One of the best parts of The Bachelor — aside from falling head over heels (hopefully) with the leading man — is meeting the next potential bachelorette.
Although it’s not a written rule, most bachelorettes are chosen after their tenure on the flagship show. During the season 27 finale, Charity Lawson was handpicked to headline the 20th anniversary season of The Bachelorette. On June 26, twenty-five handsome men all climbed out of their respective limos and introduced themselves to her. When all is said and done, one of them will be her future husband.
During season 27 of The Bachelor, we saw Charity through Zach Shallcross’ eyes, but now, it’s time to get to know her personally, on her level. Here’s what you should know about this season’s leading lady.
Charity is a child and family therapist
Who better to serve as the bachelorette than a therapist? Charity’s master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Auburn University is sure to give her an advantage when it comes to battling the highs and lows of finding true love, especially on national television.
As a child and family therapist, Charity focuses on helping patients who are overcoming trauma, anxiety, and child development disorders, as well as helping those who are veterans, couples, and families. According to her Linkedin account, she carries a “strong passion for helping others and am a strong advocate for promoting self-care and wellness.”
She has a protective older brother
During the hometown episode of season 27 of The Bachelor, Charity introduced Zach to her family in Columbus, Georgia, which included her mom Vickie, her dad David, and her (rightfully) overprotective brother Nehemiah.
Bachelor Nation quickly fell in love with Charity and Nehemiah’s heartfelt bond. The two exchanged plenty of tears, effectively moving audiences around the world. During the season 20 premiere of The Bachelorette, Nehemiah returned as an “undercover brother” quietly scoping out the competition. Needless to say, the pair’s relationship is the true winner here.
She is 27 years old
When Charity appeared on season 27 of The Bachelor, she was only 26 years old. Already, she had a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a strong head on her shoulders. Although she’s still young, the wisdom she’s received from experiencing The Bachelor is sure to come in handy on season 20 of The Bachelorette.
The ages of the 25 men vying for Charity’s heart on season 20 of The Bachelorette range from 24 to 33 years old.
She is on good terms with Zach and even friends with his fiancé Kaity
It’s not every day 25 women all date the same man at the same time. Without a doubt, the concept of The Bachelor (and The Bachelorette) is mind-boggling. So, it goes without saying that Charity remaining friends with Kaity Biggar — to whom Zach Shallcross from season 27 is currently engaged — is surprising. Pleasantly surprising, we must add.
On June 12, Charity shared a post to her Instagram in which she, Kaity, and Zach all attended CMA Fest. You can easily see from the smiles between Charity and Kaity — not to mention their two-step dance — that there is no ill will between the former contestants. Furthermore, Zach is seen bobbing his head in the background while the two women dance together, a clear indication that all three of them are mature, respectful adults. Not something you see every day.
To top it off, Charity still has photos of her and Zach on her Instagram, expressing nothing but grace and kindness for the journey they experienced together. Whether Charity will keep Zach on her timeline once she’s officially hitched to the love of her life remains to be seen.