The season concluded on March 13, 2017, with Viall choosing to propose to 29-year-old special education teacher Vanessa Grimaldi. They ended their engagement on August 25, 2017.
Rachel Lindsay was chosen as the lead of the thirteenth season of The Bachelorette while this season of the show was still airing, becoming the first African American lead in the franchise's history. Raven Gates, Alexis Waters, Kristina Schulman, Astrid Loch, Whitney Fransway, Jasmine Goode and Corinne Olympios made several appearances as well.[44]
Raven Gates, Corinne Olympios, Taylor Nolan, Alexis Waters, Lacey Mark, Kristina Schulman, Danielle Maltby, Danielle Lombard, Christen Whitney, Sarah Vendal, Dominique Alexis, Jaimi King, and Jasmine Goode, returned for season 4 of Bachelor in Paradise.[45] Olympios quit in week 1 after the production shutdown. Mark had originally quit during week 1 but returned following the shutdown. Maltby quit in week 2, and Schulman in week 3. Waters and Vendal were eliminated in week 2, and King in week 4. In week 4, Lombard split from Dean Unglert, Whitney split from Jack Stone, Alexis split from Diggy Moreland, and Goode split from Jonathan Treece. Gates, Nolan, and Mark all left Paradise in relationships with Adam Gottschalk, Derek Peth, and Daniel Maguire, respectively. It was announced on the reunion show, however, that Mark and Maguire had ended their relationship. Gottschalk and Gates were still together, while Peth and Nolan became engaged.
Whitney, Astrid Loch and Angela Amezcua returned for season 5 of Bachelor in Paradise. Amezcua and Whitney were eliminated in week 4. Loch split from Kevin Wendt in week six. It was announced on the reunion show, however, that they had rekindled their relationship after leaving Paradise.
Amezcua and Schulman returned for season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise, along with Whitney Fransway. Schulman and Fransway quit in week 5. Amezcua split from Chase McNary in week 6.
Season 21 begins with Nick meets with former Bachelors Sean Lowe, Chris Soules and Ben Higgins at the mansion, to get advice on finding love. Later that night, his journey begins as thirty single ladies have arrived, with many of them familiar with Nick and his charms. Christen arrives with a hand fan; Lauren jokes with Nick; Michelle drives on an ice cream truck; Olivia wears a fur coat; Jasmine G. takes a present surprise that she has brought Neil Lane holding a present to Nick; Astrid and Vanessa attempt to charm Nick by speaking in German and French, respectively; Danielle M. presents a maple syrup where her dad works in the factory; Raven demonstrates a "pig sooie" cheer; Josephine holds a book with an uncooked hotdog; Lacey rides on a camel; Alexis arrives wearing what she thinks is a dolphin costume but is really a shark costume, which the other girls find amusing. Nick gives the first impression rose to Rachel. At the rose ceremony, Angela, Briana, Ida Marie, Jasmine B., Lauren, Michelle, Olivia, and Susannah are eliminated from the competition.
Nick chooses twelve women for the first group date at Ascona Mansion where they take wedding photos for different themed weddings with photographer Franco Lacosta. Corinne, chosen for the beach wedding, strips her top off in a pool and ends up winning the opportunity to take a wedding photo with Nick. She later receives the rose at the end of the date. Danielle M. gets the first one-on-one date of the season, and she and Nick take a helicopter ride to a houseboat near Newport Beach. They spend time in a hot tub and end up at dinner at Balboa Island. Nick decides to give her the date rose. Six women embark on the second group date where they act out a "breakup" scene at the Museum of Broken Relationships in Hollywood. Liz reveals the secret that she met Nick prior to this season and that they had slept together at a wedding. The ensuing dramatic interaction leads Nick to send her home. The episode ends with a cliffhanger.
At the cocktail party from the previous week, Corinne is seen wearing only a trench coat and holding a whip cream can. She ends up missing the rose ceremony because she oversleeps. In the end, Elizabeth, Hailey and Lacey are eliminated. Seven women begin the first group date of the week with the Backstreet Boys, who surprise them at the mansion. The women and Nick rehearse with them for their show that night. Danielle L. is chosen to be serenaded in a private moment with Nick and he ultimately gives her a rose. Vanessa gets to go on the one-on-one date, where she and Nick take a Zero G flight simulator inside the airplane. Despite getting motion sick and vomiting, she receives a rose. For the second the group date, seven women take part in a "Nickathalon" with Carl Lewis, Michelle Carter and Allyson Felix. Astrid wins the competition and, as a reward, gets to spend one-on-one time with Nick. Dominique feels depressed and Nick ultimately sends her home. Rachel gets the rose at the end of the date. At a pool party, at the mansion, Nick and Corinne play in a bouncy house and get intimate. The other women are not happy to see their obvious displays of affection and animosity toward Corinne grows.
