Entertainment
'Bachelor' Nation Stars Who Look Totally Different Now
Craig Sjodin/ABC
Rachel has made being a chic Bachelorette look easy. From the moment she first appeared on the show, she's managed to maintain her trendy personal style while still elevating the looks for national television. But, as we all know, style is forever, but fashion trends come and go. What might have been the most desired haircut in 2003 is probably not something many people would be caught dead in now. And while it's easy to just hide your middle school photos in the back of your closet, it's not so simple to forget your style past when you've appeared on national television. And a lot of Bachelor stars look totally different now than when we first saw them.
That makes sense when you consider that the Bachelor franchise has had quite a long run. The very first season of The Bachelor aired in 2002, making the series 15 years old. Fans have watched their favorite contestants grow up, glow up, get married, start families, change careers, and change looks. No one wants to remember what they were wearing in 2005, right? I think the same might go for some of these reality stars. Here are 16 Bachelor franchise stars who are almost unrecognizable from when they first appeared on our screens.
Before — Ashley Hebert
Future Bachelorette Ashley Hebert was a 26-year-old dental student when she vied for Brad Womack's heart on Season 15. It was Brad's second season as the Bachelor.
Now — Ashley Hebert
Ashley ditched the choppy layers and is now happily married to the winner of her season as the Bachelorette, JP Rosenbaum. She's also a rockstar mom of two adorable kids.
Before — Nick Viall
Two-time Bachelorette runner-up, Bachelor in Paradise cast member, and, finally, Bachelor star Nick Viall was just a bright-eyed, clean shaven dude looking for love when he first appeared on Andi Dorfman's season of The Bachelorette.
Now — Nick Viall
Now, Nick's got a tan, is sporting a full beard, and has a beautiful fiancée, winner of his season Vanessa Grimaldi. Here's hoping the fourth time was the charm.
Before — Melissa Rycroft
This brunette beauty gained the sympathy of everyone in America when she was chosen as the winner of Jason Mesnick's season of The Bachelor before being dumped on After The Final Rose... for runner-up Molly Malaney. Yikes.
Now — Melissa Rycroft
Now, Melissa has lost the layered bob, and is a wife, a mother of three, and a host of a new morning talk show called Dose. Jason who?
Before — Vienna Girardi
I have to say, that is maybe one of the most classic early 2000s looks I've ever seen. Winner of Season 14 of The Bachelor, Vienna was known as the villain, despite the fact that she won Bachelor Jake Pavelka's heart.
Now — Vienna Girardi
Post-breakup from Jake, Vienna's gone to the dark side, becoming a brunette and ditching those perfectly curled ringlets. And, she recently announced that she's expecting twins. Congrats!
Before — Ben Flajnik
We first saw this majestic-haired winemaker on Ashley Hebert's season of The Bachelorette, during which he came in second and stormed angrily off a beach in Fiji after Ashley rejected his proposal.
Now — Ben Flajnik
After becoming the Bachelor and then ending things with controversial fiancée Courtney Robertson, Ben looks like a new man with shorter hair and a little scruff.
Before — Rachel Truehart
Rachel was rocking some 2010s heavy bangs when she was on Ben Flajnik's season of The Bachelor. She is most notable for falling in love with fellow Bachelor Pad contestant Michael Stagliano, having a meltdown when he left the show, and then nearly winning all the money before being betrayed by her partner Nick Peterson, who voted to keep all the money for himself. Seriously, watch it. It was wild.
Now — Rachel Truehart
Now, Rachel has traded in the bangs and the heavy eyeliner for a more natural look. She's recently gotten married, and is a successful photo shoot producer for Ralph Lauren. Who needs $250,000 anyway?
Before — Blakeley Jones
Blakeley looks like a typical 2000s girl in that tight wrap dress and those extra long earrings. She was on Ben Flajnik's season of The Bachelor, but is probably most famous for her romance and subsequent engagement to fellow Bachelor Pad cast member, Tony Pieper.
Now — Blakeley Jones
I seriously double-checked to make sure this was Blakeley's Instagram — I didn't recognize her with that bleach blonde hair! The Bachelor Pad star is now a mother to baby boy Lennox with her partner, Simon. Congrats to this adorable family.
Before — Carly Waddell
This sassy blonde cruise singer looks like the typical Bachelor contestant with her long curls and chunky bracelets. We first saw her on Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor, but that wasn't the end of Carly's journey for love...
Now — Carly Waddell
Carly found love with fellow Bachelor in Paradise contestant Evan Bass, and the pair were just married in Mexico. Carly looks like a new person with those thick brows and dark brown locks.
Before — Brooks Forester
This luscious-haired heartthrob broke Bachelorette Desiree's heart (and the hearts of all of America, let's be honest) when he decided to leave the show. He was clearly Des' favorite, but I guess everything happens for a reason, since she and husband Chris just celebrated the birth of their first child.
Now — Brooks Forester
Now, he's got short hair and a beard, but something tells me he's still got the same adventurous spirit we all (OK, maybe just I) fell in love with.
Before — Jillian Harris
Bachelorette Jillian first competed on Season 13 of The Bachelor before making questionable decisions, like choosing Ed Swiderski as the winner of her season, and wearing those earrings...
Now — Jillian Harris
Post-breakup from Ed, this interior designer has been rocking some trendy heavy bangs, stars on HGTV's Love It or List It Vancouver, and is a mom to an adorable baby boy.
Before — Chelsea Wanstrath
Chelsea was the runner-up on Season 12 of The Bachelor, a season which featured the first British Bachelor, Matt Grant. Chelsea certainly looked like an early 2000s Bachelor winner with her perfectly curled hair and the plunging v-neck blouse.
Now — Chelsea Wanstrath
Now, this Bachelor star is keeping mostly out of the spotlight, but her Instagram shows that in addition to sporting blonder and straighter locks, she's been spending a ton of time in some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Before — Jesse Csincsak
The long hair should be a dead giveaway that Jesse was a professional snowboarder. He was also the winner of DeAnna Pappas' heart on Season 4 of The Bachelorette.
Now — Jesse Csincsak
Jesse's engagement to DeAnna didn't last, and neither did his long hair. Jesse is now married to another Bachelor Nation star, Ann Lueders, and they have three kids together.
Before —Lindsay Yenter
I think I used to have that exact same scalloped shirt in my closet circa 2010. Lindsay was the runner-up on Sean Lowe's season of The Bachelor.
Now — Lindsay Yenter
Lindsay looks great with her darker hair, and she is also celebrating the birth of her first child with husband Karl Swanson. Congrats.
Before — Kaitlyn Bristowe
This sarcastic dancer captured the hearts of America first as a contestant on Chris Soules' season, and then as the Bachelorette. Kaitlyn has never been afraid to keep it real, and wasn't afraid to wear an all-black outfit for her cast photo in a sea of pastel-clad women.
Now — Kaitlyn Bristowe
Now, Kaitlyn is rocking a blonde lob — and all white instead of all black.
Before — Samantha Steffen
Samantha didn't get a lot of attention when she appeared on Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor, but emerged as a villain on Season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise when it was found out that she and fellow contestant Joe had been talking prior to coming to paradise.
Now — Samantha Steffen
Samantha has ditched the preppy look and prim pose for an edgier vibe. Maybe it's to match her newfound villain persona?
Before — Chris Harrison
Yes, even the King of Bachelor Nation has undergone a glow up since this whole thing started in 2002. Look at that babyface!
Now — Chris Harrison
Like a fine, matchmaking wine, Chris Harrison only gets better with age.
Now, we'll just have to wait and see which more recent Bachelor stars end up looking super different in a few years.
