Meet All ‘The Bachelor’ Contestants Competing For Matt James’ Heart In 2021

One of the most exciting parts about the early stages of The Bachelor is learning about the women—seeing who is and isn't aggressively grabbing time with the star and trying to suss out who will be a good fit for next season's lead. That, and how many dental hygienists and women named Lauren the casting agents can fit into one season.

Well, Matt James' season of The Bachelor has launched, and there are already so many women making their mark. But, hold onto your pants, because fans haven't even met them all: Host Chris Harrison previously boasted there will be a "record number of women" vying for Matt’s final rose during his "bigger" and "grander" season 25.

Apparently, a lot is happening this season—for both the women and Matt. "He is a different man than when he came to us, and he got really a crash course because he didn’t get the few steps of being on the show," Chris told Us Weekly in late November. "He really just ripped the Band-Aid off and sometimes that hurts a little bit. So, I think he had a bit of a rude awakening of the man he is, the way he loves [and] what love means to him. It really is an amazing journey you’re going to take with Matt, not just as the Bachelor but also as this man who realizes, 'Wow, okay, this is love and this is what it means and I’m really here to find this.'"

So far, there are a few women who look like strong early contenders. There's Abigail Heringer, the sweet 25-year-old client financial manager from Oregon who won the First Impression Rose. Also, Magi Tareke, the Ethiopian-born pharmacist who just seems like someone you'd want to be BFFs with. Don't forget Sarah Trott, the former broadcast journalist who left her job to become a caregiver for her dad, who has ALS.

But, for whatever reason, Matt didn't keep around pro ballerina Alicia Holloway, a move that shocked a lot of fans. There are also the women you just know Matt/the producers are keeping around for drama (lookin' at you, Victoria Larson and your habit of referring to yourself as "queen.") Of course, with so many women, it can be tough to keep tabs on who is staying and who has already left the show at this point. If you're struggling to remember, peep this rose ceremony tracker.

Not all the ladies are there for the right reasons, unfortunately. "Yes, this show is for contestants who want to gain IG followers, do paid ads, go to Stagecoach, etc," Bachelor spoilers blogger Reality Steve wrote on Twitter. "That's not new." However, Steve did note one particular area of improvement: "At least they're trying to be diverse."

What exactly Matt's looking for isn't totally clear yet, although he hinted during a sweet chat with his mom that he's ready to find someone who just ~gets~ him. ICYDK, he’s a real estate broker, entrepreneur, community organization founder, and former pro football player. He's got a lot going on and needs a lady by his side who can keep up.

For now, you can get to know—and obsess over—all the Bachelor contestants competing for Matt's heart: