A UNC student is cast on the upcoming season of ‘The Bachelorette’ on ABC
The summer of love is here and “The Bachelorette” is bringing the heat. The popular dating show is returning for its 20th season on June 26 with Charity Lawson, a child and family therapist, as their resident bachelorette.
The show has assembled 25 suitors from all over the nation to vie for a rose and fall in love with Lawson. One eligible suitor is bringing brains and a hint of North Carolina charm — his name is Xavier Bonner.
Who is Xavier Bonner?
Bonner, 27, is from Carrboro.
He is a Ph.D candidate in the Biomedical and Biophysics Department at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is performing HIV research, where he’s “better understanding the genotypic and phenotypic determinants of macrophage tropism,” The Graduate School wrote.
He’s the co-founder of the Society of Black Biomedical Students, telling The Graduate School, “I want to build a bridge for Black students who want to be a consultant, venture capitalist, or pursue other opportunities that are inside the biotech sphere.”
Bonner has said building community is important to him. Through the Society of Black Biomedical Students, he’s hosted game nights, career panels and other bonding activities across NC universities.
“We tried to create a space for other Black graduate students in my program at UNC-Chapel Hill and beyond,” he said, “including at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and at North Carolina Central University.”
He received his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, his LinkedIn says.
Xavier Bonner’s ideal date (and other fun facts)
Here’s what ABC tells us of Bonner:
He’s 6 feet 6 inches tall. (ABC calls him “one tall glass of water.”)
He enjoys knitting.
He’s built his own computer for playing video games.
His ideal first date is skydiving.
(Source: abc.com/shows/the-bachelorette)
When does ‘The Bachelorette’ air?
“The Bachelorette” airs weekly on Monday nights at 9 on ABC. The premiere is Monday, June 26, at 9 p.m.
Other NC ‘Bachelor’ connections
We’ve had our decent share of North Carolina contestants on “The Bachelor” and its spinoffs.
▪ Graham Bunn of Raleigh was on Season 4 of “The Bachelorette” (the Deanna Pappas season) in 2008, and then went on to participate on “Bachelor” spinoffs “Bachelor Pad” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” Bunn played basketball at Appalachian State and then played professionally in Europe.
▪ Emily Maynard of Charlotte was on “The Bachelor” in 2010. Maynard, 24 at the time, was known in part for being a single mom whose daughter’s father was late NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick. She was engaged to Hendrick at the time of his death in 2004. Maynard was picked that season, and got engaged to Brad Womack, but it didn’t last. The following year, Maynard was cast as the lead for “The Bachelorette,” which filmed in Charlotte so that Maynard could stay close to her daughter. She got engaged at the end of that season, but that relationship also did not last. She has since married (to someone outside the “Bachelor” universe) and published a book.
▪ Jenna Cooper of Raleigh was a fan favorite on Season 22 (The Arie Season) of “The Bachelor.” She was eliminated during the season’s sixth episode, which took place in Paris. That summer, Cooper appeared in the “Bachelor” spinoff show, “Bachelor in Paradise,” which places former “Bachelor” cast members at a beach resort for another chance to find love. Cooper found love back home in Raleigh, and the couple recently welcomed a baby daughter.
▪ Caelynn Miller-Keyes is a former Miss North Carolina USA (and a Miss USA runner-up) who was on Season 23 of “The Bachelor” (aka The Colton Season). Miller-Keyes was known for her clashes with former Miss Alabama USA Hannah Brown, who went on to become “The Bachelorette” the next season. Miller-Keyes appeared on “Bachelor in Paradise,” and is still dating Dean Unglert, whom she met on the show.
▪ Tyler Cameron, a former backup quarterback at Wake Forest University, was on the Hannah Brown season of “The Bachelorette.” He was in the “Top 2” at the end of Hannah’s season but was not her pick. After that season, he went on to date Gigi Hadid.
▪ Matt James, a Raleigh native and Sanderson High grad who played football at Wake Forest University (and is pal of Tyler Cameron), was ABC’s first Black star of “The Bachelor.” At the end of his season he picked Rachael Kirkconnell, a Georgia woman who was criticized for racist posts on Instagram. By the time the show’s finale aired, the two had broken up and James would barely speak to her on air. But a month later, the pair reunited. James went on to compete (briefly) on “Dancing with the Stars.”
The News & Observer’s Brooke Cain contributed to this report.
