Potential Contestant Claims She Was Ghosted By ‘The Bachelor’ Because Of Her Size
Everyone wants their fairy-tale ending, and while some of us try blind dates or dating apps, other people search for love on our television screens.
One woman on TikTok is now sharing her experience of being interviewed to be a contestant on The Bachelor, but she has a theory for why she was then ghosted by the casting producers.
Reality Dating Shows
Whether you secretly dream of being a contestant or you enjoy watching the ensuing drama from the comfort of home, reality dating shows are a guilty pleasure for many.
And perhaps the most popular of these shows is The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise.
Little Miss Perfect
But as popular as these shows are, it seems that when it comes to the men and women who are cast, they have a very specific physical look.
While the ages and careers of the contestants vary, the men and women are typically tall, skinny, and beautiful. After all, they do go through a casting process and not just anyone gets the call to be on the show.
The TikTok
Caroline Cronin, also known as @carolcro0 on TikTok, describes herself as a former actor who now "just [wants] to own a bunch of goats."
She recently went viral for a TikTok she shared in which she detailed her experience with being nearly cast for a season of The Bachelor. The video has received nearly 600,000 views.
The Casting Process
The TikTok begins with a social media post shared by Caroline months earlier of her looking at the camera completely shocked.
The caption on the video reads, "when you get a DM from Bachelor casting producers but you're a size 6-8."
A Step In The Right Direction
Fast-forward to the present and Caroline sheds light on what happened next.
She says that when she was first approached by a casting producer via Instagram, she was ecstatic because "stuff like this never happens to me." Caroline also explains that she saw this move as a step in the right direction toward body inclusivity.
Defying Beauty Standards
"I also kind of thought that this was a good thing because I'm not the typical beauty standard, I think, for what the show normally presents," Caroline says.
In her opinion, The Bachelor has made progress toward diversity but she believes the body types of these contestants are standard.
Will You Accept This Rose/Zoom Interview?
Caroline says that what she presents on Instagram is authentic, explaining that she doesn't "lie" on her Instagram photos by using filters or body modification software.
So when she received a DM to chat with a producer, she took it as a positive sign and immediately said yes. Soon after, an interview over Zoom was scheduled.
The Zoom Interview
She was later interviewed over Zoom and told a casting producer about herself, including her dating history and where she's at in her life. But, she admits "I could be very boring."
But her interview with The Bachelor wasn't over just quite yet, as she soon learned.
A Body Check
For the final part of the interview, Caroline then had to stand up in front of her computer so the casting producer could examine her body.
"The guy looked at my body and then said, 'Great, everything sounds great, we'll get back to you very soon.' And they ghosted me, like all the other men in my life."
Disappointment
Caroline says that while she's not heartbroken about being ghosted by The Bachelor, she is disappointed as it would've been a cool experience. Deep down, she believes the reason she was ghosted was because of her weight.
"I just feel like we need to get a gang of people together to promote or work towards better body representation in an industry like reality TV," she says.
"Caroline For Bachelorette"
"Because part of the reason why I was so excited was I was like, 'Well no one has ever looked like me on television,' and I'm normal! I'm an average size, I'm just not a size zero, two, or even a four," Caroline says.
She then adds, "So Caroline for Bachelorette! That's what I'm putting out into the universe."
Single And Still Ready To Mingle
But Caroline has a message for any single men who might be watching her viral TikTok.
She adds, "But also if you want to get married, I am a very cool person...and I'm sick of dating and don't want to do it anymore at 30."
Dating Show Theories
In response to a user comment, Caroline offers her theory for reality dating shows in a follow-up TikTok.
In her opinion, if these types of reality dating TV shows started casting a mix of skinny, average, and plus-size contestants, casting producers then run the risk of "showing how shallow the leads and the other contestants really are."
Additional Theories
Whereas if skinny, attractive, and "hot" people are always cast on reality dating shows, there's no risk of the contestants being seen as shallow due to not being attracted to someone who's plus-size.
In a second follow-up TikTok, Caroline says that she's "happy" and overwhelmed by the support from people, but there are a few things she wants to clarify.
Setting The Record Straight
Firstly, Caroline says she's not angry or upset that she wasn't cast on the show because—coming from the theater industry—she knows firsthand how common and "standard" the practice of ghosting is.
Caroline simply believes it would have been an interesting opportunity to pursue.
Creating A Discussion
Secondly, Caroline defended the casting producer who interviewed her, saying that he was a lovely man who ultimately was "just doing his job."
Her decision to post the TikTok stemmed not from malicious intent, but from wanting to create a discussion about the television world better reflecting what the real world actually looks like in regard to body diversity.
Time For A Change Of Scenery
The Bachelor has not responded to Caroline's allegations, but after 26 seasons, she believes it's finally time they make some positive changes, calling it a needed "change of scenery."
"I am speculating that my size had something to do with it," she says.
A Final Message
Before ending her TikTok series on her The Bachelor casting experience, Caroline has one final criticism.
"But between standing up and showing my body and being asked about my weight on the application, plus things like Chris Harrison saying in the past that 'chubby isn't attractive'...it just speaks volumes," she says.
