After Bachelor in Paradise‘s revamped tenth season concluded on September 2, the Bachelor franchise is reentering its Golden Era with The Golden Bachelor Season 2.

Following Gerry Turner’s beloved debut season of the senior spin-off, Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, is taking the lead in hopes of finding late-in-life love with one of his 23 Golden Gals.

Members of Bachelor Nation may recall that after Owens was announced as Season 2’s leading Golden Guy, he dominated headlines for some controversial comments he made on MGoBlue’s In the Trenches podcast in June.

Owens explained that he told producers he preferred women between ages 45 and 60 and claimed that during lunch with an EP of the show, where he added, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.” Among several other disappointing, off-putting comments, Owens said, “I told them, ‘Try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs.'” As you can imagine, fans found Owens’ words incredibly offensive and swiftly called on ABC to replace him. (Even the OG Golden Guy was upset!)

In an exclusive interview with Glamour, Owens apologized for his “unfair, insensitive” comments and vowed that he was “trying to earn back the trust.” For those curious, a majority of the 23 women cast on The Golden Bachelor Season 2 are, in fact, older than 60. And the Season 2 lead said that when he met the lovely group of ladies, he apologized for his comments and was “absolutely shocked” by how “brilliant” they all were.

The women in Owens’ Golden Bachelor cast range in age from 58 to 77. And the group includes the family manager for a baseball all-star, a casino VIP host, a retired firefighter and bomb tech, a longevity nurse, and more talented, intriguing contestants.

Curious which lucky ladies will be headed to the mansion in hopes of finding lasting love with Mel Owens? Get to know the women of The Golden Bachelor Season 2 below before Season 2’s premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 24, and watch them introduce themselves in the video above.

1. Hometown: Miami, Florida

   Occupation: Luxury Yacht Sales Representative

   Alexandra is ready to finally find her happily ever after. This vibrant Colombian beauty believes that age is just a number and she hasn’t “retired from living or loving.” She is a proud single mom of three who is constantly on the go and knows how to live life to the fullest. When she’s not selling luxury yachts, one can find Alexandra jogging eight miles every morning, traveling the world, and dancing at concerts. Alexandra hopes to find someone passionate who can keep up with her because she is not ready to slow down any time soon. Will Mel be the one she’s been looking for? We hope so!

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2. Hometown: Short Hills, New Jersey

   Occupation: Full-Time Mom

   Amy is as bold, bubbly and goofy as she is beautiful. Family is everything to Amy, so much so that she works as a professional “momager” to her Internet-famous twin daughters. When she’s not working or hanging with her twins, Amy loves exercising for two hours a day, cooking delicious meals, and going dancing. As far as her dating life goes, she compared herself to “a kid in a candy store” who hasn’t found “the one” quite yet. The momager lives a vibrant, full life and is looking for Mr. Right with whom to share it. Will the Golden Bachelor be that person? Only time will tell.

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3. Hometown: Los Angeles, California

   Occupation: Retired Federal Worker

   Andra has got it all! She’s smart, compassionate, and ready to find her “boo.” Andra is looking for someone who will make her heart flutter, and she can usually tell right away if there’s a connection. Now retired, Andra loved her job working for the federal government and strives to make a difference in the world around her. When she’s not crafting or hanging out with her grandson, she can be found in the gym or out to dinner with friends. And if she looks familiar, Andra is the twin sister of Sandra Mason from Season 1 of “The Golden Bachelor.” Talk about déjà vu! Will Mel get Andra’s vote? We’ll see what the polls say!

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4. Hometown: Los Angeles, California

   Occupation: Former Model

   Carla is quite the catch. She is smart, beautiful, emotionally intelligent, and ready to find her perfect match. Carla is a full-time midlife influencer who inspires other women to embrace a happy, fulfilled life at any age. Sounds like she’s in the right place! And while she cherishes the work she does online, Carla’s pride and joy is her daughter, Nayanna. When it comes to dating, Carla is ready to be “madly in love” but finds dating difficult in Los Angeles. Carla is here for the real deal, and fingers crossed it’s all fireworks when she meets the Golden Bachelor.

