New 'Bachelorette' Rachel Recchia Is A Commercial Pilot—And A Former Cheerleader

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• Rachel Recchia, 26, is one of the co-Bachelorettes on ABC’s 19^th season of The Bachelorette.

• The Chicago native is back after a brutal on-screen break-up with Clayton Echard to try her hand once more at true love.

• Here is everything there is to know about Rachel, from her role on the show to her career and even some deets about her life back home.

I didn’t think Bachelorette fans would be able to take much more after the dramatic twists and turns that was Clayton Echard’s Bachelor season. But I stand corrected. Now, for the first time in the franchise’s history, there will be co-bachelorettes for the entire season.

You likely remember the final two contestants of the show’s 26^th season, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey. Super cute? Funny? Dumped by Clayton at the same time?

Fortunately for them, the drama only brought them closer together, and now they are back once more, searching for their soulmates and leaving Clayton wayyy behind.

Rachel has won our hearts before, and I have no doubt she’ll do it again, as soon as her season airs Monday, July 11 tonight on ABC.

Just look at that smile!

But there is still so much to learn about her. For example, Rachel is a pilot and flight instructor. Though, what’s perhaps more telling of her character is that she is also a serious snacker and a self-described "hopeless romantic."

She's multitalented, a serious snacker, and a self-described "hopeless romantic." Here's absolutely everything there is to know about Rachel:

Rachel is starring in season 19 of The Bachelorette.

Rachel is one star of the franchise’s first-ever season with two permanent bachelorettes. “For the first time ever, we will have two ‘Bachelorettes’ for the entire season,” Jesse Palmer, The Bachelorette host, said during the last season’s After the Final Rose special.

Watch as Rachel and Gabby both embark on their quest to find the one this summer. As Rachel put it, “see you at the mansion!”

She's sharing the lead role with Gabby Windey.

Other than the fact that there will be two bachelorettes to root for, ABC left fans with a lot of questions about the logistics of the season.

Luckily, Reality Steve cleared up some concerns: “the guys aren’t choosing who they want as their Bachelorette," Reality Steve wrote on his blog.

In another blog post from March 2022, Steve said that "every guy in the house, as of now, has the ability to date both women and vice versa." Which seems equal parts confusing and exciting to me. But hey, at least it keeps things fair.

As ABC’s Twitter said, it’ll be a “historic journey” for sure.

If you still cringe about the incredibly awkward season 11 introductions with dual bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson, you’ll be relieved to know that the men will not greet Rachel and Gabby separately and while the other has to watch from a couple of feet away, per Entertainment Weekly. Yeah, that pre-socially distanced, large gap was not it.

You also have more contestants to look forward to, ABC announced. More men, more drama!

Rachel is 26 years old.

In comparison to Gabby who’s 31 years old, Rachel is on the younger side. But that doesn’t stop Rachel from keeping up with the competition and, more importantly, forming a very special bond with Gabby.

Rachel and Gabby have stayed besties, despite all the drama.

It seems that fans are most concerned about how the season will affect Rachel and Gabby’s friendship. But, as Rachel’s IG, uhh-I mean her Gabby Windey fan account proves, these two are thick as thieves.

They have already made comments assuring fans that their friendship comes before any man: “I think going in, knowing a little bit about it from Clayton's season and stuff, I feel like we both had the attitude to put each other first. We know each other the best, our relationship above all is the most important,” Gabby told People.

She also added that “a man that's worth it isn't going to have us fight over him, nor would we ever compromise our relationship for it.”

Rachel agreed, attributing their clear and honest communication to their smooth sailing.

"I'm excited to do this journey with you. We did it once together and we've been through the most crazy experience together," Rachel said during The Bachelor finale in January about Gabby.

Gabby echoed Rachel’s sentiments: "I'm a girl's girl through and through so having a friend by my side, there's nothing I could ask more.”

Rachel works as a commercial pilot and flight instructor.

Rachel works in Florida as a commercial pilot and flight instructor, according to her Instagram bio. She's always showing her 348,000 IG followers what it's like to sit in the cockpit:

She’s traveled to Venice, Switzerland, and Ontario. Rachel travels all the time, which, you know, is part of that pilot lifestyle. (I wonder if she's ever met Pilot Pete on her travels?)

She took a trip to Italy where she saw the beauty of Venice, Modena, and Bari, and enjoyed the birds-eye view of the Swiss Alps on another adventure. She also flew to Niagara Falls in Ontario and snapped this awesome picture.

She’s even flown herself around places closer to home, like Ohio and Florida.

Hope her feature-beau has a craving for adventure!

Rachel is a "hopeless romantic" with a passion for snacking.

