Move over, Peter Weber, it’s Clare Crawley‘s turn to steal the Bachelor Nation spotlight.
On Monday, the Sacramento hairstylist was named the 16th “Bachelorette” in franchise history — the oldest at 38 — with fans applauding ABC for their decision to cast an older leading lady after criticism over Weber’s relatively young pool of candidates on “The Bachelor,” as the oldest was 31.
“I do think a lot of it had to do with the backlash they took this season from having so many young, catty women,” TV writer “Reality Steve” Carbone told Page Six on Monday when asked about Crawley’s casting. “I know they’ve always liked Clare, she’s been on four times already.”
Crawley first appeared on “The Bachelor” in 2014 at the age of 32, vying for the heart of former soccer star Juan Pablo Galavis. While their split was far from amicable, Crawley gave love a second and third shot with back-to-back appearances on “Bachelor in Paradise.” In 2018, she starred in “The Bachelor Winter Games,” accepting a proposal from Canadian Benoit Beauséjour-Savard. They called it quits in April of that year.
Given her experiences, Crawley believes her age will be an asset as her “Bachelorette” journey begins.
“A lot of people put it out there as this negative thing, but for me, it just is more years under my belt, more learning and knowing what I want, what I don’t want and what I won’t settle for,” she said Monday on “Good Morning America.”
Despite ABC’s surprise announcement with Crawley, Carbone doesn’t anticipate a “35-year-old ‘Bachelorette’ every season here on out.”
“They’re certainly changing things up. I don’t think this is going to become the norm for ‘The Bachelorette,’” he said.
As for Crawley’s suitors, while one 25-year-old prospect has already announced his departure from the show — which Carbone reported Monday — he believes some twenty-somethings could pop up, in addition to a few from the over-40 set.
“I think they might have one, if not a couple. I wouldn’t be surprised,” Carbone said of casting a 40-year-old.
He also noted, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they do throw some mid-20-year-olds in there, maybe to have built-in drama for the cast, and kinda have an older guy vs. a younger guy in the house clashing. I don’t think they’ll cast thirty 30-year-olds or older.”
For Crawley though, age is just a number.
“I have been known to date younger guys, so that’s not a problem for me,” she said on “GMA.” “The thing is I’m wondering if they’re ready for me, for my age. I feel like that would be more of an issue, than me with them, because I feel so much younger at heart than my actual age.”
“The Bachelorette” premieres Monday, May 18, on ABC.