One rose down, dozens to go. Just minutes after Zach Shallcross was named the newest Bachelor, one of his contestants received a First Impression Rose.
“I was telling you there were women from all over America who were coming to see you. In fact, some of those women have flown here and they’re going to meet you here tonight on this stage,” host Jesse Palmer told season 27’s leading man during the Bachelorette After the Final Rose special on September 20. “One of these women will be receiving a First Impression Rose. … For the first time in the history of this show, we’re going to be awarding America’s First Impression Rose.”
Zach then met five of the women who will compete to win his heart on the upcoming season of The Bachelor, including New Jersey resident Brianna, who took a selfie with him in front of the Bachelor Mansion backdrop. “I wanted to do something special for us so we would always remember this,” she told Zach, before they snapped the sweet photo. “It’s a little something for you to remember me by, and I’ll see you at the mansion soon.”
Her touching move won over the tech executive — who kept the photo in his suit pocket — and the rest of America, earning Brianna the very first rose of the season. As a result, she will be safe from elimination when she and the rest of the women pull up at the Bachelor Mansion on the first night.
Zach, for his part, revealed that the introductions made him excited to meet more women when filming begins. “Everyone impressed me. That was incredible,” he said. “Everyone [is] obviously beautiful, but everyone had their own way to make an impression.”
One week before the ATFR special, Us Weekly reported that Zach was the frontrunner for the next Bachelor. He competed for Rachel Recchia‘s affections on Season 19 of The Bachelorette and made it to the Final 2 before he left the show following their overnight date.
“It was just her and I talking, and it felt like she was just, like, not showing her true self. It was very inauthentic sometimes,” he told Palmer at the time. Zach added that he felt “blindsided” by Rachel’s actions, which included her focus on their six-month age difference and not believing that he was ready to propose. “One of the things I fell in love with was she made me feel, like, special. And I cared for her, and I question if any of that was real or if that was just an act,” he said during his emotional exit.
Once the pair reunited during the live finale, Zach apologized for questioning the pilot’s authenticity during their breakup. “I just want to say that I do apologize for ever making you feel like I called you out for your character,” he said. “That’s the last thing I wanted. I was kind of in shock and disbelief in what was happening between us. I am so sorry.”
One week later, Zach told Palmer that his split from Rachel “didn’t change how ready I was” to find The One. “[I want to] find my best friend, fall in love with my best friend, and really walk away with someone for the rest of my life,” he added.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the upcoming season of The Bachelor:
Zach Shallcross was named the new Bachelor during the AFTR special in September 2022. According to his Bachelorette bio, the California native is "an old-fashioned romantic" who is looking for someone to settle down with. "Zach's perfect woman is compassionate, kind and ready for romance because Zach is excited to lay it on thick," ABC's website says. "Zach is serious about finding a love that will lead to marriage, so whatever grand romantic gesture it takes for him to get there, he's ready to go!" ABC/Craig Sjodin
Despite initially hitting it off with Rachel, their relationship took a sudden turn for the worse following their overnight date. "We’re one step closer to engagement and we're having an important conversation about religion, politics, all that stuff," Zach said after their date. "And Rachel brought up her fear that, maybe, I’m not ready for a commitment like marriage at this early of an age. ... I don't know what it could be. But Rachel's concern came out of nowhere." When the pair came face-to-face during the live finale, Zach apologized for questioning her "character" and the pair ended things amicably. "I want all the happiness in the world for you," the Florida native told him ahead of his new role as the Bachelor. ABC/Craig Sjodin
Zach met five of the women hoping to win his heart during the live TV special: Brooklyn, 25, Brianna, 24, Bailey, 27, Cat, 26, and Christina, 26. The group were introduced to the former college football player in front of a backdrop featuring a photo of the Bachelor Mansion. ABC/Craig Sjodin
After Zach met his first group of women, viewers voted for Brianna to receive "America's First Impression Rose," guaranteeing that she will be safe from elimination on the first night of filming. ABC/Craig Sjodin
While filming has not begun at the Bachelor Mansion, Zach was spotted shooting what appeared to be his Bachelor introductory package in Austin, Texas, where he currently lives, just days before he was announced as the new lead. ABC/Craig Sjodin
Season 27 of The Bachelor will premiere January. 23, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET. ABC/Ricky Middlesworth
Palmer, who served as the franchise lead in season 5, told Entertainment Tonight in November 2022 that Zach’s season seems like “a throwback to Bachelor seasons of old.” He added at the time: “[There's] maybe not as much drama, but more love. I feel like that's what Zach's gonna bring 'em. I think you're gonna be surprised.” Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images
“It’s really all about the love story and romance and a little bit less about the drama, I think,” the Bachelor host exclusively told Us in November 2022. “The women are really into Zach. Zach’s so emotionally mature and he’s a guy that’s not afraid to wear his emotion on his sleeve. He’s very, very intentional. This is easily the most emotional show that I’ve hosted in the franchise.” Palmer added that season 27 is very “emotionally charged,” because “everybody really wants” to pursue love. ABC/Craig Sjodin
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