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5. Hometown: Villa Park, California

   Occupation: Family Manager for baseball all-star Freddie Freeman

   Carol is a total girl boss. After raising her three daughters, the pride and joys of her life, she went back to work becoming the full-time manager for her pro-athlete nephew, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. Carol also returned to college recently and is thriving as a later-in-life student. She jokes, “I now can get student and senior discounts!” Carol has a life full of love and hard work, but she’s missing one important piece — a man by her side. For Carol, this journey is all about finding her forever, so here’s to hoping she can find that meaningful connection with Mel.

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6. Hometown: Englewood, Colorado

   Occupation: Retired from the IRS

   Cheryl is the real deal. This Colorado native loves motorcycles, dirt roads, and being in nature as much as she loves a movie night cuddled up with a bar of chocolate. Before she retired, Cheryl worked for the IRS, where she helped people with their taxes. She has been single for over a decade because she has been focused on work and taking care of her family. Now she’s ready to receive the love that she’s given to so many others. Cheryl values a love for adventure and passionate chemistry, and is looking for a family-oriented man who can sweep her off her feet. Will this be the end of Cheryl’s search for love? Fingers crossed!

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7. Hometown: Austin, Texas

   Occupation: Retired Biomedical Engineer

   With gorgeous eyes and a personality to match, Cindy is one of a kind. The mom of three is embracing a “say yes” mindset, which is how she ended up here on “The Golden Bachelor.” While Cindy loved working in medical aesthetic sales, she’s now living her best life hiking, paddleboarding, and enjoying everything Austin, Texas, has to offer. She isn’t on dating apps and prefers to look for love “in the wild.” She’s searching for a lifelong bond — her grandfather lived to be 105, so Cindy is just getting the party started. We can’t wait to see if Cindy and Mel hit it off.

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8. Hometown: Denver, Colorado

   Occupation: Fitness Professional

   Debbie is THE “It Girl.” From a life filled with glitz and glamour to a dazzling smile and personality to match, Debbie is ready for her fairy-tale ending. She is a successful fitness instructor who has worked with countless celebrities and is ready to find the one thing that’s been missing in her life: everlasting love. Despite getting ghosted on dating apps, Debbie still believes her partner is out there and hopes to meet someone engaging, genuine and comfortable in their own skin. And when she’s not grinding in the gym, Debbie is a huge dog lover who enjoys singing, reading, and going to music festivals. Will things “work out” between Debbie and the Golden Bachelor? We abs-olutely hope so!

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9. Hometown: Wasilla, Alaska

   Occupation: Librarian

   Diane is ready to shoot her shot. The hockey player is used to breaking the ice with new connections and can’t wait to find someone who will become her new teammate. Diane is a proud mom to two sons and dedicated most of her life to education working as a teacher. She currently sits on the board of directors for two nonprofits: Kids Kupboard and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. When she’s not competing on the rink with her friends, Diane loves to travel, venture outdoors, and make everyone around her laugh. When it comes to love, she is ready to put herself out there again after loss and find the real deal with someone athletic, charming and outgoing. Let’s see if Diane can skate into Mel’s heart!

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10. Hometown: Rockville, Maryland

    Occupation: Home Care Agency CEO

    Gerri is as generous and kind as she is beautiful. She has worked in health care for over 35 years in roles ranging from an ICU nurse during COVID to currently serving as the CEO of a home health care agency. And while Gerri is very proud of her work, she’s even prouder of her kids and loves to brag about their accomplishments. This mom and grandma is ready to find love again and is looking for that best friend. She wants to spoil her man and says she hopes to be “his dessert after a long day.” We hope Mel is hungry!

