Photo: Ricky Middlesworth/ABC
Meet the star ofThe Bachelorette, season 20.
Although Charity Lawson’s run as a contestant onZach Shallcross' season ofThe Bachelordidn’t end with a final rose, she found love as theleading ladyof ABC’s dating reality show. On the final episode ofThe Bachelorette, she gotengaged to Dotun Olubeko.
HostJesse Palmerasked the Georgia native during theWomen Tell Allspecial in March 2023 if she’d like to step into the titular role on season 20 ofThe Bachelorette. Upon her initial shock and disbelief, Lawson emotionally accepted the sought-after offer.
“Absolutely!” Lawson said breaking into tears. “100 percent! I’ve waited forever to find the love of my life,” she added. “It blows my mind that I could meet my person and be engaged and literally have my happily ever after.”
Lawson’s time onThe Bachelorcame to an end during the franchise’s anticipated hometown episode. The dating hopeful introduced her beau to her family and ultimately told Shallcross that she was"honestly falling in love"with him.
Here’s everything to know about Lawson, the star ofThe Bachelorette, season 20!
She was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia
Charity Lawson/instagram
Lawson is a Georgia native who was born to David and Vickie, one of their three children. She grew up in the city of Columbus, where she attended high school.
Her older brother, Nehemiah, works in dentistry. Fans were first introduced to Lawson’s big bro during the hometown visits onThe Bachelor.He was shown to be protectiveof his little sister, cautioning her that “there’s other women involved.”
She also has an older sister,Amiyaka, who keeps a low profile.
She graduated from Auburn University
Lawson earned amaster’s degree in clinical mental health counselingfrom Auburn University in May 2022. She described her time in college as one of the best experiences of her life, crediting her professors, friends and memories.
“The joy that comes with obtaining a degree the second time around is so much sweeter when you gain confirmation that it is exactly one of the things God has called you to do,” she wrote on Instagram. “The last two years has challenged me every single day in the areas of personal growth, but also in my professional identity as a therapist.”
She works as a child and family therapist
Lawson works as a therapist at a child advocacy center. Herfields of interestinclude trauma, child developmental disorders, anxiety, veterans, couples, and families, according to her LinkedIn.
“Thisfield of work is so beautiful, and I’m passionate about always advocating for mental health in today’s society,” she wrote on Instagram upon graduating. “One of the most powerful tools we as humans have is our minds, it’s important we treat it as such, and take care of it.”
She likes to travel
Although she was born and raised in Georgia, Lawson seeks adventure. According to her numerous Instagram posts, she’s traveled to various destinations all over the map and has shared beautiful sites with her followers.
Some of the places she’s explored includeChâteau de Versaillesin France and states such as Illinois, Washington D.C. and North Carolina.
She knows what she wants in a life partner
According to ABC’s bio, Lawson was “searching for a life partner wholoves dogs, thrifting and a good tailgate; but, above all else, is honest, empathetic and values her for who she is.” Like her parents, who have been married for over 47 years, Lawson “has been instilled with the confidence of knowing what she deserves and is eager to find a lasting love matching their example.”
She’s engaged to Dotun Olubeko
Craig Sjodin/abc
“We’re not really trying to have a super incredibly 17-year length engagement,” she said. “We obviously came here to find love, and we have successfully done that. So [we’re] super happy to get our lives started.”
The coupleplan to have two weddings— one to honor Olubeko’s Nigerian heritage and one traditional American ceremony.
She’ll compete on season 32 ofDancing With the Stars
In August 2023, duringAfter the Final Rose,Lawson’s fiancé surprised her with the news that she’d beencast onDancing With the Stars.
“So, I know you like to cut up, you like to dance and you like to get down,” Olubeko said. “And you know that we’ve talked about this, about how amazing this opportunity would be, and I am so happy to be the one to tell you that you’re going to be onDancing with the Stars.”
source: people.com
