The Bachelorette 2026: Meet the lads vying for Taylor Frankie Paul’s coronary heart
Taylor Frankie Paul is taking a chance on love with 22 men as the lead of the upcoming season of The Bachelorette — and now fans are getting the first look at the cast members.
On Monday, ABC released the names, headshots and bios of the contestants who will be vying for Paul’s heart on season 22 of the long running show.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, has been open about her wish to find a partner who is willing to move to the Utah area to be with her and her three children.
According to ABC’s gallery, this season’s men include several single fathers, some athletes, cowboys and one “devoted member of the Mormon church.”
Below is a look at the 22 men that viewers will meet at the Bachelor Mansion during the season premiere March 22.
Aaron Kahng, 32 — Product manager
From: Vineyard, Utah
Aaron is described as “total husband material” and a “devoted member of the Mormon church” in his bio by ABC. The product manager has traveled around the world, cannot sleep past seven in the morning, and says his “FYP is exclusively food content.” His Instagram page shows that he often posts about fitness and cooking. He wrote Monday on his Instagram Story about being cast on the show: “Here to spread love and light. Thank you all for your support.”
Brad Ledford, 29 — Cowboy/entrepreneur
From: Newport Beach, California
Brad is a self-proclaimed “California cowboy” who loves horses, dancing and the beach. He also co-founded an alcoholic seltzer company, according to his Instagram page, and is working toward getting his private pilot’s license.
Brandon Perce, 28 — Loan officer
From: Spearfish, South Dakota
Brandon, 28, is a single dad of two young kids, and he hopes to become a match for a single mom of three on this season of The Bachelorette. The self-described “mama’s boy” is a Chicago Bears fan who said that his favorite movie of all time is The Notebook. The family man also said he “does not do complex card games,” which one can only hope will be explained further on the series.
Casey Hux, 30 — Mechanical engineer
From: Nashville, Tennessee
Casey is in STEM, and his ABC bio says that the blue-eyed engineer is “ready to see if he and Taylor have real chemistry.” The Tennesseean is a big Steve Irwin fan who likes “volunteering, 3D printing and hitting the dance floor for some two-stepping.” His Instagram bio also says that he is a “cowboy in training,” which brings the cast cowboy count to two.
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Christopher Wood, 35 — Business owner
From: Vacaville, California
Christopher is an Air Force veteran and a single dad who works as a fitness instructor. He loves psychological thrillers, prefers listening to music on vinyl, and “looks great in a cowboy hat.” Cowboy count: three.
Clayton Johnson, 36 — Singer/Songwriter
From: Nashville, Tennessee
Clayton is a “true Southern gentleman” who enjoys spending time with his dog, Oliver, when he’s not working on his music. “I’ve spent years writing love songs about a girl I haven’t met yet… So I decided to try something different…,” he wrote on Instagram Monday.
Conrad Ukropina, 32 — Startup founder
From: Santa Monica, California
Conrad is an Eagle Scout and another “mama’s boy.” With his MBA from Stanford University, he started his own business in the men’s fertility sector to help couples have children. He wrote on Instagram Monday that his parents have been together for more than 40 years after meeting and getting married within six months. He wrote, “When it’s right, it’s right!”
Doug Mason, 28 — Ocean lifeguard
From: San Diego, California
Doug is an ocean lifeguard and avid surfer who hopes to have a family of his own. He knows how to ride a unicycle and according to his Instagram, spends his time modeling and playing guitar.
Johnnie LaRossa, 30 — Former pro baseball player
From: Massepequa, New York
Johnnie is known on TikTok for his viral dance moves, but now he’ll be taking to the silver screen to compete on The Bachelorette. He played Minor League Baseball for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and now described himself as a “hoarder with the order.”
Josh Harward, 28 — Sales manager
From: Provo, Utah
The contestant who appears to already live the closest to Taylor Frankie Paul, Josh described himself as a “Disney adult” who “attends the Tulip Festival in Utah every year with his grandma.” His Instagram page reveals two interesting facts: Josh appears to be a devout Mormon, and Paul already follows him on Instagram, which could hint that the two already knew each other before the show.
Kevin Montero, 32 —Physical therapist
From: Miami, Florida
Kevin is a physical therapist based in Florida who, according to his Instagram page, loves to travel, surf and run. His fun fact in his bio is that he “loves to cry while listening to ‘Crash’ by Dave Matthews Band.”
Lew Evans, 32 — Insurance tech founder
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Lew is a self-proclaimed “Belieber” who “loves brunchin’ with the boys.” The 6ft 8in contestant wrote on Instagram Monday: “This journey was a rollercoaster….. Just gotta put your hands up and enjoy the ride.”
Malik Evans, 30 — Tech executive
From: Brooklyn, New York
Malik said in his bio that he loves everything about Halloween, and that he has a playlist for every situation. As a fun fact, Malik “loves kids and can easily picture a future filled with school drop-offs, pickups and family time.”
Marcus Richardson, 28 — Creative director
From: Elmont, New York
Marcus, who says his favorite food is pancakes, has modeled for brands like Starz, Under Armour and the NBA. His fun fact is that he “once got attacked by a bird while on a run.”
Matt Carroll, 43 — Real estate broker
From: Carmel, Indiana
Matt is a divorced father of three who stands at 6ft 8in and used to play professional basketball. He wrote on Instagram Monday: “Tune in March 22 and see what happens when a former Big Ten basketball player trades game plans for roses. Life takes some wild turns, and I’m here for it.”
Michael Baba, 36 — Chiropractic healer
From: San Diego, California
Dr. Michael Baba is an energetic and chiropractic healer who “taught himself how to firespin,” according to his show bio. On Instagram, Michael wrote that in March 2025, he was given a psychic reading that foresaw an opportunity that would bring attention and publicity to his life. Months later, he was contacted to join The Bachelorette. “It was quite the experience and very divinely guided,” he wrote.
Mike Turitto, 36 — Brand protection manager
From: Lavallette, New Jersey
Mike T. is a “reformed bad boy” who described himself as “an Aquaphor addict.” On Instagram Monday, he wrote that he had “signed up for the biggest plot twist yet.”
Richard Van De Water, 35 — Photographer
From: Charleston, South Carolina
Richard rides a motorcycle, likes to surf, and hunts for shark teeth when he’s not traveling as a photographer. He wrote on Instagram Monday, “I’m either about to find love or become a meme. Possibly both!!”
Rod Strozier II, 35 — Entrepreneur
From: Austin, Texas
Rod is a veteran who spent 17 years serving in the military. Now, he has built an online platform for his fitness and nutritional tips. He put as his fun fact that he “admits that it takes him a while to text back.”
Ronn Perez, 28 — Account executive
From: San Francisco, California
Ronn shared videos of himself jumping rope, doing the dishes and spending time with his family on Instagram Monday. His fun fact is that “he has a 9-month-old betta fish named Finn.”
Shane Parton, 28 — Private wealth planner
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Shane played football during his college days at Stetson University in Florida, and now “keeps a running note of the best breakfast burritos he’s ever had,” according to his bio. It also says that he is a “massive Uno enthusiast.”
Trenten Merrill, 35 — Pro athlete
From: San Juan Capistrano, California
Trenten is a three-time Paralympics winner who specializes in long jump. After his right foot was amputated following a dirt bike crash, he represented the U.S. at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics. For his fun fact, he said that his “dream superpower would be talking with dogs.”