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11. Hometown: Pacific Palisades, California

    Occupation: Retired Elementary School Teacher

    Lily is so excited to boogie at the Bachelor Mansion. This dancing queen is not only talented, loyal and beautiful, she is also ready for her love life to take center stage. Being a proud single mom for many years, Lily isn’t settling when it comes to finding her person. She believes “there is someone out there for everyone” and is over the dating scene. Lily wants a kind, optimistic person to share her life with and live in her very own romance novel. And as she takes the steps to find her partner, nothing makes Lily happier than being a grandma and performing with her dance troupe — the Ole Skool Crew. Hopefully, the Golden Bachelor packed his dancing shoes!

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12. Hometown: Marion, Ohio

    Occupation: State Park Employee

    Lisa is a bubbly small-town gal ready for big love. With a beautiful smile and personality to match, she believes all people are good and is passionate about helping animals. Lisa labels herself as a proud cat lady, rescuing multiple cats, and currently works at the same state park she grew up visiting as a child. And while she loves what she does now, nothing compares to raising her two daughters — the “greatest thing” she’s done. Lisa is so excited to meet the Golden Bachelor because dating is “nonexistent” in her town and she’s ready to have a love story for the ages. Lisa craves undeniable chemistry and someone with a great sense of humor because she loves to laugh. Let’s see if she and Mel laugh off into the sunset together!

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13. Hometown: Malibu, California

    Occupation: College Sports Consultant

    It’s now Maia’s turn to find love. After dedicating her life to raising her kids, this college sports consultant is ready to step out onto the field and score a new love connection. Maia has dated a bit since her divorce, but she still hasn’t found her Prince Charming. Just like the Golden Bachelor, Maia loves sports, so finding someone athletic, fun and flirty is a must. This beauty is not only smart, loyal and compassionate, she’s also competitive — which she loves to bring to the pickleball court. And in her free time, she enjoys driving up the coast, going to concerts, and taking Pilates classes as often as she can. Maia loves her life and is ready to share it with someone special. Will Mel be the one for her?

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14. Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama

    Occupation: Flight Attendant

    Monica B. is ready for love to take flight. This beautiful flight attendant is resilient, hardworking, and looking for her soulmate. After experiencing many ups and downs in life, Monica B. focused on raising her kids and pursuing her career. She is a proud grandma to four grandchildren and loves to spend her time at farmers markets, going out to breakfast, and doing yoga in the park. Now, after living out her passion of traveling for over 40 years, Monica B. is ready to hang up her flight attendant wings and pick up a lifelong partner with whom she can explore the world. Finding a person of faith who is kind is very important to her, as well as having a sense of humor. Let’s see if Monica B. and Mel’s connection takes off!

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15. Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

    Occupation: Cosmetic Dentist

    Monica P. is 100% wife material. The cosmetic dentist has a career and family she’s very proud of and is looking forward to finding a man with whom to share her wonderful life. Monica P. is hoping to meet a guy who can match her warmth, energy and zest for life. While she may look all glammed up on the outside, Monica P. is a self-proclaimed tomboy at heart. When she’s not working or spending time with her sons, Monica P. loves a night of karaoke, playing board games, and going to Pilates daily. Her idea of a perfect date is a romantic dinner followed by a night out dancing, so let’s hope Mel has his dancing shoes ready. Can’t wait to see if these two hit it off.

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16. Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

    Occupation: Casino VIP Host

    Mylene is a woman of the world. This adored mom and grandma was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to Japan, and she now lives in Las Vegas. She also speaks four languages fluently and works as a multilingual VIP host in Vegas’ top casinos. Mylene has lived a vibrant life and has a beautiful growing family, but she’s ready to feel those butterflies again for herself. She believes in soulmates and “later-in-life magic” and thinks Mel could be her guy. In her spare time, Mylene loves to cook traditional Filipino meals and knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Hope you’re hungry, Mel!

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17. Hometown: Miami Beach, Florida

    Occupation: Yoga Instructor

    Nicolle is a sweet soul from Miami Beach who thinks she and Mel would make a great-looking couple. The yoga instructor is a very nurturing mom to two adult children who have found the loves of their lives and she’s ready for her fairy-tale love story too. When it comes to dating, Nicolle refuses to settle and is ready for the real deal. When she’s not teaching yoga, she loves to travel, cook, paint, and bike to the beach. Nicolle is a huge advocate for healthy aging and truly believes you can live life to the fullest at any age. Nicolle hopes that Mel is as excited about her as she is about him.

