The three remaining women on The Bachelor season 26 are all incredible, and Clayton Echard would be lucky if any one of them accepted his final rose, but Susie Evans would be the best choice for him. Susie, a 28-year-old wedding videographer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, captured 28-year-old Clayton’s attention on the first night when she shocked his hand with a buzzer during their handshake, jokingly asking him if he felt the electricity between them. He obviously did because he chose her for the first one-on-one date of the season during which they rode in a helicopter to a yacht and jumped into the water to swim. They ended the night with dinner and a private concert from Amanda Jordan.
While in Hvar, Croatia, Susie did not receive a one-on-one date with Clayton, but she surprised him by slipping an unsigned note under his door that read, "Meet me at the clocktower" for an unscheduled date. When Clayton arrived to meet his mystery woman, he was delighted to find Susie waiting for him. They climbed the clocktower together, and Susie revealed that she was falling in love with Clayton. He was thrilled and said in his confessional that this might have been the happiest he had been on his journey, and that he could see himself falling in love with Susie too.
Clayton chose Susie for a second one-on-one date when the group traveled to Vienna, Austria later in the season. This was the "Pretty Woman" date during which Susie and Clayton rode in a vintage car to downtown Vienna where they shopped at Fisher's clothing store and Austrian designer Eva Poleschinski’s private showroom. Susie said at the time that it was "one of the most incredible experiences" of her life. For the evening portion of the date, Clayton sent Susie a red gown to wear for their dinner at Schönbrunn Palace. Clayton gave her the rose, and they danced to "The Lady in Red" during a private performance by Chris de Burgh. Susie’s hometown date, during which she shared her love of jiu jitsu and introduced Clayton to her family and her best friend, was also a success, and brought the couple even closer together. Susie is the right choice for Clayton for many reasons.
Susie’s Bubbly Personality & Kindness
One of the most refreshing things about Susie was how she avoided the drama with the other women in the house, and focused on her relationship with Clayton. Fans loved her bubbly personality and beautiful smile, and appreciated how kind she was compared to the villains of the season. She did not waste her time with Clayton discussing all of the problems in the house, but instead had fun and built a strong relationship with him. In a scene from her Vienna shopping date, Susie and Clayton dressed in traditional Austrian costumes and danced together. Susie’s laughter and willingness to participate showed that she is more concerned with being happy and finding the good in people and situations.
Before she appeared on The Bachelor, Susie lived in Japan for two years where she worked at Tokyo Disneyland. She performed as various Disney princesses such as Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, and Snow White, greeting guests and appearing in parades and shows. The photographs on her Instagram page illustrate the kindness and warmth that Susie exuded as she brought smiles to everyone she met, especially the children. On the show, Susie is polite and graciously thanks all of the workers who help her. Susie is the type of woman who would make a lovely wife for Clayton and a loving mother to his children.
Susie’s Devotion
Susie is especially close with her parents and told Clayton that they are "truly my best friends." Susie shared with Clayton that, in 2020, her father became very ill. During her hometown date, her father recounted how Susie had slept at his bedside when he was especially sick one night. Susie is a devoted daughter who has a strong relationship with her parents. In an Instagram post, Susie described them as her "two favorite people" and wrote that she is "forever grateful for the love and example my parents have given me."
Susie is also a loyal friend. She was so loved by the other women on The Bachelor season 26, even though they were all vying for the attention of the same man. In an Instagram post after the group therapy date, Susie wrote about how the date opened up conversations that changed the way that she saw her fellow contestants, and she called them "beautiful humans." She recognized that all of the women have stories and said that "it would be a disservice for the world not to get to hear them." Susie was able to put the competition aside to acknowledge the greatness of the other women, something with which many of the others struggled throughout the season. Susie has also proven herself to be a faithful partner for Clayton because she did not give up on him, even when the process became difficult.
Susie’s Intentions
Susie is a strong, independent woman who came to the show with good intentions. Unlike other contestants who sometimes join the show to travel the world and gain social media followers rather than find love, Susie has proven that she is on the show for the right reasons. She has lived a full life, moving to Japan on her own and experiencing living in a different culture. She does not need The Bachelor to expand her horizons.
Susie’s Goals
Clayton has repeatedly expressed how much he wants to be married and have children. Susie has the same goals. She has explained that her parents have been married for 35 years and that she is looking for the same type of relationship. She was in awe of the way her mother stood by her father when he was in the ICU with organ failure. Both Clayton and Susie are searching for a forever love.
Susie is the best choice to be Clayton’s wife. Although Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey are wonderful women, Susie stands out because of her beautiful personality and genuine kindness. Susie and Clayton have similar goals for the future, and Clayton would be a lucky man if Susie accepted his final rose and they got engaged.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: Susie Evans/Instagram