On the fourth episode of Grant Ellis’s season ofThe Bachelor, registered nurse Rose Sombke shocked viewers when she self-eliminated. Rose was the first of this season’s contestants to meet Grant, and despite a burgeoning connection with the lead, Rose decided the drama between her and fellowBachelorcast memberThe Bachelor’s Carolina Sofia Quixano, a public relations producer, was too much. Rose left before the rose ceremony.
Despite her short time on the flagship show, I believeThe Bachelor’s Rose Sombkeis the right choice to be the next lead ofThe Bachelorette.While she may have been embroiled in drama with other cast members (and with Grant himself), Rose showed many qualities that make her a perfect lead. The next season ofThe Bachelorettelikely won’t air until 2026, but Rose should definitely remain in the running.
Rose’s Self-Elimination Proves She Was There For The Right Reasons
She Wasn’t On The Show For Screen Time
Thedrama between Rose and Carolinabegan in episode three, when Rose told Carolina off-camera that Grant had been thinking about Rose while dancing with Carolina during a recent group date.Rose believed this conversation was had in confidence, but Carolina, upset by the information, told Grant and asked for clarity. Grant was, understandably, angered by this information and confronted Rose, who explained she believed that was something she heard him say. Grant vehemently denied ever saying that.
“I’m not going to sit here and lie. You’re somebody that I do think about. I just want to verify that you know that because I’m very interested in you. Like even today, right? The whole dancing thing onstage and everything, I was thinking about you. I don’t want you to feel like I’m not paying attention, because I am.”
While it’s unlikely Grant meant those words the way Rose interpreted them, they were ambiguous, and it’s not hard to see how Rose misunderstood Grant’s sentiment.Grant did not eliminate Rose that week, and she traveled with the rest of the cast to Madrid. If Rose had come onThe Bachelorfor clout or attention, she wouldn’t have cut her time short.She could have fought to stay on the showanother week, guaranteeing herself at least a few more confessionals and possibly even a one-on-one date.
Instead,Rose showed us where her priorities were. Seeing that her and Grant’s connection wasn’t as strong as his connection with some of the other contestants, Rose decided her time was best spent elsewhere. Plus, her drama with Carolina didn’t end after the confrontation in week three. During the cocktail party in episode four, Rose confronted Carolina about her actions, explaining thatshe felt Carolina backstabbed herand that Rose herself would never have aired information like that.
In a confessional, Rose said that her drama with Carolina"invalidated so much about [her] relationship that was so good."
Rose ultimately chose herself and her well-being over time on the much-watched ABC show.
After saying goodbye to Grant, Rose left the show and went home. When Rose wasn’t confident in her connection, she removed herself from the situation. Plus, she didn’t want to get involved in drama, a trait that would serve her well as the Bachelorette.
Rose Packed A Punch During Her Four Weeks On The Bachelor
The Franchise Has Cast Lesser Known Leads Before
IfRosewere to be cast as the next lead ofThe Bachelorette, she would become the first Bachelorette to leaveThe Bachelorbefore making it to seventh place. However,her short-lived run on the show shouldn’t disqualify her.The Bachelorhas cast leads who never appeared onThe Bachelorette, including, most recently,The Bacheloricon Matt Jameson season 25. Clearly, the audience is willing to watch leads they may be less familiar with.
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That being said, Rose isn’t unfamiliar to the Bachelor Nation audience. Her miscommunication with Grant and tension with Carolina, not to mention her shocking exit, mean thatRose absolutely made a name for herselfon the flagship show. While she may not be as talked about as cast members whomake it closer toThe Bachelor’s final proposal, Rose is definitely memorable.
Think Of The Rose Puns
Her Name Is Perfect For The Show
“Will you accept this rose"is one of the most recognizable catchphrases on TV today. With Rose as the Bachelorette, the jokes basically write themselves. During Grant’s season ofThe Bachelor, Rose was the first contestant to meet the former basketball player, and she used her time with the lead to ask,“Will you acceptthisrose?“That joke could easily play through Rose’s whole season if she were to become the lead.
Roses are well-known symbols of love. As such, they appear in many recognizable sayings that could be played with throughout a season of the ABC dating show.“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” “stop and smell the roses,“and"every rose has its thorn"are just a few of the adages that could inspire dates or make for fun catchphrases on a Rose season ofThe Bachelorette.
The Bachelorairs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
The Bachelor
A captivating reality TV franchise, The Bachelor and its spin-offs follow a single man or woman as they date multiple people over several weeks, eliminating contestants along the way. The goal is to find true love, culminating in a dramatic final rose ceremony where they propose to their chosen one, blending romance and high-stakes drama.
