Taylor Frankie Paul will kick off her Bachelorette journey with a slew of former leads in her corner.
Eighteen of the popular reality dating show’s alums will reunite on The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose, airing on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15, one week before Taylor’s season 22 premiere.
“It was crazy,” Joan Vassos, the first Golden Bachelorette, exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2025 of filming the preview special. “It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I feel like I know them, like, I’ve watched all their seasons, but never met so many of them in person. I’m hopeful for Taylor. She is a genuinely nice human who is unapologetically herself.”
According to Joan, it is an honor to be included in the ex-Bachelorette squad — and their group chat.
“It centers around life events, like, somebody’s pregnant, somebody’s getting married, ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ — just what you send to your close friends,” she said. “You have this group of people that have done this weird thing that you’ve done. It’s a unique group.”
Keep scrolling to find out which Bachelor Nation alums will return to dole out words of wisdom to Taylor — and who was presumably absent:
Which ‘Bachelorette’ Stars Attended ‘Before the First Rose’ Special?
In a first look of the ladies’ reunion, the ex-Bachelorettes posed with Taylor in matching red, monogrammed sweatsuits. (The red was likely a nod to the famed roses given out to suitors.)
Taylor will be joined by Trista Sutter (season 1), Meredith Phillips (season 2), DeAnna Pappas (season 4), Ali Fedotowsky (season 6), Ashley Hebert (season 7), Emily Maynard Johnson (season 8), Desiree Hartsock (season 9), Andi Dorfman (season 10), Kaitlyn Bristowe (season 11), JoJo Fletcher (season 12), Rachel Lindsay (season 13), Becca Kufrin (season 14), Hannah Brown (season 15), Tayshia Adams (season 16), Katie Thurston (season 17), Rachel Recchia (season 19), Charity Lawson (season 20) and Joan Vassos (The Golden Bachelorette season 1).
Out of the 18 alums, only five — Trista, Desiree, JoJo, Charity and Joan — are still with their final picks.
Which ‘Bachelorette’ Leads Are Missing?
While it’s unclear why not all of the past Bachelorettes chose to return, there are six stars notably absent from the group pic: Jen Schefft (season 3), Jillian Harris (season 5), Clare Crawley (season 16), Michelle Young (season 18), Gabby Windey (season 19) and Jenn Tran (season 21).
What Has Taylor Frankie Paul Said About Becoming ‘The Bachelorette’ Star?
Taylor Frankie Paul, the first crossover star of the franchise, will lead The Bachelorette after not appearing on a previous franchise show. She notably appears on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“I’m most looking forward to meeting a handful of people that are outside my bubble,” Taylor told Us in September 2025, noting that her goal was to meet The One and get engaged. “As my mom likes to say, I do fall in love quickly, and that’s also the reason I did it. I always call myself a lover girl because I, like, fall for people and I have done that in the past.”
Taylor was previously married to Tate Paul, with whom she shares two kids. She later welcomed son Ever with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen in 2024. Taylor wrapped production on The Bachelorette in December 2025.
When Will ‘Before the First Rose’ Air?
The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose will air immediately after the Sunday, March 15, Academy Awards on ABC and Hulu. Taylor’s season is set to kick off one week later on ABC Sunday, March 22.
