The Bachelor: What Mariela ‘Mari’ Pepin Has Been Up To In 2021

Warning! Potential SPOILERS ahead for Bachelor in Paradise season 7! 

Stepping out of the limo on night one of The Bachelor, Mariela Pepin made quite the impression on lead Matt James. The model and former pageant queen wowed Matt with her looks, but unfortunately, they weren’t enough to carry her through the remainder of the season and she was sent home during week four. Though Mari’s attempt to find love with Matt was bogged down by drama and mean girls, Bachelor Nation will hopefully get to see the 24-year-old’s next attempt at finding love on a beach in Mexico.

It is not official yet, but according to Reality Steve, The Bachelor franchise’s resident spoiler, Mari is one of almost forty potential contestants rumored to appear on season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise. A number of notable Bachelor and Bachelorette alums will be appearing on the show, including former The Bachelorette lead Becca Kufrin, Becca’s former contestant Joe Amabile, and fan-favorite Demi Burnett. ABC has yet to announce the official cast of the show, but ABC executive Rob Mills seemingly confirmed that Dr. Joe Park from Clare and Tayshia’s season of The Bachelorette will be appearing as a contestant back in January.

Prior to filming for Paradise, Mari seemingly returned to her job as a marketing director for Maryland Plastic Surgery & PURE MedSpa while also pursuing her Master’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland. Mari has also been active in her community. With a commitment to give back, Mari has created a number of non-profit organizations to help women overcome medical obstacles and provide free surgical procedures to veterans in need. The pageant queen has also been working with children and has given presentations on self-confidence.

Mari has also continued her modeling career with Click Models for their Philadelphia and New York divisions. She has shared a handful of pictures from photoshoots in her home state of Maryland, as well as DC and LA, with fans on social media. However, Mari’s social media accounts have been fairly silent recently, leading fans to believe that Reality Steve’s spoilers for season 7 are true and that the former pageant queen will be appearing on the newest season of Bachelor in Paradise.

Reality Steve also recently revealed that not only did Mari travel to Mexico to film Bachelor in Paradise, but she’ll be returning home with a ring on her finger. Along with two other couples who got engaged, Mari reportedly said yes to Kenny Braasch, the boyband manager from Clare and Tayshia’s season of The Bachelorette. Reality Steve also revealed Mari and Kenny’s relationship included some drama, which mostly revolved around a love triangle with Paradise alum Demi Burnett. Still, it seems Mari will be getting her happily ever after in the end.

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