After breaking their silence about Corinne, women prepare for the rose ceremony. Brittany and Christen are eliminated. The remaining fifteen women travel to Wisconsin. Nick has the opportunity to chat with his parents at home in Waukesha. Danielle L. has the first one-on-one and they take a stroll around Nick's hometown and even run into his ex. She receives the rose and they go to Pabst Theater where Chris Lane performs. Thirteen women are chosen for the group date where they get to work on a farm. Corinne resists the dirty nature of the work and does not embrace the activity, earning her the distaste of the other women. In the end, Kristina gets the date rose. Raven gets the second one-on-one date and meets Nick's youngest sister at her soccer game. Then they have a roller skating party. She receives the rose. At the cocktail party, Taylor and Corinne have an argument and Taylor accuses Corinne of rude behavior. The episode ends with a cliffhanger.
Concluding from the previous episode, Taylor and Corinne rage about their confrontation. At the rose ceremony, Astrid and Sarah are eliminated. The thirteen remaining women travel to New Orleans, Louisiana. Rachel gets the one-on-one date where she and Nick go sight-seeing in Downtown New Orleans. She dances with Nick into a parade of street dancers and they end up getting a private concert from Lolo. She gets the rose. Ten women go on this week's group date and travel to Houmas House Plantation where they encounter ghosts and hold a seance with a ouija board. Danielle M. gets the group date rose. Taylor and Corinne face off for a two-on-one date into the Bayou where they meet a group of voodoo worshipers and have a tarot card reading. Tensions grow between the two ladies, and Nick gives the rose to Corinne. Taylor is left stranded on the Bayou, but makes her way back to Nick and Corinne, and the episode ends with another cliffhanger.
Concluding from the previous episode, Taylor comes to see Nick, crashing his one-on-one time with Corinne. Taylor has a bitter conversation with Nick and finally leaves for good. At the rose ceremony, Alexis, Jaimi and Josephine are eliminated. The nine remaining ladies move on to Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Kristina gets the one-on-one date where she and Nick ride in a seaplane to abandoned ruins in Annaberg in nearby Saint John. She receives the rose after telling Nick her adoption story. The six ladies chosen for a group date play volleyball with Nick on a sandy white beach. After Jasmine G. sharply questions Nick about never having had a date of her own and becomes increasingly aggressive. Nick sends her home. Danielle L. and Whitney get the two-on-one date and take a helicopter ride to an uninhabited island at Botany Bay. Whitney is left stranded at the beach, with Nick and Danielle L. continuing their date at Fort Christian. In a drastic turn of events, Nick sends her home as well, then tearfully confesses to the rest of the women that he feels overwhelmed by the process.
Chris Harrison visits Nick and asks how he was doing. Nick replies that this might not be a good idea for him and that he might just call it quits. However, after a long conversation, Nick decides he is ready to continue on with the show. He visits the house and tells the women they are heading to Bimini in The Bahamas, to which they arrive barefoot. Vanessa gets the one-on-one date which involves diving off the yacht and ends on the abandoned SS Sapona ship nearby. Corinne, Kristina and Raven get the group date and ride on a speedboat to go snorkeling. Raven gets the rose and she and Nick attend a performance by Adam Friedman outside the villa. Danielle M. and Nick have a one-on-one date riding a bicycle to the downtown area where they hang out, go shopping and play basketball. Nick asks Danielle M's about her past relationships. After their conversation, Nick tells Danielle their chemistry is not there and sends her home. Corinne, realizing there are only five women left and four hometown visits coming, goes see Nick at his hotel room to have sex with him and secure her final four spot. However, after some fooling around, Nick decides it is not a good idea and sends her away devastated. Rachel receives a one-on-one date at a local bar. The date is relatively brief, but both parties seem to enjoy themselves. Later, Nick arrives at the hotel and asks to see Kristina. He tells her he doesn't feel like things are going to work out and shockingly sends her home, making her the only eliminated girl this season not eliminated either at a rose ceremony or on a date.
