Christina Mandrell has made a lasting impression on Zach Shallcross, but it's unclear if he's going to continue giving her roses on The Bachelor.
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Christina is a 26-year-old content creator from Nashville, TN, who met Zach on The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose in September 2022 and then showed up to The Bachelor mansion on Night 1 of Season 27 in a party bus.
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Zach said Christina surprised him right out of the gate and he really liked being around her. The Bachelor called her a free spirit who's fun and spicy, and he said he could tell that she has a big heart.
Zach therefore invited Christina on the season's first one-on-one date. They took a helicopter to Zach's family party in Anaheim Hills, CA, where Christina met Zach's sister, parents and relatives.
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Zach seemed smitten with Christina, but she shocked him with the news over dinner that evening that she's a mother. Zach appeared overwhelmed and seemingly upset that, if he chose Christina in the end, he'd become an automatic stepfather.
"My heart is starting to pound. I'm feeling all these feelings for this amazing woman... I love [that she has a daughter] because I've always wanted kids, but what this does is it introduces a timeline real quick. That's my fear, and I don't know if I'm ready for it," Zach explained in a confessional.
"I don't know if anyone is ever really ready for it. I don't know how to react to this. I'm not perfect and I'm scared of it. I think sometimes you have to be selfish... I'm terrified and she caught my off-guard."
Although Zach had doubts, questions and concerns, he gave Christina a rose and asked her to be patient with him while he thought things through and figured out if he was ready to become a dad.
Until viewers find out what happens next between Zach and Christina, let's get to know more about this blonde beauty right now and what makes he bachelorette tick.
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Below is a list of seven facts Reality TV World has compiled about Christina Mandrell.
Christina was married once before
Christina began dating Blake Dennis in 2023, and they got married in May 2015.The pair celebrated four years of being married in May 2019, and on Halloween that year, Christina posted Facebook photos with Blake in which they dressed up like skeletons and she captioned her post, "Death can't even do us part."
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Christina and Blake celebrated eight years of dating in August 2020, meaning the pair had started dating as teenagers.
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But August 2020 was the last time she posted a photo of him on social media.
Christina has been officially divorced for almost two years now
Christina filed for divorce in December 2020, although the pair had listed their date of separation as November 1, 2020, according to divorce documents obtained by Us Weekly.Christina and Blake's divorce was finalized in March 2021; however, they appear to have an amicable co-parenting relationship today.
Christina, for example, posted a photo dancing with her ex-husband's then-girlfriend on Instagram in May 2022.
And one month later, Christina posted a TikTok video with her ex-husband and the same woman, writing, "When your ex-husband and his girlfriend start bickering... Just a joke."
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Christina has since been searching for her perfect man.
The Bachelor bachelorette has a beloved daughter
When they were married, Christina and Blake welcomed a daughter together whom they named Blakely May Dennis. She is now five-years-old, and Christina says she lives to make her girl happy.Christina says she's selective when she dates because she and Blakely are in this together.
Christina is looking for a partner she can trust unconditionally and is open-minded to whatever life throws their way.
Christina often expresses how she's proud of Blakely's achievements on social media, and she doesn't stand for mommy-shaming.
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"I know that there are so many hard working mommas out there who also don't deserve to be ridiculed for following their hearts or pursuing their dreams," Christina recently wrote on Instagram.
"Next.. yes.. I am a mom.. who also works.. and also hasn't given up on finding a partner. I absolutely love my job and although it requires me to travel, it also means that when I'm home I don't have to work much at all. I also have an absolute SQUAD when it comes to the people that have helped me raise her since day 1. That girl is loved SOOO big."
Christina has ties to a Country Music Hall of Famer
Christina is the niece of Country Music Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell, who belted out hits in the 1970s such as "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" and "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed," according to Taste of Country.Barbara has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 50 years, and she was named the CMA Entertainer of the Year for two years running in 1980 and 1981.
Christina's mother, Irlene Mandrell, is also a performer, and another one of Christina's aunts, Louise Mandrell, had many chart-topping singles in country music in the 1970s.
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In addition to being an influencer, Christina is also a model and actress
Christina has over 40,000 followers on Instagram, and she's been a social-media influencer for years.Christina has also appeared in the following music videos: "She Had Me at Heads Carolina" by Cole Swindell, "Fifteen" by Taylor Swift, and "It's About Time" by Kevin Quinn.
Christina has also acted in some films and television shows -- including Hannah Montana: The Movie in 2009, Becoming Jesse Tate in 2009, A Belle for Christmas in 2014, and After Darkness in 2014.
Christina has teased she'll be releasing diet and fitness tips
Christina revealed her weight transformation on Instagram in April 2022."At least some good came out of quarantine!.. and no, this wasn't just because the grocery stores ran out of food... 2020 was a turning point for me," Christina explained to her followers.
"It's when I made my decision to make being healthy and kind to my body a top priority."
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Christina, who clearly put muscle on over the years, wrote in the comments how she's "eager to share more about" her diet and at-home CrossFit journey.
"My advice is to focus on making healthier habits rather than worrying about the scale!" Christina told a fan, before writing multiple times that more tips and information will be coming soon.
Christina had addressed speculation she's a party girl who drinks too much
Christina took to Instagram on February 6 and posted a funny video compilation of herself being silly, goofy and playful. She captured herself shouting, dancing, prancing and even banging on a drum."Not that I have to explain myself... BUT. There's been some speculation that I'm 'dRuNk AlL tHe TiMe'... so I just wanted to make a little compilation of some videos taken of me over the past few days. This is me completely sober," Christina wrote alongside crying-laughing emojis.
"I realize my personality isn't for everyone... I'm 'a lot.' Life is short, and I strive not to spend it dulling my personality to please others. So yes, I do have goofy, chaotic energy, which sometimes can be annoying."
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But Christina said she is proud to be herself -- and she's loved for it, by many.
"By being myself, I'm able to find my closest, most genuine friends and set what I believe to be the best example for my daughter," Christina continued in her post.
"I want to show her that she never has to dim her light for the sake of others' opinions."
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