Among the Bachelor Nation fandom, it’s never too early to start speculating about Bachelor in Paradise. It may seem far off, but ABC plans on filming BIP this summer, and fans have already started playing matchmaker. Lately, Bachelor Nation has been highlighting the former contestants that they think could have a shot at love, and the pairings hold promise.
Because of COVID-19, Bachelor in Paradise season 7 wasn’t produced last summer, so fans have been waiting for a new season for almost two years. The bulk of the Bachelor in Paradise cast is culled from the most recent seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and since there was no season last year, there’s a hefty backlog of contestants to choose from. None of the castmates from Peter Weber’s, Clare Crawley/Tayshia Adams’, or Matt James’ seasons have appeared on Bachelor in Paradise, and fans are eager to see sparks fly between their favorite cast members. These are the couples that social media is buzzing about.
Kit Keenan and Bennett Jordan
At first glance, this seems like a strange pairing, as Kit from Matt’s season and Bennett from Tayshia’s season have a whopping 15-year age difference between them. But they have more in common than you’d think. Both of them live in New York City, so the convenience factor is there. As the daughter of celebrity designer Cynthia Rowley, Kit’s life and experiences would match well with the high-rolling Bennett. Kit and Bennett would be an interesting couple, but they would have to make some compromises, as 21-year-old Kit wants to wait to get married and have kids, and 36-year-old Bennett may be looking to move a little faster.
Pieper James and Jordan Chapman
Pieper and Jordan are two Bachelor alums that fans want to see more of. Jordan didn’t get much screen time when he was on Tayshia’s season, but Pieper was eliminated by Matt right before hometown dates. The two contestants are close in age and seem to share a laid back attitude and genuine motives. However, Pieper has received some blowback from her "mean girl" reaction to Heather Martin’s attempt to join Matt’s cast. If she were to start a relationship with low-key Jordan, it could help restore her nice girl image.
Kelsey Weier and Blake Horstmann
Kelsey and Blake would be an interesting pair, as Kelsey from Peter’s season has never been on Bachelor in Paradise. But Blake has. In season 6, he gained a reputation as a player after being involved with multiple castmates, but it’s been a couple years and he may be ready for something serious. Last year, Blake mentioned having a new girlfriend, but if his social media activity is any indication, he’s as single as ever. The couple would be age-appropriate and fans think Kelsey could be a good influence on Blake.
Bri Springs and Brendan Morais
This couple is more of a long shot, as Tayshia’s former contestant Brendan says he won’t return to the Bachelor franchise, so he’s unlikely to make an appearance on Bachelor in Paradise. Regardless, Bachelor Nation thinks Brendan would be in high demand on the beach, and Bri is one woman that fans believe could steal his heart. Bri is still on Matt’s season, but fans think she and Brendan would get along famously. The only hitch is that Bri may decide to focus on her career instead of going on Paradise. She recently told Matt that she left her dream job to come on his season, so she could end up being a one-and-done in Bachelor Nation just like Brendan.
Abigail Heringer and Brendan Morais
Many fans want Abigail to be the next Bachelorette, but they also consider her a contestant that Brendan would take a shine to if he were to go on Bachelor in Paradise. The couple would encounter some roadblocks if they started a relationship—Abigail and Brendan have a six-year age gap and live on opposite sides of the country. But Tayshia lived in California while Brendan lives in Massachusetts, and he never brought that up as an issue. Abigail and Brendan have both faced significant hardships in their lives and would therefore have a lot to bond over.
Abigail Heringer and Mike Johnson
Fans think Abigail would do well on Bachelor in Paradise and Mike Johnson from Hannah’s season is someone they believe she could really fall for. Mike was on Bachelor in Paradise season 6, and though fans were disappointed that Mike was not chosen to be the Bachelor, they’re still eager to see him find his happy ending. This is a pairing that might actually happen, as Mike recently tweeted at Abigail after her elimination that he wants to help her find her “forever.” If Abigail decides to flirt back, this couple could find love well before Paradise.
Becca Kufrin and Riley Christian
Last year, Becca split up with fiancé Garrett Yrigoyen, and though the former Bachelorette has not shown any interest in going on Bachelor in Paradise, fans think Riley could be the perfect rebound man. Becca and Garrett broke up, in part, because of their significant political and social differences, but Riley seems to be more like-minded. Riley has spoken about the importance for the Bachelor franchise to continue making strides in diversity, which is something Becca is passionate about as well. Fans believe their similar mindsets could be the start of a more successful relationship than what Becca had with Garrett.
While many of fans’ fantasy couples are longshots, it’s still fun think about as a way to build excitement for Bachelor in Paradise season 7. But this summer, there should be no shortage of excitement because Bachelor Nation has been chomping at the bit to see love blossom on the beach. And who knows, maybe the cast will follow fans’ advice and find their perfect match?