Wisconsin ranks among the top 5 states with most fans of ‘The Bachelor,’ study says
The new season of “The Bachelor” premiered this week — and it’s a safe bet that many Wisconsinites tuned in. Wisconsin made the top five for states with the highest number of the show’s fans, according to a new study.
ExpressVPNanalyzed the past 12 seasons of the show and found stats, like where it’s the most popular, the top profession of contestants, the underrepresentation of minorities and more.
According to the study, the most invested fans tend to live in the middle of the United States and in less populated states.
Wisconsin was ranked No. 4 for largest fanbase behind Minnesota, Utah and Iowa, a news release said. Nebraska came in fifth. This was measured by the volume of Google searches related to “The Bachelor” over the past 12 years relative to population size, the study explained.
And the state’s fandom isn’t all that surprising, considering its connections to the show.
Nick Viall, who went to Waukesha North High School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was Season 21’s “Bachelor.”
But before that, he appeared on Andi Dorfman and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s seasons of “The Bachelorette.” In both, he was sent home as the runner-up during the series finale.
During his first appearance on the show, Viall took Dorfman on a hometown date in Milwaukee, where they visited Lakefront Brewery and the Milwaukee Public Market. Viall introduced her to his family in Waukesha.
Viall also appeared on the ABC spinoff “Bachelor in Paradise.”
Rachel Lindsay, a Marquette University Law School graduate, finished third on Viall’s season of “The Bachelor.”
In 2017, she became the franchise’s first Black “Bachelorette.” She later married the winner of her season, Bryan Abasolo.
She also made an appearance as a judge on “The Bachelor Winter Games.”
“The Bachelor” of Season 22 was Arie Luyendyk Jr., who spent time living in Brookfield as a child. His father, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk Sr., had his base of operations there from 1984 to 1990.
Luyendyk, an auto racer turned real estate agent, had been the runner-up on “The Bachelorette” in 2012. He ended up marrying the runner-up of his “Bachelor” season, Lauren Burnham.
Annie Reardon, who was eliminated in week two of Season 23 of “The Bachelor,” grew up in Mequon and graduated from the University School of Milwaukee.
Contestants with Wisconsin ties have also represented on “The Bachelorette.”
Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers quarterbackAaron Rodgers, won Season 12 of
“The Bachelorette” with JoJo Fletcher.
Darius Feaster, who graduated from Homestead High School in Mequon and played football at the University of Wisconsin, was cut on the first night of Season 14 of “The Bachelorette.”
Season 26 of “The Bachelor” featuring Clayton Echard premieres at 7 p.m. CT Monday on ABC.