Hannah Brown’s Evolution: From ‘Bachelor’ to ‘DWTS’ Champ and Beyond

During her Bachelor introductory package, which aired in January 2019, Brown raved about being able to “serve my great state” as Miss Alabama USA 2018. “It’s fun. I have my own autograph pads,” she told viewers. At the end of the video, she said she hoped Underwood would climb aboard the “Hot Mess Express — and I’m the conductor.”

Brown and Underwood’s first one-on-one date did not go as planned — especially when he asked her to make a toast. After an extended pause, she broke into laughter and admitted, “I can’t do this.” Colton’s response? “If Hannah can’t open up, I’m not gonna be giving her a rose at the end of the night,” he told viewers.

Brown spoke to Underwood about her past drama with fellow contestant and Miss USA 2018 competitor Caelynn Miller-Keyes midway through her stint on the reality series, telling him that they used to be friends but no longer were. That night, Underwood gave Miller-Keyes the group date rose. In the next episode, the two women finally agreed to put their differences aside.

Underwood took Brown to Colorado to meet his parents in a February 2019 episode. After a date at a local space museum, however, Underwood realized that he was not “quite there” with Brown and sent her home in tears.

Chris Harrison announced on The Bachelor: After the Final Rose in March 2019 that Brown would be the next Bachelorette. “I feel all the emotions. But honestly, I’m just really grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “My family has been really supportive of me and is really happy. They made me who I am and so they trust me and love me and ultimately want me to have love too.”

Season 15 kicked off with 33 suitors in May 2019. By that July, Brown narrowed it down to her final four: Luke Parker, Tyler Cameron, Peter Weber and Wyatt. The show continued to make headlines each week — even on days without new episodes.

Wyatt came under fire after his ex-girlfriend Haley Stevens came forward to publicly accuse him of leaving her to join the cast, an allegation that Weber also faced later on. Parker was at the center of controversy too, most infamously when he slut-shamed Brown for having sex with Weber. Their on-air argument during fantasy suites week ended with the Bachelorette sending Parker home.

During the season finale, Brown and Wyatt got engaged. However, she broke things off after his ex came forward with her story. While Brown was heartbroken — “I have sobbed on the floor. I felt like my whole life just caved in,” she told Harrison — she ultimately picked herself up.

“I have realized that I don’t need a husband. I want a husband, but I don’t need one,” she said. “And I’m really, really proud of the woman that I’ve become through all this, because I am hella strong!”

The emotional episode, which aired in July 2019, ended with Brown asking runner-up Cameron on a date. Their reunion was short-lived though, as he went on to have a two-month fling with fellow model Gigi Hadid.