luck in Mexico.
Related: 7 Women From Zach Shallcross’ Season Who Should Be On Bachelor In Paradise
Jess Girod
Jess Girod is a 24-year-old e-commerce coordinator from Winter Springs, Florida. She appeared on Zach’s season, and formed a strong connection. However, when she realized she was one of the only contestants who didn’t have a one-on-one date, she confronted Zach about it. This led to Zach eliminating her on the spot.
Mercedes Northup
Another contestant from Zach’s season of The Bachelor is Mercedes Northrup, a 25-year-old nonprofit case manager from Bloomfield, Iowa. She was eliminated by Zach in London, via Zoom, due to his bout with COVID-19. Mercedes now gets a second chance at love on the beach.
Cat Carter
Cat Carter is a 26-year-old professional dancer from Long Island, New York. Zach eliminated her during week 2. However, she made a great impression on viewers because of her memorable personality.
Greer Blitzer
Greer Blitzer, a 25-year-old medical sales representative from Bellaire, Texas (and one of the most controversial contestants from Zach’s season) will appear on Bachelor in Paradise season 9 as well. In her younger days, Greer took to social media to defend a friend who appeared in blackface. Greer issued an apology on Instagram early in the season. However, during the Women Tell All episode, she revisited the topic in a more meaningful way. Although Greer received Zach’s first impression rose, they were separated when they each had COVID-19. The loss of time proved to be too much for their relationship, and Zach eliminated her.
Brooklyn Willie
Zach eliminated Brooklyn Willie, a 25-year-old rodeo racer from Mineola, Texas, just before the hometown dates. Brooklyn was an inspiring and powerful figure during the season, as she spoke about how she survived domestic abuse. She also was known for standing up for her friends, and fighting for what was right.
Kylee Russell
Although Kylee Russell, a 25-year-old postpartum nurse from Charlotte, North Carolina, didn’t end up engaged to Zach on his Bachelor season, she was a memorable contestant. She was known for her conflict with Anastasia Keramidas. During a group date, Kylee tried to steal Zach away from Anastasia. When Anastasia refused, Kylee told her, “I don’t like to fight, but… .” Anastasia told the other women that Kylee was aggressive, although Kylee wasn’t threatening her at all. This led to an important discussion about microaggressions, led by Genevie Mayo, during the Women Tell All episode. Along with Mercedes, Kylee was eliminated during the Zoom rose ceremony, when Zach had COVID-19.
Genevie Mayo
Genevie Mayo is a 27-year-old neonatal nurse from Joppa, Maryland. She first appeared on Zach’s Bachelor season. Zach eliminated her during week 4. However, Genevie made a lasting impression on viewers at “The Women Tell All” special, when she eloquently led an important discussion about microaggressions.
Olivia Lewis
Olivia Lewis, a 25-year-old patient care technician from Churchville, New York, first appeared on Zach’s Bachelor season. However, Bachelor Nation didn’t have much of a chance to get to know her. Zach eliminated her during week 1.
Brayden Bowers
Brayden Bowers is a 25-year-old travel nurse from San Diego, California. He appeared on Charity’s season, making a splash with his unique personality and flashy sense of style (including his large, dangling earrings). However, they broke up when Brayden admitted that he couldn’t see himself engaged at the end of the process.
Aaron Bryant
Aaron Bryant is a 30-year-old software salesman from Katy, Texas. He placed third on Charity’s Bachelorette season, after returning to win her back, despite being eliminated after his hometown date. Although they had a very strong connection, Charity didn’t choose Aaron B. in the end, so he tried his luck in Paradise.
Sean McLaughlin
Sean McLaughlin is one of the men from Charity’s The Bachelorette season who will appear on Bachelor in Paradise season 9. He’s a 26-year-old software sales rep from Tampa, Florida. Sean made it to Charity’s final six men before being eliminated just before the hometown dates.
John Buresh
With his sweet and fun personality, John Buresh quickly became a Bachelor Nation favorite. The 27-year-old data scientist from New York, New York had a strong connection with Charity. However, he didn’t make it to the end with her, so he will now look for love in Mexico.
