Is Shanae a Plant on The Bachelor?

As with any reality television show, there are always rumors swirling about whether or not certain contestants are plants - that is, individuals who were hired by the show's producers rather than discovered through the regular casting process. One name that has come up in relation to the current season of The Bachelor is Shanae.

Who is Shanae?

Shanae is one of the contestants on the current season of The Bachelor. She is a 27-year-old yoga instructor from Texas. According to her official bio on ABC's website, Shanae enjoys hiking, dancing, and 'giving back to the community' through volunteer work.

Why Do People Think Shanae is a Plant?

There are a few factors that have led to speculation that Shanae may not have been a 'real' contestant. For one thing, some viewers have noted that she seems to be receiving a lot of screen time despite not having a particularly strong connection with the Bachelor himself, Matt James. Additionally, some eagle-eyed fans have pointed out that Shanae has a connection to one of the show's producers, who she has been photographed with on social media in the past.

The Evidence For and Against Shanae's Planted Status

First, let's examine the evidence in favor of Shanae being a plant. As mentioned, some viewers have pointed out that she has been given a lot of screen time despite not having much of a relationship with the Bachelor. This could be seen as evidence that the producers are trying to keep her around for reasons other than her potential as a romantic partner for Matt. Additionally, the fact that Shanae has a pre-existing relationship with one of the show's producers suggests that she may have been recruited rather than discovered in the normal casting process.

On the other hand, there are also some pieces of evidence that suggest Shanae is simply a regular contestant. For one thing, she has a relatively low social media following compared to some of the other women on the show - if someone were really brought on as a planted contestant, it stands to reason that they would already have a larger online presence. Additionally, while it's true that Shanae hasn't had the strongest connection with Matt so far, there have been plenty of previous seasons where contestants who seemed like 'plants' early on ended up forming genuine relationships with the Bachelor/Bachelorette as the season went on.

The Verdict: Is Shanae a Plant on The Bachelor?

Ultimately, it's impossible to know for sure whether or not Shanae was hired by the show's producers rather than casted in the usual way. While there are certainly some pieces of evidence that suggest she could be a plant (such as her close relationship with a producer), there are also plenty of reasons to believe that she is simply a regular contestant who is being depicted in a certain way for the sake of the show's narrative. Without more concrete evidence either way, we'll just have to keep watching and see how things play out for Shanae and the rest of the contestants.