The Tampa Bay area has pumped out its fair share of contestants on ABC dating shows “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” but it finally produced a winner.
Chris Watson and his girlfriend Bri Strauss—who he met on “The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart,” where aspiring singer-songwriters must pair up, find love and compete in an “American Idol” and “The Voice” style competition—were crowned winners on Monday night.
Watson’s “Bachelor” bio says he’s a soul-singer from Los Angeles, but the 30-year-old grew up in Tampa, graduated from Jesuit High School in 2008, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and Creative Writing from the University of Miami. His dad, Patrick, died in 2014 when Watson was just 24 years old.
Strauss, 28, and Watson pretty much hit it off from the get-go on “Listen To Your Heart,” and more or less were the most musical couple on the show. A panel of judges including Taye Diggs, Jewel and Rita Wilson, as well as “Bachelor nation” couple Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick crowned the couple winners, meaning they got to record music together as part of their winnings.
On the finale, a title card said, “Bri and Chris are still deeply in love today and are excited for the release of their debut album.” That album, Chris and Bri, is already on streaming services.
As Variety points out, Watson and Strauss are one of the only interracial couples of any “Bachelor” series.
And in case you’re wondering, the Catholic school boy and practicing Mormon from Provo, Utah did not take advantage of the fantasy suite they were offered on the finale.
Other notable Bay area “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” contestants include Ruskin native Leslie Hughes, University of Tampa alum Connor Jordan Obrochta, lawyer Samantha Passmore, sales executive Erin Gardner, and patient care coordinator Astrid Loch.
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