After a roller-coaster season filled with heartbreak, controversy and relentless speculation, “Bachelor” Joey Graziadei finally found his forever partner, getting down on one knee and proposing to Kelsey Anderson during Monday night’s dramatic finale.
The 28-year-old teaching tennis pro’s journey to find love reached its emotional climax on the beaches of Tulum, Mexico. But not before some serious gut-wrenching turmoil between Joey and his final two women – Anderson, a 25-year-old junior project manager from New Orleans, and Daisy Kent, a 25-year-old account executive from Minnesota.
Kent actually shared a vehicle ride with Anderson to the show-stopping final rose ceremony, realizing along the way that her connection with Joey had stalled. The fan-favorite sadly made the painful decision to confront Joey first and remove herself from contention.
“I do love you. But the thing is, you’re not going to choose me,” Daisy said through tears. “You’re not my person. And as much as that hurts, I know you said you want what’s best for me. So I’m going to do what’s best for me and I’m going to go.”
A distraught Joey praised Kent’s “incredible strength” before she walked away, head held high. “It hurts so much that I know I have something more special with someone else,” he told her.
That someone, of course, was Kelsey Anderson. With Kent’s heartbreaking exit confirming Joey’s inevitable decision, the bachelor didn’t bother faking any suspense. He got straight to professing his love for the statuesque beauty as she arrived in a feathery white gown.
“There’s nothing difficult about choosing you. And I can’t wait another minute to tell you that I love you,” Joey Graziadei proclaimed before dropping to one knee. “Kelsey Alexandra Anderson, will you marry me?”
Anderson joyfully accepted both Joey’s marriage proposal and the final rose, securing her status as the latest “Bachelor” winner destined to walk down the aisle.
While the finale provided the requisite reality tv drama fans craved, the newly engaged couple insisted their relationship is currently on solid ground, despite some initial post-filming struggles.
“We’re the strongest we’ve ever been,” Joey stated, detailing plans for Kelsey to join him in New York City over the summer as they begin their life together.
Of course, no “Bachelor” season would be complete without setting the stage for the next cycle of high-stakes rose chases. Host Jesse Palmer enlisted former “Bachelorette” Charity Lawson to reveal Jenn Tran as the record-breaking first Asian lead for 2024.
While Tran’s own trek for televised true love is still to come, Season 28 “Bachelor” Joey Graziadei can rest easy knowing his own journey reached its fairy tale ending with Kelsey by his side.
