The Truth About The Bachelor's MJ Snyder

Following months of drama around Bachelor Nation, the pressure is on for The Bachelor star Matt James to give the people the love story we all need. As the show's first Black bachelor, he's excited to show viewers a romance we've never seen before on the ABC franchise.

"We know we have a responsibility to make sure the love stories we're seeing onscreen are representative of the world we live in, and we are proudly in service to our audience," ABC said in a statement (via People) announcing Matt as the new Bachelor in June 2020. "This is just the beginning, and we will continue to take action with regard to diversity issues on this franchise. We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on this journey with him."

After being crowned the next Bachelor star in June 2020, Matt told Chris Harrison he received an outpour of support for bringing diversity to the show. "I've heard from a lot of my Black friends that aren't Bachelor Nation faithful, that are excited about me and are honored I'm in the position I'm in and have this opportunity to just represent...  diverse relationships and tell those love stories," he told the host during an episode of The Bachelor: Greatest Seasons—Ever! (via People). Matt's ladies are making sure season 20 is a memorable one. Keep scrolling for details on stand-out contestant MJ Snyder.

Aside from their matching initials, Matt James and MJ Snyder share a fun-loving energy that is hard to come by. Remembered for her stunning blonde curly hair, MJ is giving major Free People model vibes, and we are so here for it. With hair like that, it's no wonder she works as a hairstylist. MJ "specialize[s] in extensions and color," in addition to being a professional "spray tan artist," she told Iles Formula in June 2020. She previously worked in PR while living in New York City with a focus on fashion, but she soon realized small living and beauty was more her speed. "Starting out in New York was a struggle and I had to find a second job," she told the site. "I started my mobile spray tan business and would travel between clients in the city. After working at NYFW, I realized my true passion was in the beauty industry." 

These days, MJ resides in Columbus, Ohio. According to her Bachelor profile, the beauty is from Hudson, Ohio, "grew up on a small island in Lake Erie," and is a graduate of Ohio State University, per her Instagram bio. Similar to Matt, who is often spotted living it up in Florida with best friend Tyler Cameron, "she love[s] being outdoors and on the water." Sounds like the perfect place to be if MJ wants to get his best man's good graces.

If you keep up with Matt James on social media, you'll know he supports many charities and is always trying to get involved in more programs that help better the community. Just like the Bachelor, helping to create positive change is very important to MJ Snyder. 

MJ aims to see "the beauty of life in all that she does," according to her ABC biography. "She is passionate about making people feel better about themselves and says that her calling in life is to make the world a more beautiful place." As someone who puts others before herself, it's important to her to be with someone who shares the same values. "MJ wants a man who will be just as giving as she is," her biography reads, however, giving back to her community is just as important to her as giving love and support to her partner and vise versa. She's on the hunt for a partner who "will shower her with the reciprocated love she deserves." Matt James might just be that partner.

Although Matt James is still on the lookout for his bride, he has been pretty vocal about wanting to start a family. "I think the grandkid counter for my mom started when the announcement was made," Matt said of his mother while speaking with Chris Harrison after he was crowned the next Bachelor, per People. "She wants a basketball team. I'll have a mini van, as many as we can fit," he added. 

Luckily, MJ Snyder's familial goals seem to align with Matt's. "She dreams of settling down with someone reliable, decisive and family oriented, and says that she needs a man who will be as fiercely loyal to her as she is to them," her ABC biography shares, adding, "She loves a man with a plan but has no interest in someone with an inflated ego or unrealistic expectations." These two sound like they have plenty in common, but we'll just have to see whether MJ ends up being the one for Matt James.

Just like Matt James, MJ Snyder seems to be loving her time in the spotlight, but she also appears to be humbled by her time on camera. Following her debut on The Bachelor, MJ took to Instagram to talk about her memorable entrance when she brought Matt the key to any man's heart: pizza. "Your favorite pizza delivery girl," MJ captioned a screen grab of the moment she met Matt via Instagram, along with a pizza emoji. Just look at the way she looks at him!

As things got underway on The Bachelor, MJ was thrilled to promote the show. Prior to the Jan. 11, 2021, episode, she took to Instagram to share a selfie with the caption, "All smiles over here! Watch #TheBachelor tonight at 8|7c on ABC [rose emoji] #bachelornation." Later in the evening, she shared some clips from the episode to her Instagram Story. In one instance, she shared a photo with Matt's arms around her as she wore white, to which one user wrote, "It's the perfection for me." She also shared a clip from the show of her stating, "This should be, like, entertaining," to which the user added, "Me to me when I watch #thebachelor every week." It sounds like MJ is definitely a good sport!