Charity Lawson burst onto the scene as the star of the newest season of The Bachelorette, which aired on June 26, 2023. Fans of The Bachelor franchise may recognize Lawson from the 27th season, which starred Zach Shallcross, where she placed fourth. Though she didn’t end up with the last rose, Lawson still has the power of the flower and is on her way to finding her “happily ever after” as the spotlight shines on her and she chooses from among a group of hopeful men.
The Bachelorette’s premise is so simple, yet so appealing, that viewers have been tuning in regularly since the show debuted on ABC in 2003. We’ve watched many single women go through the emotional wringer of a series of group and one-on-one dates, hometown visits, and rose ceremonies, all in the name of finding love. Each of the bachelorettes the audience has met thus far has brought something unique to the show, whether it be her personality, career, background, or perspective on love.
Listing the best bachelorettes in Bachelor Nation history is, thus, highly subjective, depending on what factors you value, be it the women’s decisions or how they dealt with the drama on the show. With that in mind, here is a ranking of the most popular bachelorettes.
10. Desiree Hartsock (season 9)
Season 9 of The Bachelorette aired in 2013, featuring Desiree Hartsock Siegfried as the main attraction. Desiree was a fan favorite on Sean Lowe’s The Bachelor season and made it to the final four. Her sudden breakup with Sean after a disastrous date in her hometown provided a touching farewell that viewers could empathize with. Desiree experienced highs and lows, love and heartbreak, drama and twists throughout her season. She started with 25 suitors, four of whom—Brooks Forester, Chris Siegfried, Drew Kenney, and Zak Waddell—made it to the end.
Desiree’s season was filled with memorable and dramatic moments, but Brooks Forester’s departure in the second-to-last week stands out. Although he was widely considered Desiree’s most likely suitor, Brooks ultimately quit the program because he felt his feelings for Desiree hadn’t progressed to the same degree. Desiree was devastated, and the audience was shocked. Desiree decided to continue her journey after much soul-searching and internal debate. She focused on the other remaining men, Drew Kenney and Chris Siegfried. Eventually, she sent Drew home, leaving Chris as the last man standing.
9. Ashley Hebert (season 7)
Ashley Hebert, a fan favorite from Brad Womack’s season of The Bachelor, was the focus of the 2011 season of The Bachelorette. Ashley’s season was most memorable for the emotional roller coaster she went through with contestant Bentley Williams, who played with her feelings but ultimately left the competition early. The experience saddened Ashley, but it helped her to focus on the other men and move forward with more caution and knowledge.
Ashley’s season progressed and revolved around her love story with New York City construction manager J.P. Rosenbaum. Even though J.P. was more reserved than the other men, his honesty made him stand out, and the attraction between him and Ashley was undeniable. Their relationship grew stronger during the season, and there were many touching moments, including a romantic rainy date that viewers will never forget. Ashley ultimately chose J.P., and the series finale concluded with a romantic proposal in which J.P. confessed to Ashley that he was “madly in love” with her.
8. Tayshia Adams (season 16)
The Bachelorette season 16 was particular since Tayshia Adams wasn’t the original bachelorette. In the premiere episode, Clare Crawley played the role of the bachelorette and quickly found love with one of the other contestants, Dale Moss. Tayshia replaced Clare after she and Dale left the show after only a few weeks, making her the first mid-season replacement in the series’ history. As one of the most memorable contestants from Colton Underwood’s season of The Bachelor, Tayshia was an instant hit with the guys and the audience thanks to her composure, empathy, and engaging attitude.
Ben Smith, Zac Clark, Ivan Hall, and Brendan Morais made up Tayshia’s last four suitors. They each contributed something unique and had meaningful conversations with Tayshia. Brendan left the program because he didn’t feel ready for another marriage following his divorce, and Ben was kicked from the show before the Fantasy Suites but later returned to tell Tayshia he loved her. Tayshia eventually settled on Zac Clark, a New Jersey-based addiction treatment expert. Theirs was a relationship that started slower than others but grew stronger and more meaningful with time. Zac made a romantic proposal to Tayshia at the end of the season, and she accepted.
7. Andi Dorfman (season 10)
Airing in 2014, season 10 of The Bachelorette featured Andi Dorfman, an associate district attorney from Atlanta, Georgia, who was personable and self-assured. Andi originally appeared on The Bachelor, starring Juan Pablo Galavis, where she made headlines by leaving him after an unpleasant Fantasy Suite date, demonstrating her strong personality and independent character. Her no-nonsense, honest demeanor won over viewers and made her an intriguing bachelorette contender.
Andi’s romance with Nick Viall, a business analyst from Wisconsin, was a central plot point this season. Andi and Nick had evident chemistry, but their relationship also featured intense emotional debates and a few problematic occasions. But it was Andi’s fellow Atlantan and former major league baseball player Josh Murray who captured her heart. Andi was first skeptical of Josh because he reminded her of the “type” of man she usually dated, but she eventually succumbed to his charisma. Andi enthusiastically said “yes” to Josh’s proposal in the series finale.
6. Becca Kufrin (season 14)
Twin Cities PR Becca Kufrin rose to fame during Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of The Bachelor. Becca’s televised heartbreak over Arie’s decision to propose to her and then back out and propose to the runner-up, Lauren Burnham, made her an understandably sympathetic lead for Season 14 of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2018. Becca, known for her positivity and kindness, handled the season’s pressures efficiently. Several significant events and people stood out to her along her journey, including the top three finalists, Blake Horstmann, Jason Tartick, and Garrett Yrigoyen.