After Kristina's shocking elimination, the remaining ladies are preparing for the rose ceremony, when Nick comes to see them and gives them the roses that mean they are the final four and they get a hometown date. Raven's hometown date takes place in Hoxie, Arkansas, and she takes Nick to ride an ATV through a muddy field and they climb into a silo. However, a police car comes by to investigate, making Nick nervous, but it turns out to be Raven's brother. Then, she receives the good news that her father is cancer-free. The next is Rachel's hometown date in Dallas, Texas, where she and Nick attend a Black church. Nick talks about issues frequently faced by interracial couples. Corinne's hometown date takes place in Miami, Florida, and she takes Nick shopping before he meets her family and her nanny. The last stop is Vanessa's hometown date in Montreal, Quebec, and she takes Nick to the school where she works. She introduces Nick to her mother's side of the family and her siblings, and then separately to her father and his wife. In New York City, the ladies prepare for the upcoming rose ceremony, but a surprise visitor arrives at Nick's hotel room. It is revealed to be Andi Dorfman. The episode ends in cliffhanger.
After Andi comes into Nick's hotel room, she gives Nick some advice. Nick prepares for the rose ceremony, where he eliminates Corinne, who admits to not knowing anything. Nick and the three finalists travel to Lapland, Finland to start the fantasy suite dates. Nick takes Raven on a helicopter ride at Urho Kekkonen National Park to sightsee and observe the wildlife and then they play darts in an inn. She accepts the invitation to the fantasy suite.
After Raven accepts the fantasy suite invitation, she and Nick chat before she heads back to the hotel. Nick takes Rachel cross-country skiing and then they take a ride in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Nick and Vanessa spend their date plunging into an icy river and then running into a sauna. They also talk frankly in a hot tub. Both dates end with the women accepting the fantasy suite invitations. At the rose ceremony, Rachel is eliminated.
In the Women Tell All special, eighteen of the twenty-seven contestants return. Several of the contestants have spoken their lives. Liz takes the hot seat first and she speaks about her life after the show. Taylor and Corinne are next because of their controversial two-on-one date and Taylor apologizes to Corinne for her behavior. Kristina retells her adoption story. Nick comes on and answers questions from the ladies. Then, new Bachelorette Rachel makes a brief appearance and Nick congratulates her and wishes her luck.
Nick has the opportunity to introduce both Raven and Vanessa to his family at the lodge in Rovaniemi, Finland. Both women leave positive impressions and feel confident in their relationships with Nick. Vanessa's final date involves a horseback ride on a snowy road, after which she and Nick go to a cabin to meet with Santa Claus. Raven's final date is ice skating on a frozen lake, which brings back memories of her first one-on-one date back in Wisconsin. They conclude the night camping and enjoying a bonfire. Neil Lane comes to the lodge to see Nick, who is ready to make his decision. At the final rose ceremony, Nick tells Raven that their relationship cannot continue and so she is eliminated. When Vanessa arrives, Nick gets down on one knee, professes his love for her, and proposes. Vanessa accepts the proposal.
Nick sits down to discuss his experience during the final weeks of the show. Raven confesses that she did feel heartbroken to have her relationship with Nick end. Chris asks her to give love another shot on Bachelor in Paradise and she says she will. Vanessa sits down and explains that her relationship with Nick became open, stable and truly emotional. She plans to move to America and to establish a charity to support people with learning disabilities. New Bachelorette Rachel makes her second appearance, excited about being on her own journey and four guys come in to meet for the first time.
Post-show
Nick and Vanessa announced their breakup on August 25, 2017.
Vanessa married Josh Wolfe on August 20, 2021. Vanessa and Josh have one son together, Winston Franco (born September 29, 2022).
Notes
^Nick decided to cancel the cocktail party and the rose ceremony. The remaining contestants were given roses by default.
^In week 7, there was no traditional rose ceremony held. Nick gave the roses directly to the remaining ladies instead and told them that they are still in the competition.
^Raven mentioned that she did have the rose from the group date. The segment of the date when Nick gave the rose to her was unaired.
^Christen had the rose from the second group date. The segment of the date when Nick gave the rose to her was unaired.[46]
^Coyne, Amanda (December 7, 2016). "Greenville woman to compete on 'The Bachelor'". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2016.Additional January 8, 2016.
