Bachelor in Paradise: 6 former leads we want to see on the beach

BACHELOR IN PARADISE - “702” – Knock, knock, Demi’s here! With a rose ceremony on the horizon and the men poised to hand out their stems, the ladies are feeling the pressure to find a potential match. Guest host David Spade continues to bring the funny, but even he can’t quell the tension when the one and only Demi Burnett arrives, setting her sights on one of the beach’s most popular men. Later, more couples are given their first dates, where important conversations lead to strengthened connections. Then, with a cocktail party looming, the competition heats up and a shocking rumor forces one beachgoer to face the others – and the truth – on “Bachelor in Paradise,” MONDAY, AUG. 23 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)BACHELOR IN PARADISE
BACHELOR IN PARADISE - “702” – Knock, knock, Demi’s here! With a rose ceremony on the horizon and the men poised to hand out their stems, the ladies are feeling the pressure to find a potential match. Guest host David Spade continues to bring the funny, but even he can’t quell the tension when the one and only Demi Burnett arrives, setting her sights on one of the beach’s most popular men. Later, more couples are given their first dates, where important conversations lead to strengthened connections. Then, with a cocktail party looming, the competition heats up and a shocking rumor forces one beachgoer to face the others – and the truth – on “Bachelor in Paradise,” MONDAY, AUG. 23 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)BACHELOR IN PARADISE /
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This week on Bachelor in Paradise Season 7, Becca Kufrin made history as the first former Bachelorette to join the cast. She got engaged to Garrett Yrigoyen on The Bachelorette Season 14 in 2018, but the pair split last year. Now, it looks like Becca’s ready for a hot girl summer in Sayulita, Mexico.

Becca has now gone where no Bachelor or Bachelorette has gone before. Once, it might’ve been viewed as a downgrade to go from being the star of The Bachelor/ette to joining the somewhat trashier Bachelor in Paradise…But in my opinion, more prior leads should take this leap.

For one thing, Bachelor in Paradise doesn’t seem to emotionally break its cast as much as the main shows do. You basically get paid to guzzle margaritas at a resort for several weeks–and maybe find true love. Bachelor in Paradise has produced a few lasting matches, from Tanner and Jade Tolbert to Kevin Wendt and Astrid Loch.

Former Bachelors and Bachelorettes could hold a lot of power on the beach. After all, they’re attractive enough to have had 20-30 contestants vying for their hearts. People who are there for the “wrong reasons” (AKA everyone) will also be drawn to their clout and high Instagram followings, stoking even more competition. Not to mention the sparks that could fly when Paradise is full of their exes…

Hopefully, more previous leads will follow in Becca’s footsteps. Here are some I’d love to see on Bachelor in Paradise one day.

(Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) /

Peter Weber

Pilot Pete’s season was a beautiful disaster from start to finish, and I need that energy in Paradise.

He got engaged to Hannah Ann Sluss, dumped her, dated runner-up Madi Prewett for like two days, and then had an on-and-off relationship with his fifth-place finisher, Kelley Flanagan. Just imagine the chaos his indecisiveness could bring to that beach. I can already see him giving one girl a rose, taking it back, and chasing down an SUV to give it to someone else.

My dream Bachelor in Paradise cast includes Peter, Hannah Ann, Madi, and Kelley for sure–oh, and Peter’s other ex…

(Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images) /

Hannah Brown

Yep, Peter first fell for Alabama Hannah on The Bachelorette Season 15.

Hannah is currently dating a model, so her days of finding love on TV might be over. But if she’s ever single, she’d be perfect for Bachelor in Paradise because she, like Peter, is the very definition of “messy.” She’s also the most-followed Bachelorette on Instagram, even two years after her season, so you know she’d bring in the viewers.

Bonus points if Jed Wyatt and Tyler Cameron head to Bachelor in Paradise, too.

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) /

Matt James

I know, the star of The Bachelor Season 25 is still with Rachael Kirkconnell…but if things don’t work out, can Matt get another chance? He had a pretty grueling term as the Bachelor, and Bachelor in Paradise might be more fun.

Plus, based on Matt’s “charchutary” boards, the man actually has a personality that was edited out of existence on The Bachelor. I would love to see him goofing off and being his true self in Sayulita.

(Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) /

Juan Pablo Galavis

Bachelor in Paradise would never allow this, but wouldn’t it be wild? This Venezuelan soccer player is considered one of the worst Bachelors of all time, but he’s definitely memorable. He never misses a chance to be petty on Twitter and absolutely does not care to play by ABC’s rules. Sounds like the perfect recipe for anarchy.

(Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Pencils of Promise)
(Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Pencils of Promise) /

Andi Dorfman

Andi’s exit from Juan Pablo’s season was pretty iconic, as was her turn on The Bachelorette Season 10. Unfortunately, she’d later call her engagement to Josh Murray “the most volatile and f*cked up relationship of my life.”

Today, Andi is one of the few Bachelorettes not in a serious relationship (that we know of). She seems to be living her best life as a single woman, but I’m sure she’d be a hot commodity on Bachelor in Paradise.

Bonus points if her ex, Nick Viall, shows up for the fifth time (though an Andi reunion is the only circumstance in which I would accept seeing Nick again).

(ABC/BOB D’AMICO)
(ABC/BOB D’AMICO) /

Alex Michel

That’s right–I want the world’s first Bachelor to hit the sand.

Will this ever happen? No way. Alex hasn’t appeared on our screens since The Bachelor Season 1 in 2002. He even ghosted ABC when they reached out to him about The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever last summer, so Alex would probably rather go into hiding than set a toe on that beach.

Still…as far as we know, the original Bachelor is still a bachelor. Seeing him return after twenty years of silence would be like having things come full circle, and I, personally, want him to lay his eyes upon the hot mess of a franchise he helped create. If anyone needs to witness this wasteland of desperate Instagram influencers, drunken crying, and debauchery, it’s Alex Michel. And you know what, maybe some of these women need to meet a mature guy whose only social media presence is on LinkedIn.

Bachelor in Paradise: Who’s next?

None of these people are likely to join the cast any time soon, but a girl can dream. Now that Becca Kufrin has broken the barrier, more past and future leads might consider giving Bachelor in Paradise a try.

Next. Who went home on Bachelor in Paradise this week? (Season 7, episode 5). dark

Which former Bachelors and Bachelorettes would you like to see on Paradise? Let us know in the comments!

Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 airs every Monday and Tuesday night at 8 PM EST on ABC.