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18. Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

    Occupation: Retired Firefighter and Bomb Tech

    Peg’s been through fire, literally. This retired firefighter and bomb tech rose from the flames stronger, sassier, and ready to find a spark that lasts. She’s a proud single mom, having raised her daughter, Dakota, with grit and grace. Peg is a woman of many talents, and while she isn’t afraid to get down and dirty, she’s also a lifelong dancer with a professional dance career as another feather in her cap. She used to perform with the High Rollers, the official senior dance team of the Aces basketball team. When it comes to dating, Peg doesn’t want to be anyone’s “nurse or purse.” She’s looking for the real deal — no dating apps, no drama, just real connection. Let’s see if Peg can light Mel’s fire.

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19. Hometown: Napa Valley, California

    Occupation: Wealth Advisor/Vineyard Owner

    Robin is ready to ride off into the Golden sunset with Mel. The mom and new grandma is fierce, fabulous and funny — a total triple threat. Robin came from humble beginnings and worked extremely hard to get to where she is today. From raising her children to thriving at her career, Robin has done it all. Now she just needs a man by her side with whom to enjoy life. In her free time, Robin loves watching football, riding her motorcycle, and playing bocce ball. She is confident that she and Mel will have a strong connection, saying, “Seriously, I think I’m going to marry Mel!” Can’t wait to see if Robin is right!

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20. Hometown: Austin, Texas

    Occupation: Longevity Nurse

    Roxanne is ready to find the one. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s full of substance, emotional depth and a wealth of lived experiences. Roxanne works full time as a nurse, specializing in anti-aging and helping women over 50 take care of their bodies. The beloved mom and abuela has created a life filled with purpose, healing and love, but she’s still missing her soulmate. Roxanne prides herself on looking and acting half her age, and she’s looking for a man who can keep up. She has taken care of everyone her entire life, so Roxanne is now finally putting herself first and can’t wait to meet Mel. Will Roxanne and Mel have the love story of a lifetime?

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21. Hometown: Del Mar, California

    Occupation: Realtor

    Susie is a proud mom of three who is ready to say goodbye to her single days. She worked most of her life as a kindergarten teacher and dedicated herself to raising her kids and her students. Now, Susie spends her days hiking, biking, and socializing, and is ready to find love again after loss. She has spent the last decade healing from loss, and her heart is truly open to meeting her future husband. Her daughter calls Susie “one in a million” and Susie is exactly that. She’s hoping to meet a spontaneous man who is ready to hop into her Sprinter van for an impromptu road trip. Hope Mel’s bags are packed and she’s ready for adventure.

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22. Hometown: Houston, Texas

    Occupation: Cosmetic Dentist

    Terri has a zest for life that lights up every room she enters. The gorgeous cosmetic dentist is so much more than meets the eye. Terri taught herself to be a ventriloquist at 9 years old; she has traveled the world solo and has had an extremely successful career. The one thing missing is her perfect guy by her side. Terri hates dating apps and thinks men don’t often look how they appear in their photos. She can’t wait to meet the Golden Bachelor IRL and says that Mel is just her type — he’s got great teeth! Here’s to hoping Terri and Mel’s relationship is all smiles and no cavities.

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23. Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana

    Occupation: Interior Designer

    Tracy is a true Southern belle. She needs a man who is ready to commit and is willing to show up for her the way she will show up for him in a relationship. Tracy is a loving mom and grandma who has thrived professionally over the past 40 years but is ready to thrive in her love life too. She is best known for her signature hats (she has around 100!). When she’s not working as a designer, Tracy loves attending horse races, crawfish boils and college football games. She believes that it’s never too late to find true love, and she’s hoping Mel feels the same way. Hats off to the beginning of their love story!

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The Golden Bachelor Season 2 premieres Wednesday, September 24 on ABC.