Meet the ‘Golden Bachelor’ Contestants Who Competed for Mel Owens’ Heart (and Find Out Who Won!)
A former bomb tech! A triathlon champ! An ex-girlfriend of Chuck Norris!
Yes, I realize Bachelor in Paradise season 10 just concluded...but I’m already needing my next Bachelor fix. Luckily, The Golden Bachelor season 2 is here to fill that void, and after a long hiatus (and no shortage of drama), we’re finally getting to watch Mel Owens search for love as the second-ever Golden Bachelor. A little bit about Mel: The 66-year-old silver fox is a former NFL player, a sports injury lawyer, and a divorcé looking for a new teammate in life. He’s also a bit controversial, if you haven’t heard.
Back in June, Mel ruffled some feathers when he made some ageist comments about his potential contestants during a podcast appearance. He (maybe?) joked that he would be “cutting” any contestants who were “60 or over,” which didn’t go over well, considering that’s the whole point of show. But Mel has since issued an apology for his comments (kind of), and here’s hoping he’s able to win back audiences...as well as the heart of one of his suitors.
Speaking of which! Let’s go ahead and meet the ladies still vying to win him over this season—and yes, I tracked down their Instagram handles so you can give ’em a follow (you’re welcome).
Peg Munson
Show status: Winner!
Age: 62
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Retired firefighter and bomb tech
Instagram: @munsonproperties
Fun facts:
- Peg’s favorite form of transportation is her unicycle.
- Peg is so happy bell-bottoms are making a comeback.
- Peg would love to play in the mud with baby elephants.
Eliminations
Cindy Cullers
Show status: Top 2
Age: 60
Hometown: Austin, TX
Occupation: Retired biomedical engineer
Instagram: @cmcullers
Fun facts:
- Cindy’s signature cocktail is a Green Lizard, a recipe she invented herself.
- Making reservations is Cindy’s superpower.
- Cindy dated Chuck Norris.
Debbie Siebers
Show status: Sent home week 6 (Top 3)
Age: 65
Hometown: Denver, CO
Occupation: Fitness professional
Instagram: @debbiesiebers
Fun facts:
- Debbie has a healthy fear of heights.
- Debbie was asked out on a date by Robert De Niro … unclear if she said yes.
- Debbie participated in the opening and closing ceremonies of the L.A. Olympics.
Cheryl Steele
Show status: Sent home week 5 (Top 5)
Age: 66
Hometown: Englewood, CO
Occupation: Retired IRS employee
Instagram: @cherbird5280
Fun facts:
- Cheryl has earned over 50 motocross trophies.
- Cheryl is a terrible speller.
- Cheryl loves everything about the Fourth of July.
Nicolle Briscoe
Show status: Sent home week 5 (Top 5)
Age: 64
Hometown: Miami Beach, FL
Occupation: Yoga instructor
Instagram: @nicollekate.nyc
Fun facts:
- Nicolle went to culinary school.
- Nicolle has been vegan for 19 years.
- Nicolle can do headstands and the splits.
Carol Freeman-Branstine
Show status: Quit week 5 (Top 6)
Age: 63
Hometown: Villa Park, CA
Occupation: Family manager for baseball all-star Freddie Freeman
Instagram: @carol_free14
Fun facts:
- Carol drinks more Diet Coke than water.
- Carol loves Bad Bunny.
- Carol is a skilled tambourine player.
Gerri Flowers
Show status: Sent home week 4 (Top 9)
Age: 64
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Occupation: Home care agency CEO
Instagram: @g_flowers5269
Fun facts:
- Gerri loves to fish.
- Gerri’s sidekick is her teacup Yorkie named Godiva.
- Gerri does NOT tolerate bad breath.
Robin Rocha
Show status: Sent home week 4 (Top 9)
Age: 63
Hometown: Napa Valley, CA
Occupation: Wealth advisor/vineyard owner
Instagram: @robinr150
Fun facts:
- Robin is an avid tap dancer.
