Colton Underwood
Colton Scott Underwood is an American reality television personality and former professional football player who first garnered attention through his football career and later rose to fame as a star of the Bachelor franchise.
Before making a splash in reality television, Underwood’s career was deeply rooted in professional sports. He played as a defensive end at Illinois State and was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He was also on the practice squads of the Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles, showcasing his prowess in the football field. However, it was his transition to reality television that thrust him into the national spotlight. He first appeared on the 14th season of The Bachelorette where he made it to the top four. He then appeared on season 5 of Bachelor in Paradise and was later announced as the lead of the 23rd season of The Bachelor. His journey was further chronicled in his own unscripted Netflix series, Coming Out Colton, where he navigates his life after coming out as gay, making him the first lead in Bachelor franchise history to do so.
In the realm of entertainment and reality TV, Underwood has collaborated with a number of notable individuals. His appearances on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise brought him into contact with a variety of celebrities within the franchise. His journey on The Bachelor was widely followed, involving numerous guest stars and celebrities. On his Netflix show, Coming Out Colton, he interacted with openly gay public figures such as Gus Kenworthy, Michael Sam, and CMT host Cody Alan. His life and experiences have been shared on notable platforms such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, further expanding his connections within the industry.
Underwood’s prominence in reality television has also earned him recognition. In 2019, he won the Fan Favorites category at the Reality TV Awards, underlining his popularity among audiences. The same year, he also won the Most Meme-able Moment at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for his iconic fence jump on The Bachelor. While he was nominated for Competition Contestant of 2019 at the People’s Choice Awards, his journey in reality TV was further immortalized in his book, The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV.
Aside from his career in sports and entertainment, Underwood has shown a deep love for animals, particularly dogs. After losing his puppy Sniper, he adopted Zooka, a German shepherd-husky mix he was fostering from the Labelle Foundation, an animal rescue in Los Angeles. He affectionately refers to himself as a ‘foster fail’ after falling in love with Zooka, highlighting his passion and advocacy for animal rescue. His involvement with the Labelle Foundation speaks volumes about his commitment to animal welfare and rescue.