According to her ABC bio, "as a hopeless romantic, Rachel is looking for someone who is as playful, passionate and spontaneous as she is. He should be nurturing, empathetic and MUST be respectful in all facets of life—to her, to family, and especially to waiters." (Yep, I can get on board with that.)

"In the end, Rachel wants to find crazy, insane love that makes sense to no one else but her and her soul mate."

Plus, Rachel's dedication to Flamin' Hot Cheetos follows her everywhere.

She attended Ohio University for college.

Rachel attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. During her college days, Rachel was on the Division I cheerleading squad. Go Bobcats!

The pom-poms were real:

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Rachel is from Chicago, Illinois.

Rachel told her followers in an Instagram that she was born in Chicago. She moved to Florida when she was a teenager and currently lives in Clermont, Florida. She proved her hometown loyalty with the hashtag: “#gocubsgo.”

You’ve already met her parents on The Bachelor.

During the chaotic hometown dates on Clayton’s season, viewers met Tony and Mary Anne Recchia, who currently live in Clermont, Florida.

Rachel’s mother, Mary Anne, is a paraprofessional aide for early childhood development at a local public school, according to her Facebook profile. Her father, Tony, is more private on social media.

Rachel also has a little brother, Anthony, according to Life and Style Mag.

Who has Rachel Recchia dated?

For the most part, Rachel is pretty private about her exes. Aside from Clayton, of course.

However, during a one-on-one date last season, Rachel mentioned an ex that wasn’t supportive of her career.

“As a woman, I have to work harder and I have to prove myself more every single day,” she told Clayton, per Entertainment Weekly. But her unnamed ex would assume she was cheating when she traveled for her work. Needless to say, it didn’t last.

Clayton broke her heart.

You’re probably familiar with this moment from Clayton's season, where he admits to being intimate with two women.

[youtube align='center' autoplay='0']https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MxxmXuoPiQ[/youtube]

Absolutely brutal. But if that wasn’t enough for you, after Rachel forgave Clayton, he ultimately decided to break up with her while simultaneously ending things with Gabby.

Rachel, teary-eyed, pleaded for Clayton to reconsider, adding that he would regret it.

During the March 15 recap episode, Rachel spoke to Jesse about the split: "To see the complete disrespect to both me and Gabby, in the sense that he couldn't even break up with us separately?" she said. "For me, he broke my heart at the Rose Ceremony and I kept going because he never gave me a reason to believe it wasn't me. Then he broke my heart for a second time," per E! News.

Here’s a refresher on what happened in Clayton's finale.

After Clayton decided to bring back eliminated Susie, he had no choice but to end things with both Rachel and Gabby—at the same time.

Gabby fired back at Clayton: “You asked me to stay because you were pissed [that Susie left] and your pride was hurt,” she said, per Variety. “One time it was going to be my decision, which you didn’t want it to be. And now it’s your decision so it’s easier,” Gabby said about her leaving in the final episode.

Rachel couldn’t help but cry when he addressed her. “I was the one who fought by myself – for you,” she told him. “You didn’t give me anything and what little you did give me I hung on to,” she added. He was a cold and cruel statue in contrast to her heartbreak.

In terms of his relationship with Susie, after begging her to take him back, she rejected him and his proposal at the final rose ceremony. Clayton left Iceland alone.

However, Susie eventually decided to start things up again with Clayton, and the two have been together since. This leads me to the live reunion where Susie and Clayton face the others once more.

Rachel is 100% over Clayton and ready for what’s to come this season.

During the reunion, Rachel said that she no longer has feelings for Clayton, Variety reported. Although the memory of the drama brought back tears, Rachel told Clayton, “None of these emotions are for you…I became collateral damage.”

He apologized, but Rachel wouldn’t have it: “I just don’t believe you.” Attagirl, Rach!

Now that the Clayton drama is in the past, Rachel can move on to bigger and better things.

Who is in Rachel’s final four?

Warning: Season 19 spoilers ahead!

Reality Steve did some digging, and it appears that Rachel’s four final hometown dates have been revealed.

You’ll also be relieved to know that there isn’t any overlap between Rachel and Gabby’s final suitors. Looks like the friends stayed true to their promise! Phew.

Rachel’s final selections include Aven Jones, Tyler Norris, Zach Shallcross, and Tino Franco.

Who wins Rachel’s heart and gets the final rose?

Honestly, it’s too early to tell. However, Reality Steve knows who's in Rache's final two.

Rachel’s heart either belongs to Tino or Zach at the season’s end, per Reality Steve’s recent podcast.

I can’t wait to see which of these two men she selects as her forever person! Tune into The Bachelorette tonight at 8 p.m. EST to see Rachel meet the man of her dreams.

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