Who Is Lea Cayanan And How Did She Meet Joey Graziadei?

The long wait for The Bachelor Nation ends here: The latest season of The Bachelor is setting afoot with an exciting twist.  Joey Graziadei from the last season of The Bachelorette is now heading to be the leading man on The Bachelor- and he already has a connection with one of the women. Lea Cayanan met Joey months ago during the shooting of the After the Final Rose special for The Bachelorette. Now we witness Lea joining the cast of The Bachelor season 28 with a mysterious envelope in hand.

Lea’s history with Joey and her secret envelope set up plenty of drama and intrigue on the night. The key things to know about this unique Bachelor contestant who is already crossing paths with the leading man.

Lea and Joey First Met During After the Final Rose

Their paths first crossed last August during the After the Final Rose special concluding Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette. Joey was announced as the new Bachelor, and Lea Cayanan was brought on stage from the audience to join the cast. They met briefly during the show. While Lea didn’t receive a rose on After the Final Rose, she was gifted a sealed envelope to open on the first night of The Bachelor.

In an Instagram post with Joey, Lea wrote “So excited for the journey to come.” It’s clear she made an impression on Joey and already has a leg up in the competition for his heart.

Lea’s Mysterious Envelope Creates Speculation Among Contestants

Host Jesse Palmer explained that Lea’s envelope will impact the season, but didn’t give any other hints about its contents. Lea said in a preview video “Having the card is driving me crazy.” She and the other women are anxiously waiting to discover what’s inside.

Many theories are floating around about what the envelope could contain. Fellow contestants wondered if it was an immunity pass, a chance to send someone else home early, or a date card for one-on-one time with Joey. The possibilities have everyone speculating, but only Lea holds the real surprise inside her envelope.

Get to Know This Hawaii Native Turned LA Resident

So who is Lea besides her intriguing Bachelor introduction? Here are some fast facts about this unique contestant:

Lea is all about family and serious relationships. Her ABC bio says that she was ready to be ‘wifed up’ and was a sucker for big romantic gestures. It sounds like she and Joey might be a perfect match!

Joey Graziadei Opens Up About Stepping Into The Bachelor Role

As Lea joins the lineup of women competing for Joey’s heart, how does The Bachelor himself feel about his journey to find love? Joey opened up about taking on the leading role after his stint on The Bachelorette.

He confessed to Us Weekly that the process tested him early on. It felt very unnatural, but he tried to stay open, and honest, and do his best throughout the experience. Joey hopes that approach will allow him to live without regrets about the season’s outcome.

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At 28 years old, Joey is ready to find his future wife. All signs point to Lea being an early frontrunner, between their existing connection and her mysterious envelope. But anything can happen once the cameras start rolling on. Will Lea receive the first impression rose? Can their relationship go the distance? Season 28 is full of romance, drama, and surprises.