Hannah Brown, lead of The Bachelorette season 15, took home the People's Choice Award for Competition Contestant of 2019. Brown won the category against two of her exes, Colton Underwood and Tyler Cameron, as well as a number of other well known reality television personalities, including Buddy Valastro, Kodi Lee, T-Pain, Tyler Oakley, and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.
Brown has been the definition of a competition contestant this year, competing not only on The Bachelor season 23, but also leading her own season of The Bachelorette, and finally competing on Dancing with the Stars season 28. While the filming schedule for all of these shows undoubtedly keeps her busy, the year has also been emotionally turbulent for the 25 year old former Miss Alabama USA. Brown's People's Choice Award win comes mere months after a broken engagement from dog food jingle writer Jed Wyatt, and Brown continues to be honest with fans about her ongoing struggle with perfectionism.
A video posted by E! captures Brown's notoriously awkward charm as she delivers her acceptance speech. Brown, who has come a long way in delivering monologues since her failed toast on Colton Underwood's season of The Bachelor, begins by saying "Well this is weird." She continues on to say the win "affirms that it's OK to be vulnerable and put your heart out there", a sentiment she's been repeating since she became the lead of The Bachelorette. The video features a closeup of Colton Underwood's serious gaze as Brown is accepting her award.
Brown thanks fans for supporting her through a "crazy, amazing year," and that it has been for the former pageant queen. After being sent home on Colton Underwood's season of The Bachelor, Brown got engaged to musician Jed Wyatt on her own season of The Bachelorette. After evidence came to light that Wyatt had a serious girlfriend throughout his time on the show, Brown ended the engagement. For a brief second, it seemed as though Brown might re-connect with runner-up Tyler Cameron, a fan favorite, but he ended up getting involved with supermodel Gigi Hadid. Brown has since become a top contender on Dancing with the Stars.
Fans may have noticed Hannah and Tyler seated with each other at last night's awards, giving Bachelor Nation major heart palpitations. Since Cameron's split from Hadid earlier this fall, fans have been invested in seeing Brown and Cameron rekindle their flame. They have been friendly over social media, and Cameron reached out to Brown on her birthday at the end of September, but so far neither have publicly indicated a possible romantic re-connection.
Fans and franchise alum have reached out to congratulate Brown on her much-deserved win. Ex-boyfriend and former contestant on Brown's season, Mike Johnson, commented on her Instagram post announcing her win by saying, "Congrats on all the greatness." Brown has proven herself to be a realistic, vulnerable, and strong role model for young women, standing up for her beliefs, and holding herself to a high standard of treatment from men. As one of the franchise's most popular bachelorettes, hopefully this win will inspire future leads to rise to Brown's levels of strength and grace, and perhaps even her shot-calling attitude. Brown wrapped up her acceptance speech saying, "Thank you for allowing me to be that girl from Alabama and to shine my light."
Source: E!