Michael Barbour
Michael Barbour is a 29-year-old yacht captain from Chicago, Illinois. He made a late connection with Charity on her Bachelorette season. However, it wasn’t enough for him to catch up to the men who had stronger relationships with her. Michael will now search for his soul mate on the beaches of Mexico.
Aaron Schwartzman
Aaron Schwartzman, a 33-year-old firefighter from San Diego, California, got his start on Charity’s season. Although he didn’t connect with her, he was memorable for his commentary about his fellow contestants. Aaron S. also had a heated confrontation with Peter Cappio at “The Men Tell All.”
John Henry Spurlock
John Henry Spurlock, a 31-year-old underwater welder from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is another cast member from Charity’s Bachelorette season. Although he didn’t have a strong connection with Charity, he caught the attention of Bachelor Nation. He will now have a second chance at love in Mexico.
Peter Cappio
Peter Cappio is a 33-year-old airline pilot from New York, New York. Although Charity eliminated him on the first night of her season, Peter came back for “The Men Tell All,” to reveal the “FP” scandal. A bunch of the men had added “FP” to their profiles during a cast Zoom meeting. The initials stood for “F*** Peter.” Peter felt that the cyberbullying was uncalled for. However, the other men seemed to think it was justified because of his alleged rude night one behavior toward the other men and his desire to capitalize on his Bachelorette experience, which Peter denied. Only Xavier Bonner apologized to him.
Rachel Recchia
The former Bachelorette joining Bachelor in Paradise season 9 is Rachel. She’s a 27-year-old pilot from Clermont, Florida, who got her start on Clayton Echard’s season of The Bachelor. After going through the infamous Rose Ceremony from Hell, and eventually getting dumped by Clayton alongside Gabby, Rachel was offered the opportunity to take on the lead role of The Bachelorette with Gabby. They were the first-ever dual Bachelorettes.
Rachel got engaged to Tino during her season, but they broke up after he kissed another woman during a rough patch in their relationship. Rachel and Gabby later made a special appearance on Bachelor in Paradise season 8, to fill their friends in about the men from their season, which hadn’t yet aired at the time the latter show was filmed.
Tanner Courtad
According to the Reality Steve podcast, Tanner Courtad, a 30-year-old mortgage lender from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is also joining Bachelor in Paradise season 9. He appeared in Charity’s season. Tanner made it to Charity’s top five before being eliminated just before the hometown dates.
Nate Mitchell
According to the Reality Steve podcast, Nate Mitchell, a 34-year-old electrical engineer from Chicago, Illinois, who became a fan-favorite on Gabby and Rachel’s season, will appear in Paradise. The single dad had a strong connection with Gabby. However, she broke up with him because she felt that she wasn’t ready to be a stepmom to his daughter.
Bachelor Nation Alums Who Won’t Be Joining Bachelor In Paradise Season 9
Reality Steve mentioned several Bachelor Nation members who were rumored to be participating in Bachelor in Paradise, but can confirm who won’t be joining the show. Former lead Gabby won’t be going, nor will Zach’s runner-up, Gabi Elnicki. The Bachelor season 15 star Peter Weber won’t be looking for love on the beach either. He was recently spotted with Davia Bunch from Zach’s season, on a date at a Zach Bryan concert. Reality Steve wondered if they were going to try dating outside the show. In addition to these Reality Steve reveals, Clayton shared on Instagram that he won’t appear on Bachelor in Paradise season 9 either.
Reality Steve reminded his listeners that just because contestants were in Mexico doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll appear on Bachelor in Paradise season 9. He said that people who are brought to the show can sit in a hotel for a week or two before appearing on the beach. Reality Steve also stated that, more than once, contestants haven’t made it onto the show at all. More names should be announced before the fall premiere, but Bachelor in Paradise season 9 already seems like one of the most dramatic seasons yet.
Sources: Bachelor in Paradise/Instagram, Reality Steve, Reality Steve, Reality Steve, Reality Steve
