You Can Look For Clues About The Next 'Bachelor'

Just when longtime fans thought we knew the exact formula for how the next Bachelor or Bachelorette is chosen, ABC went and shook things up. Earlier this year, the network shocked everyone with the announcement that JoJo Fletcher would be the next Bachelorette. Many fans previously assumed that the runner-up of The Bachelor could not be chosen for the next season, because the filming of the two series were too close together, but JoJo proved them all wrong. And that wasn't even the first time a surprising Bachelorette was chosen — a year after Emily Maynard won The Bachelor and then broke up with Brad Womack, she came back as The Bachelorette. So when it comes to the next Bachelor or Bachelorette, anything is possible, but that doesn't mean there aren't clues that could help you predict who you'll be watching look for love next.

In an interview with Bustle, former Bachelorette contestant Michael Garofola shared his own theory for how you may be able to get an idea of who will be next: by paying attention to the kind of questions host Chris Harrison asks each contestant. “Anytime Chris Harrison asks someone who's going to be the next lead questions on the hot seat, they're typically leading questions that sound more like, ‘So, you're ready to find love again right?’ ‘You've moved on, right? Or ‘You're feeling great, right?’” Garofola observed, before using Desiree Hartsock's questions at her Bachelor season's Women Tell All special as an example of a time that this strategy seemed to work.

We still have some time before the Men Tell All of JoJo's season airs and lets us put this theory to the test, so while we wait, here are the qualities that every Bachelor or Bachelorette usually has that may help predict which of JoJo's suitors will be giving out roses of their own.

Fan Favorite

The person chosen is almost always a fan favorite. Usually, a Bachelor or Bachelorette was widely loved in the previous season, though there are a few exceptions (looking at you, Juan Pablo).

Strong Values

Most of the recent Bachelors and Bachelorettes have discussed their strong value systems, which means nothing too crazy has happened during their seasons. Again, there are exceptions, but keep your eye on contestants who seem to want to find love with as little drama as possible.

Sincerity

A Bachelor or Bachelorette needs to be willing to make hard choices and be truthful when it comes to eliminating people. It’s a hard job to break that many hearts, so whoever does it needs to be sincere, honest, and comfortable with expressing their emotions.

The Ability To Show Emotion

Similarly, all Bachelors/Bachelorettes need to be able to show true emotion. Every season the leading person breaks down in tears at least once and usually has a few difficult heart-to-hearts.

Being Real

Viewers don’t want to see a Bachelor/Bachelorette that we can’t relate to. They need to be real in front of the cameras and say things that seem genuine about their own feelings and what they're going through on the show. For instance, the moment Ben Higgins said that he thinks he's unloveable, he became a shoe-in for the next Bachelor. He shared something that was difficult but relatable for many viewers and made it so much easier to root for him to find someone who loves him.

So far, a few of JoJo's final men seem to fit these categories, so we'll have to tune into the Men Tell All special for any more possible clues about who will be the next Bachelor.

Images: Craig Sjodin/ABC; Giphy (5)