During 'The Bachelor: Women Tell All' special, the 26-year-old family therapist is named as the lead for the upcoming season 20 of the ABC show that is set to premiere over the summer.
- March 15, 2023
AceShowbiz - ABC has announced the new "The Bachelorette" lead. During "The Bachelor: Women Tell All" on Tuesday, March 14, Charity Lawson was named as the lead for the upcoming season 20 of "The Bachelorette" that is set to premiere over the summer.
Host Jesse Palmer surprised her in her dressing room with the decision. He first invited Charity to play the "this or that" game which ended with Jesse asking Charity to pick between "The Bachelorette" or "Bachelor in Paradise". When the 26-year-old family therapist answered with the former, Jesse replied, "Well, I'm glad you said that because, Charity, I want you to be our next Bachelorette."
"No. Stop. Is this for real? No way. No way. Is this for real right now? I'm gonna cry. Are you kidding? No way," Charity responded. "I'm gonna cry. It's a yes! Absolutely! One hundred percent. Absolutely."
Feeling excited for the opportunity, Charity said, "I've waited forever to find the love of my life and it blows my mind that I could meet my person and be engaged and literally have my happily ever after. I'm feeling so many emotions. I'm so happy, so grateful, and I'm so ready to get engaged to the right person."
"I can't wait to show little girls that look like me that being in a position like this is possible," Charity added. "I know that I'll be making a lot of people proud." She later called her mom to relay the news, prompting her mom to break into tears.
The new role arrived after the latest episode of "The Bachelor" saw Zach Shallcross eliminating Charity despite their seemingly perfect hometown date. "I hope you know from my heart this is the hardest decision I've had to make. I've been sick to my stomach all day," Zach told Charity, who was in tears, in the Monday episode.
"I took a big risk, obviously, coming here and putting my heart out on the line," she said, "And I knew that from night one the moment that you spoke and the moment that I knew it was you, I knew that this experience was going to be something incredible. It's bittersweet for sure." Zach replied, "You deserve all the love. I couldn't give it to you."
