Who Is The Bachelor's Lauren Maddox?

On Jan. 4, 2021, the 25th season of The Bachelor premiered. Though every season is highly anticipated, this one received even more hype, with fans questioning how the season would be filmed in the COVID-19 era. On top of that, this season is breaking a barrier that the show has been criticized for in the past. This season, viewers will have a chance to experience The Bachelor with the first-ever Black Bachelor at its helm. Previously, Rachel Lindsay served as the first Black woman to become the Bachelorette in 2017 (via Us Weekly).

When the announcement regarding Matt James casting was made back in June 2020, ABC executive Rob Mills noted the importance of diversity on the show. "Certainly no one is blind to what is happening in the world, so hopefully this announcement serves as a bit of optimism during a time that we can really use this, but I don't want this to look like we're patting ourselves on the back or taking a victory lap," Mills told Variety. "We know this is a few grains of sand in a very big hourglass."

On the first episode of The Bachelor, we met a number of characters, and the one thing that stood out the most is that, similar to the casting of Matt as the Bachelor, many of the contestants this year are diverse and interesting, too. Case in point: Miami resident and fashionable African American lawyer Lauren Maddox.

After scrolling through her Instagram, it is clear to see that Lauren Maddox is a Florida girl through and through. Lauren is from Miami, Fla., and much of her time is spent indulging in activities that pay tribute to Miami's fun, beachy lifestyle. When she is not lounging around the beach, Lauren is traveling around the most chic parts of the city, eating at top-tier restaurants, and shopping for threads at unique shops in downtown Miami. In fact, at one point, Lauren posted a photo of herself at the fashionable Dior Pop-Up Cafe, located on the garden terrace of Dior's Miami Design District women's boutique (per Instagram).

When she is not living it up in Miami, Lauren is traveling to interesting destinations, like the Dominican Republic and Italy, with her large group of friends. And, as you might imagine, her Miami mentality carries over into travels as she dons colorful swimsuit after colorful swimsuit on beautiful, exotic beaches.

Since 2018, Lauren Maddox has been a corporate attorney and field counsel for the Law Office of Ignacio M. Sarmiento, which serves the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas (via LinkedIn). Recently, Lauren had her law reviews published (per ABC).

Prior to working as a corporate lawyer, Lauren attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2009 to 2013, where she majored in political science and government. After graduating with her undergraduate degree, Lauren went on to complete law school at the University of Miami School of Law from 2014 to 2017, where she graduated Cum Laude (via LinkedIn).

Aside from working as an intern at other law offices, Lauren showed that she wanted to use her skills to help other people. While at the University of Miami School Law, she was a student clinician at the University of Miami Children & Youth Law Clinic, where she "managed multiple cases for children in foster care and former foster youth in dependency" and other similar situations (per LinkedIn).

Aside from looking for a partner that can double as her best friend and will have her back in any and all situations, Lauren Maddox is on the hunt for a family man. More than anything, Lauren wants to have a family someday, and any man who does not want a family is a no-go for The Bachelor contestant (per ABC).

Many of Lauren's Instagram stories highlight how much she adores her family members — especially her sister, nieces, and father. Lauren does her best to spend as much time with her nieces as she can. When she's not lounging on the beach and spending time with her family, however, Lauren enjoys reading books, celebrating the holiday season, working out, and listening to 2000s-era hip hop (via ABC).

On the first episode of The Bachelor, though Lauren did not receive much screen time, she did receive a rose from Matt at the end of the episode. Be sure to tune into the second episode of the 25th season, taking place on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST to see how Lauren and Matt get along.