When Zach Shallcross was announced as the lead of The Bachelor on The Bachelorette season 19 After the Final Rose episode, Brianna Thorbourne won America's First Impression Rose, and she now reveals how the other women reacted to it. For the first time ever, The Bachelor had an online vote for someone to enter the premiere with a rose. America had the opportunity to choose among Brooklyn Willie, Christina Mandrell, Bailey Brown, Cat Wong, and Brianna. Brianna received the coveted prize, and went into The Bachelor premiere safe from elimination. She wore a red gown with roses on it on the first night.
On the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, The Bachelor's Brianna Thorbourne revealed that some of The Bachelor season 27 women did not think that she should have any time with Zach on night one because she already was safe with a rose. However, Brianna explained that what people did not understand was that, while she was safe, "this was also my first opportunity to really get to know Zach as well. Outside of what you all saw on TV, Zach and I didn’t really get a chance to speak." Brianna shared that all night the other women made comments saying she didn't need to talk to Zach because she was safe. They also questioned why she wore that dress because she could have worn sweatpants. The Bachelor contestant said that she was thinking, "No guys, I'm here for the same experience as you." However, Brianna added that there were so many girls who were sweet, such as Zach's first impression rose recipient Greer Blitzer and Davia Bunch, who even told her that they voted for her.
Multiple Women Tried To Physically Stop Brianna From Talking To Zach
Brianna went on to say that some of the women went so far as to try to physically block her from talking to Zach. Brianna revealed, "I finally got to talk to him. It was like maybe 4:30 a.m., and literally people were physically trying to get in the way of me going in there." She said that she was waiting for Zach's conversation "to have a little lull, and people were like you better not go in there...You already have a rose." Brianna added that she understood that the rose could have been a source of anxiety and stress for the other girls who did not have one, so she tried not to flaunt it, even though she had to walk around with it all night.
The Bachelor is a stressful environment in which people behave in ways that they might not under normal circumstances. However, the women should have realized that, although Brianna was safe, she did not have the chance to speak to Zach when she had met him earlier. Being America's First Impression Rose recipient was something that was beyond Brianna's control, and she was put in an awkward position from the very beginning. Although some of the women were not supportive of her, it is nice to hear that Greer and Davia tried to be a friend to her.
Just because Brianna received a rose from America was no guarantee that Zach would want to give her one the following week. She deserved the chance to get to know him on the first night as much as anyone else because her safety only lasted that one night. Brianna was thoughtful with her rose, and made sure not to make the other women feel uncomfortable with it, something that a different type of woman might have flaunted or bragged about. It will be interesting to see how far Brianna makes it on The Bachelor, and if she and Zach can continue to keep the spark alive that America saw between them.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: Bachelor Happy Hour/podcast, Brianna Thorbourne/Instagram