If you recognise The Vow’s Kylee Russell, she was on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise
She was recently baptised last year
Bachelor Nation viewers will recognise a familiar face on Chris Harrison’s The Vow. Kylee Russell, who appeared on Zach Shallcross’ season of The Bachelor and later Bachelor in Paradise, is one of the 10 women dating lead Jace Cates on The Vow.
Since she was last on screen, she has split from Aven Jones for good and been baptised, and she is now going into the show with her faith front and centre.
Who is Kylee Russell?
View this post on Instagram
Kylee is 28 and from Charlotte, North Carolina. She is a registered nurse and is currently working towards a doctorate in women’s health, training to become a midwife. Before nursing took over, she danced for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.
When she was on Bachelor in Paradise she was working as a postpartum nurse. After her breakup in early 2024 she said she was leaving Charlotte for San Diego, where she had taken a job as an aesthetic nurse at a medspa.
Her Bachelor history
Kylee was one of 30 women on Zach Shallcross’ season of The Bachelor (Season 27), which aired from January to March 2023. She became part of a wider conversation on the show about microaggressions towards Black women. She went home in week five, and because Zach had Covid at the time, she was sent home over a video call, which she has since described as embarrassing.
Later in 2023 she joined Bachelor in Paradise Season 9. She arrived saying openly that she wanted to meet Aven Jones from Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey’s season of The Bachelorette, after he had liked her Instagram posts and sent her a fire emoji. She had a brief connection with Will Urena before Aven pulled her aside. Kylee and Aven left Paradise together without getting engaged.
Days after the finale aired, Kylee announced on Instagram that they had split due to “multiple infidelities”. She later told the Charlotte Observer that she had found out Aven cheated during a trip in July, and then about a second time later that summer. Aven responded with a statement of his own at the time.
The pair went on to get back together, and were on and off for nearly three years. Their final split was announced on 24th June 2026.
What she’s said about religion
View this post on Instagram
Faith is a big part of why Kylee is on The Vow. In November 2025 she was baptised at The Burg Church, and shared it on Instagram, writing that she had “always loved Jesus” but had now publicly professed her faith in front of the people closest to her. She thanked Jesus for renewing her spirit and finished the post with “I AM FREE”.
Ahead of the show, she has described herself as “on fire for Jesus”. Fox Nation’s own description of her says that her last relationship ended in heartbreak, but that since being baptised she is ready to try love again.
Chris Harrison has said producers didn’t go looking for a Bachelor Nation contestant. Instead, she was cast because of her interview answers and where she was on her faith journey. He also said he thinks she felt part of her story “wasn’t given a fair shake” on The Bachelor, and wanted the chance to tell it properly.
For all the latest reality TV cast member news, scandals, gossip and updates – like Reality Shrine on Facebook.