Leslie Fhima and Gary Levingston announced they will be joining ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ as the first-ever “golden” contestants

From left: Gary Levingston and Leslie Fhima. Photo:

Disney/Ricky Middlesworth; ABC/Ricky Middlesworth

Bachelor in Paradise is turning golden!

During the After the Final Rose special on March 24 — which saw Grant Ellis get engaged to Juliana Pasquarosa — another exciting announcement was made. At the end of the episode, host Jesse Palmer revealed that The Bachelor franchisewill be welcoming some familiar faces to the beach.

“Please welcome your newest and first-ever Golden Bachelor in Paradise cast members,” he said, welcoming Leslie Fhima and Gary Levingston to the stage. “For the first time ever, golden men and women will be hitting the beaches of paradise alongside all of your Bachelor and Bachelorette favorites from seasons past, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited for anything ever.”

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Leslie, who was the runner-up on Gerry Turner’s inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor, said she “cannot wait” to see how it plays out.

“The beach is my thing, so I’m very excited,” she shared. “And I’m so excited to be with my old friends, make new friends and just maybe find love.”

From left: Leslie and Gerry Turner on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ finale.

Disney/John Fleenor

“You’re gonna see a lot of familiar faces there, that’s for sure,” Palmer exclaimed. “I’m excited for you.”

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Gary, who took part in Joan Vassos’ debut season of The Golden Bachelorette, then hinted at what fans can expect to see from him.

“A lot of dancing in the sand,” he said. “But more so than that, laying out in the sun and just enjoying the moment and looking for love in all the right places.”

The Bachelor’s Zoe.

Disney/Matt Sayles

Palmer also announced that Zoe McGrady, one of Grant’s final four this season, would be going to Paradise.

“I was excited for the mansion as a Pisces, I think I’m more excited for the beach,” she confessed. “So hope that I can find my love there.”

Leslie agreed: “I am most excited to continue my journey — I think this is my forte: the beach and my friends.”

“And Gary and I are good friends now,” she teased, promising they’d share a dance on the beach.

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Viewers will have to wait to see how the dynamic among the cast plays out later this year. A handful of participants for the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise, which last aired season 9 in December 2023,have already been announced.

Jonathan Johnson, who competed on Jenn Tran’s season of The Bachelorette, was the first to be asked in August 2024. Hakeem Moulton, who was also on Jenn’s season, accepted an invitation to participate as well.