Rachel Recchia, one of the women that Bachelor Clayton Echard dated on this season of The Bachelor, is one of the new Bachelorettes for season 19.
Yes, we said Bachelorettes: Rachel will share the title alongside fellow contestant Gabby Windey when the season premieres this summer. Rachel, a 25-year-old pilot, was a strong presence throughout this past season of The Bachelor due to her instant deep connection with Clayton. But as the journey went on, things took a turn for the worse when Clayton told three women, including Rachel, that he was in love with them despite knowing he could give only one his final rose.
“After unwaveringly supporting each other through a devastating dual breakup in the season 26 finale of The Bachelor, fan favorites and fierce women Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia will stand by each other's side yet again as they set out on a journey to find love,” ABC said in a statement.
Rachel's path to love will continue on The Bachelorette on July 11. Here's some things to know about our new Bachelorette Rachel Recchia.
She’s a flight instructor and commercial pilot. According to her Insta bio, Rachel is a flight instructor and commercial pilot. Her grid is filled with pictures from her travels all over the world, as well as pictures of herself in the cockpit.
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She lives in Florida but is originally from Chicago. Rachel lives in Clermont, Florida, which is just outside Orlando. Rachel spends most of her time traveling due to her job as a pilot, however. After the hometowns episode, Rachel said she is originally from Chicago and moved to Florida when she was a teen.
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She was a cheerleader in college. Rachel attended Ohio University, where she was a cheerleader. At the time, Rachel was also a brunette.
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She loves Harry Potter. According to her bio on the ABC website, Rachel Recchia can't wait to read the Harry Potter books to her kids one day.
And Flaming Hot Cheetos. Fun fact? Rachel “could live off of Flaming Hot Cheetos,” also according to her bio on ABC. I mean, same.
She had an instant connection with Clayton. From beginning to end, Rachel had a deep connection with Clayton. Unfortunately, Clayton committed a Bach Nation mortal sin by telling three women, including Rachel, that he was in love with them. The move led all three women on, even those he knew he wouldn't hand his final rose to in the end. Rachel was not having it and called him out on his behavior on the show.
“I promise you that when you look back at this, this is going to haunt you, the fact that you let me go,” she said. “I tried so hard, I gave you everything. I fought for this every single day and you never once fought for me.”
She’s serious about finding love. “As a hopeless romantic, Rachel is looking for someone who is as playful, passionate, and spontaneous as she is,” per her ABC bio. “He should be nurturing, empathetic and must be respectful in all facets of life—to her, to family, and especially to waiters. In the end, Rachel wants to find crazy, insane love that makes sense to no one else but her and her soul mate.”
