Season 9
Desiree Hartsock and the Bachelor Nation faithful thought she would happily end up with America's favourite Bachelor, Sean Lowe. Their relationship started off incredibly strong, but somewhere along the way Desiree lost her confidence.
After struggling to regain what they once had, Sean and Desiree seemed to be on the right track – until the hometown dates. Millions watched, stunned, as Sean sent Desiree home, and they fell even more in love with her as she struggled to tell him he was making a big mistake.
Now it's time for Desiree to call the shots when she gets her second chance to find love, starring in the ninth edition of ABC's hit romance reality series, The Bachelorette.
Desiree, 27, moved numerous times with her family as a youth and eventually settled in Colorado. After her high school graduation, she moved to California where she attended Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FITM) in Los Angeles.
Although her family was of modest means, they were rich in love. Their values helped guide Desiree to become an industrious, passionate and creative woman who loves living in California and working hard to make her dreams come true.
She is currently an operations manager at a bridal salon and a bridal stylist, but that hasn't stopped her for shooting for the stars. She is confident that in the future she will be a bridal gown designer who owns her own boutique.
But more than anything, Desiree's ultimate dream is to find a love like the one her parents share. Married for 35 years, but together for 40, they've always supported and appreciated one another. It's that cherished model of marriage that led Desiree to be on The Bachelor, where she fell in love with Sean.
This spunky, athletic and artistic woman is eagerly looking for a life filled with spontaneity, love and laughter. She hopes someday to travel the world with that special someone whom she'll run home to see every day. And she is positive, after falling in love on The Bachelor, that she can find her soul mate on The Bachelorette.
Desiree's hunt for Mr. Right will take place on some of the most romantic and adventurous dates ever, with exciting surprises in store for both her and the bachelors as they travel the world for intimate dates in Atlantic City, NJ; Germany, Spain, the island of Madeira and other exciting locations.
A jam packed schedule in Los Angeles will have Desiree surprising one lucky man with a day of wedding-themed events. Then, after a VIP view from atop of the Hollywood sign, they enjoy a private performance by R&B pop-rock singer Andy Grammer.
Fourteen enthusiastic men join Desiree to make a rap video with superstar Soulja Boy. A dodge ball group date ends up with someone making an emergency room visit, but Desiree treats one man to a private concert by soul/pop/gospel singer Kate Earl.
Danger lurks as Desiree and one special guy try to take love to new heights when they join dance troupe Bandaloop who perform on the side of a glass skyscraper suspended by cables.
Then it's Hi-Ho, Silver! Away! as five rugged guys learn how to perform stunts from professionals at a cowboy boot camp and compete for a ticket with Desiree to a VIP screening of Disney's eagerly awaited upcoming release, The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.
It's onward to Atlantic City, but wait until 11 of the men discover they'll compete for the first-ever coveted title of "The Bachelorette's Mr. America."
Desiree and one bachelor also visit the area devastated by Hurricane Sandy and meet a couple who were victims of the storm. What Desiree and her date decide to do brings the couple to tears. Country chart-topper Darius Rucker plays a part in the heart-wrenching surprise.
An excited Bachelorette makes her first trip to Europe, taking the remaining men to Germany, exploring beautiful, historic Munich on an individual date - which culminates with a VIP concert by rock/pop artist Matt White - then taking a group of the guys up the Alps to the tallest peak in Germany for a day of sledding.
Continuing the European tour, the group travel to romantic Barcelona. A world famous soccer stadium is the site for six men to suit up and compete against a professional team – but there's a jaw-dropping twist.
The idyllic island of Madeira is the backdrop for a special date in its capital city, Funchal, complete with a stroll through lush tropical gardens, tobogganing down the town's steep winding streets and a performance by a Fado singer.
On a one-on-one date, Desiree takes her suitor up a winding road through the clouds to the mountain peak of Pico do Arieiro for a romantic picnic and a fireworks display.
Finally, after the crucial hometown dates, three lucky men travel with Desiree to an exotic destination for some of the most intimate and sensual overnight dates ever.
The Bachelorette will have traveled the world again for love, but will she finally make her own fairytale come true?
As in the past, men will continue to be eliminated each week, but if at any point along the way a bachelor should decide that he's no longer interested in the Bachelorette, he can reject her invitation to continue dating.
Two lucky men will meet her family, and she will visit the final bachelors' hometowns for a slice of their lives in an effort to determine the man with whom she is most compatible - but there are surprises in store for Desiree that will shake her world.
At the end of the journey, the Bachelorette may quite possibly have found true love. But the big question is: After all of this, will he pop the question, and will she say yes?
Season 9 Bachelors
Ben Scott
A 28-year-old entrepreneur from Dallas, Texas
Brad McKinzie
A 27-year-old accountant from Denver, Colorado
Brandon Andreen
A 26-year-old painting contractor from Costa Mesa, California
Brian Jarosinski
A 29-year-old financial advisor from Baltimore, Maryland
Brooks Forester
A 28-year-old marketing consultant from Salt Lake City, Utah
Bryden Vukasin
A 26-year-old Iraqi War veteran from Missoula, Montana
Chris Siegfried
A 27-year-old mortgage broker from Seattle, Washington
Dan Cox
A 30-year-old beverage sales director from Las Vegas, Nevada
Diogo Custodio
A 29-year-old ski resort manager from Lake Tahoe, California
Drew Kenney
A 27-year-old digital marketing analyst from Scottsdale, Arizona
James Case
A 27-year-old advertising executive from Chicago, Illinois
Jonathan Vollinger
A 26-year-old lawyer from Hickory, North Carolina
Juan Pablo Galavis
A 31-year-old former pro soccer player from Miami, Florida
Kasey Stewart
A 29-year-old advertising executive from San Luis Obispo, California
Larry Burchett
A 34-year-old ER doctor from Berkeley, California
Micah
A 32-year-old law student from Denver, Colorado
Michael Garofola
A 33-year-old federal prosecutor from Miami Beach, Florida
Mike R.
A 28-year-old dental student from Dallas, Texas
Mikey Tenerelli
A 30-year-old plumbing contractor from Winfield, Illinois
Nick Mucci
A 27-year-old investment advisor from Charlotte, North Carolina
Nick Roy
A 26-year-old tailor and magician from Chicago, Illinois
Robert Graham
A 30-year-old advertising entrepreneur from Los Angeles, California
Will Reese
A 28-year-old banker from Chicago, Illinois
Zack Kalter
A 28-year-old book publisher from Newport Beach, California
Zak Waddell
A 31-year-old drilling fluid engineer from Mico, Texas
About the Series
A spin-off of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette follows a woman's search for true love as she is courted by 25 eligible, overeager bachelors.
In Season 1 it was Trista Rehn who had the opportunity to search for true love and found it with fireman Ryan Sutter. The couple remain married and have two children together.
Trista appeared in a previous series of The Bachelor and the U.S. public was so outraged that she wasn't chosen, the creators decided to give her her own opportunity to find love. Thus the spin-off show was born.
Hosted by Chris Harrison, who acts as friend and advisor, the Bachelorette's search for love ends in a final rose ceremony, where she has to decide whether to accept a marriage proposal or not.
The Bachelorette is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss, Martin Hilton and Alycia Rossiter are the executive producers.