“The Bachelor” contestant Alayah Benavidez was the focus of Monday night’s episode, starting a storyline sure to be continued next week.
But who is this 24-year-old Texan after Pilot Pete’s heart?
Last week, we ranked Alayah in 10th place in our weekly power rankings of the show’s contestants, citing her lack of screen time — but now that’s changed. Most of Week 3 was dedicated to Alayah’s feud with Sydney and though she was sent home, next week’s episode preview shows her returning after being eliminated.
Here are nine things to know about the bluebonnet belle:
1. She’s a pageant princess
Benavidez may have won her home state’s heart, representing Texas in the Miss USA 2019 pageant, but she ultimately lost to Miss North Carolina. She’s also a former Miss San Antonio and takes great pride in her pageant past.
2. But she’s not the pageant queen of this season
Fellow “Bachelor” contestant Victoria Paul also competed in 2019’s Miss USA pageant, representing Louisiana — but made it further than Benavidez.
3. She’s a business owner
When she’s not vying for Pete’s love, Benavidez is selling handbags, swim gear and more via her online website, Three Bees Boutique, which she co-runs with two other women.
4. She’s dyslexic
In high school, Benavidez was diagnosed with dyslexia — but she didn’t let it stop her from being an avid reader, according to her Miss Texas bio. In fact, she used the diagnosis as a motivator and credits it with driving her to take AP and dual credit courses in school.
5. She campaigns for better read youth
In an effort to help kids with their reading, Benavidez created the Read the Way campaign, which “has enabled her to encourage school children across the nation in reading, writing and goal setting.”
6. She paid for school by working with teeth
To help finance her education, Benavidez worked as an orthodontic assistant. She’s also done work as a model.
7. She’s an English major
Benavidez will graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a BA in English this year after starting out at Northwest Vista College.
8. She has academic dreams
In addition to her goal of one day being crowned Miss USA, Benavidez also hopes to get a Ph.D. and become an Ivy League professor and a published author.
9. She’s addicted to iced lattes
So says her Instagram bio, which also notes that she’s a traveler and a romantic. She has 68,000 followers.
“The Bachelor,” featuring Peter Weber, airs on ABC at 8 p.m. EST on Monday nights.