- Robin loves Halloween.
- Robin is a textbook Gemini.
Roxanne Massey
Show status: Sent home week 4 (Top 9)
Age: 62
Hometown: Austin, TX
Occupation: Longevity nurse
Instagram: @masseyrox
Fun facts:
- Roxanne once sold everything and moved to Costa Rica without knowing anyone.
- Roxanne has participated in a pole-dancing contest.
- Roxanne won’t go anywhere without a pair of cowboy boots.
Amy Kaplan
Show status: Sent home week 3 (Top 13)
Age: 63
Hometown: Short Hills, NJ
Occupation: Full-time mom
Instagram: @the_kaplan_twinsmama
Fun facts:
- Amy makes the best potato pancakes.
- Amy loves pedicures despite the fact that she’s insanely ticklish.
- Amy says she has a built-in BS detector.
Monica Brewer
Show status: Sent home week 3 (Top 13)
Age: 62
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
Occupation: Flight attendant
Instagram: @therealmonicabrewer
Fun facts:
- Monica B. loves feeding the ducks with her granddaughter.
- Monica B. likes her white wine dry and her red full-bodied.
- Monica B.’s happy place is Martha’s Vineyard.
Monica Parham
Show status: Sent home week 3 (Top 13)
Age: 60
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Occupation: Cosmetic dentist
Instagram: @drmonicaparham
Fun facts:
- Monica P. can ride a skateboard.
- For Monica P., the bigger the hair, the better!
- Monica P. loves to crochet.
Terri Alani
Show status: Sent home week 3 (Top 13)
Age: 71
Hometown: Houston, TX
Occupation: Cosmetic dentist
Instagram: @texastoothlady
Fun facts:
- Terri studied zoology in college and loves nature photography.
- Terri has watched every single season of The Bachelor since its inception in 2002.
- Terri did a below-freezing polar plunge in Antarctica.
Alexandra Tovar
Show status: Sent home week 2 (Top 17)
Age: 67
Hometown: Miami, FL
Occupation: Luxury yacht sales representative
Instagram: @alexandrayachts
Fun facts:
- Alexandra loves listening to Bob Marley.
- Alexandra goes hard for the Colombia National Fútbol Team.
- Alexandra proposed to her first husband.
Carla Kemp
Show status: Sent home week 2 (Top 17)
Age: 62
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Former model
Instagram: @fabnfitbycarla
Fun facts:
- Carla loves to read autobiographies.
- Carla went on a solo safari in Tanzania.
- Carla is not a cat person.
Diane Firmani
Show status: Sent home week 2 (Top 17)
Age: 71
Hometown: Wasilla, AK
Occupation: Librarian
Instagram: @mamafirmani
Fun facts:
- Diane dreams of being Dolly Parton for a day.
- Diane has won not one, not two, but three triathlons!
- Diane finds eyelash inspo from Twiggy.
Mylene Vasilescu
Show status: Sent home week 2 (Top 17)
Age: 61
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Casino VIP host
Instagram: @mylenevasilescu
Fun facts:
- Mylene is a big Bruno Mars fan.
- Mylene loves to rock a red lip.
- Skydiving is at the top of Mylene’s bucket list.
Andra Wicks
Show status: Sent home week 1 (Top 23)
Age: 77
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Retired federal worker
Instagram: @andra.wicks
Fun facts:
- Andra has never been late paying a bill.
- Andra earned her master’s degree at 61 years old.
- Andra is a low-key adrenaline junkie.
Lily Reeves
Show status: Sent home week 1 (Top 23)
Age: 72
Hometown: Pacific Palisades, CA
Occupation: Retired elementary school teacher
Instagram: @lkcreeves
Fun facts:
- Lily makes a fabulous jambalaya.
- Lily plays on a USTA tennis team.
- Lily’s biggest pet peeve is bad drivers.
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