The season’s main plot centered on Becca and Blake’s relationship. Blake, who had a strong connection with Becca from the start, was deeply invested in their relationship. His ability to be vulnerable and honest with Becca and the audience won them over. The last rose, though, went to Garrett Yrigoyen. Despite controversies surrounding his negative social media conduct, Garrett won Becca with charisma and excitement. His “first impression” rose, a classic indicator of the lead’s initial interest, predicted their future engagement in the season finale, which took place in the Maldives.
5. Kaitlyn Bristowe (season 11)
Kaitlyn Bristowe, a lively and dynamic dance instructor from Vancouver, Canada, starred in Season 11 of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2015. Since Kaitlyn won viewers’ hearts on Chris Soules’ season of The Bachelor, she was an obvious option to be the next bachelorette. However, Kaitlyn’s season began unusually. Kaitlyn and Britt Nilsson, another fan favorite from Chris Soules’ season, debuted as bachelorettes on the same night, a first for the series. The men decided early on that they wanted to continue the season with Kaitlyn, and they voted for her on the first night.
There were several exciting and surprising developments during Kaitlyn’s season. Her candid and, at times, unconventional manner defined the whole thing. She generated controversy among the remaining guys when she welcomed Nick Viall, a finalist from Andi Dorfman’s season, to join the cast midway through the season after the two met online. Kaitlyn chose Nick Viall and Shawn Booth as her final two suitors. Nick, with whom Kaitlyn had a deep and, at times, stormy attraction, finished in second place. Shawn, a personal trainer from Nashville, earned the “first impression” rose, and Kaitlyn ultimately chose him.
4. Trista Rehn (season 1)
In 2003, when Trista Rehn, a pediatric physical therapist from Miami, Florida, debuted as the lead on The Bachelorette, she broke new ground in the reality television genre. Trista was a contestant on the first season of The Bachelor, in which she finished in second place. During this landmark season, Trista handled her time on the show with poise and honesty. Charlie Maher and Ryan Sutter were the last two men standing. Trista had a deep connection to Charlie, a financial analyst, but Ryan, a Colorado firefighter, won her over.
Ryan was well-liked for his genuineness, modesty, and the touching poetry he penned especially for Trista. Ryan’s proposal to Trista at the season’s end was the emotional high point for everyone involved. However, that wasn’t the end of the couple’s story. Their love flourished when Trista and Ryan left the show, and they tied the knot in front of millions of viewers on a television wedding special in December 2003. They moved to Colorado and are now parents to two young kids.
3. Hannah Brown (Season 15)
The star of the fifteenth season of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2019, was Hannah Brown, an Alabama interior designer, and former Miss Alabama USA. Hannah, who earned the nickname “Hannah Beast” due to her strong character, won over viewers on The Bachelor with her genuineness and candor during Colton Underwood’s season. Hannah’s complicated romance with Luke P. was a major plot point throughout the season. There was a lot of passion between them, but there were also plenty of disagreements.
Conflicts between Luke and the other candidates and with Hannah herself provided some of the season’s most riveting viewing. Singer-songwriter Jed Wyatt from Nashville proposed to Hannah at the series finale, and she said yes. They were engaged for a brief time, sadly. In the aftermath of The Bachelorette, it was revealed that Jed had been dating someone else right before production began, a fact he had kept from Hannah. Hannah broke off the engagement after learning this.
2. Rachel Lindsay (Season 13)
As the first Black bachelorette in the show’s history, Dallas, Texas, attorney Rachel Lindsay brought much-needed diversity to the role. Rachel gained fans on Nick Viall’s The Bachelor season because of her wit, charm, and poise. Rachel’s storyline with Wisconsin businessman Peter Kraus was a significant focus of the season, which aired in 2017. Rachel and Peter felt a strong attraction to one another, but their relationship was plagued by hesitation and disputes over whether or not to get engaged.
Bryan Abasolo, a chiropractor from Miami, Florida, nevertheless successfully won Rachel’s heart. Bryan had been a frontrunner since Rachel gave him the “first impression” rose on the first night. Over time, their relationship blossomed thanks to their increased honesty and understanding of one another. Rachel accepted Bryan’s proposal in the series finale. Their love has endured, unlike that of many other Bachelor Nation couples. Rachel and Bryan tied the knot in the summer of 2019.
1. JoJo Fletcher (season 12)
JoJo Fletcher made her television debut on Ben Higgins’ season of The Bachelor before becoming the lead on Season 12 of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2016. The season featuring the Dallas native and real estate developer featured memorable scenes and colorful contestants like Luke Pell, Wells Adams, and James Taylor. Her final two, Jordan Rodgers and Robby Hayes, both had big personalities that impacted the season.
JoJo’s romantic involvement with sports commentator and ex-football player Jordan Rodgers was a highlight throughout the season. JoJo and Jordan had undeniable chemistry from the get-go, and JoJo showed her instant attraction to Jordan by giving him the “first impression.” Though she had concerns and had to address accusations about Jordan’s past throughout the season, JoJo chose Jordan in the final rose ceremony.
