Golden Love Stories Begin Again, This Cast Proves Love Knows No Age

4 September 2025

Disney / Ricky Middlesworth

Love is in the air and it’s as golden as ever. ABC has unveiled the Season 2 cast of The Golden Bachelor, and fans are buzzing. This time, 66-year-old former NFL safety turned lawyer Mel Owens will search for connection among 23 women aged 58 to 77 who bring a kaleidoscope of life experience, humor, and heart to the ballroom. The show premieres Wednesday, September 24, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC (and streams next day on Hulu).

These women are anything but background extras. Among them: Peg, the 62-year-old retired firefighter and bomb technician who also rides a unicycle talk about multitasking; Cindy, the 60-year-old retired biomedical engineer from Austin who once dated Chuck Norris; and Debbie, 65, a fitness professional who was reportedly asked on a date by Robert De Niro.

Each contestant has a story that dazzles. Alexandra, 67, sells luxury yachts in Miami and once took the bold step of proposing to her first husband. Amy, 63, from New Jersey is not only a full-time mom but also a “momager” to her internet-famous twin daughters. Lily, 72, performs with her dance troupe, the Ole Skool Crew, and Diane, 71, dreams of being Dolly Parton for a day.

Many of the women are professionals and achievers in their own right: Monica P., 60, is a cosmetic dentist from Alabama; Terri, 71, practices the same loved craft in Houston; Robin, 63, is a vineyard owner from Napa Valley; Gerri runs a home care agency in Maryland; and Roxanne, 62, is a longevity nurse helping women over fifty thrive.

The geographical spread spans the U.S. coast to coast from Andra, 77, a retired federal worker in Los Angeles and twin sister to a previous OG Golden Bachelor contestant, all the way to Diane hailing from Wasilla, Alaska. It’s a tour of the heartland and beyond.

This fall’s cast not only challenges outdated expectations but also sets a tone: love stories don’t expire they evolve. These are women seeking heartfelt connection, companionship, and romance infused with wisdom and vitality.

There’s also a subplot of redemption and growth for Mel Owens himself. Earlier in the summer, he stirred controversy with comments that he preferred women under 60 remarks that set off ageism alarms in the media and beyond. But Owens addressed the criticism head-on, apologized, and committed to honoring the women he called to the stage.

The contrast could not be clearer. On one side, graceful women rewriting the norms of love and life at every age. On the other, a lead man who has reconciled missteps and chosen, publicly and sincerely, to move forward with respect.

That season is set to premiere this September, and ABC frames it beautifully: these women bring light, laughter, and life lessons that prove companionship is not bound by decades. As one contestant said, it’s never too late to find love. Viewers are poised for charm, wit, surprise, and maybe a tear or two.

With stories like a former bomb tech riding a unicycle, a “momager” juggling life, and dancers, teachers, modelers, and dentists all under one hopeful roof this season is already shaping up to be unforgettable.

Strap in for a journey where golden years glow brighter than ever, and where the Mirrorball may just sparkle for one of these bold heart-seekers.