Maria Georgas on Why She Passed on ‘Bachelorette’ Role: “It Was Mine Until I Said It Wasn’t”

Carly Thomas

2 May 2024 at 0:31 am·2-min read

Maria Georgas revealed that she was nearly the next Bachelorette on ABC’s hit dating show.

The Bachelor alum, who came in fourth place on Joey Graziadei’s season earlier this year, opened up on a new episode of Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast about her decision not to become the next leading lady.

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“It was mine until I said it wasn’t,” Georgas explained. “It became very overwhelming to the point where I had to decline.”

Georgas said although many people around her were being “so supportive,” she still didn’t feel completely happy about the idea of leading the next season of The Bachelorette.

“Why am I not excited about this?” she asked herself. “It took me realizing that it’s not my time where I was like, ‘Guys, respectfully, I need to decline. I need to take a step back. I was not in the right headspace for this.'”

Georgas added that she “didn’t wanna waste anyone’s time,” knowing the “extensive process” contestants go through to get on the show.

In March, at the season 28 After the Final Rose live finale, Jenn Tran was announced as the season 21 Bachelorette lead, making her the first Asian American lead in the franchise’s history.

Georgas called Tran “the most perfect bachelorette,” and that she “couldn’t think of anyone better to do this.”

“She was so ready for it, and that was enough for me to say, yeah, it’s not my time,” she added.

Throughout Graziadei’s season, Georgas quickly became a fan favorite. And although she didn’t win the tennis pro’s heart — he ultimately proposed to Kelsey Anderson during the finale — many Bachelor Nation members were hoping Georgas would be the next one handing out roses.

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