The Transformation Of Hannah Brown From Childhood To 26 Years Old

Hannah Brown has come a long way since first joining "Bachelor Nation" in 2018 during Colton Underwood's season of "The Bachelor." Though she didn't win his heart, she went on to become a household name when she became "The Bachelorette." From there, Hannah's star continued to rise, and in 2021, she's become a mental health advocate with her own YouTube page, as well as seemingly having her eye set on a job in the entertainment industry. When she appeared on the "Bachelor Party" podcast in 2019, she said, "When I was a little girl I played talk show host ... I've always been just goofy and will talk about anything."

It's unclear if that dream will become a reality (it should!) but Hannah has had a wild journey thus far regardless. Before becoming a reality star, she was competing in beauty pageants for quite a long time, and according to Pageant Planet, she's been a star from the start, as she's been dancing since the age of two!

Keep scrolling to read about Hannah's transformation from childhood to 26 years old — and how her life led her to exactly where she deserves to be.

Hannah Brown was always a shining star! Aside from starting dancing early, according to Alabama News Center, she began competing in pageants when she was 15 years old "because of the opportunities for scholarships," as the outlet wrote.

Her early career included first runner-up in Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen, the second runner-up in Miss Alabama Teen USA, and the title of Miss Tuscaloosa in 2013. Though she didn't have the easiest journey, as Hannah admitted to the outlet, "it was kind of discouraging" because "people always have an opinion about what you do, what you say, how you walk, and how you dress," she said she did learn a lot in the pageant world. "It has really amplified me as a person. I have been able to talk to really anybody from all aspects of life." Hannah added that it "has given me a lot of confidence in times when there is both positive and negative light shed on me."

According to the outlet, Hannah began perfecting her "jazz danc[ing], as well as ... public speaking and outreach skills" in the pageant circuit. Scroll ahead to find out how the next chapter in her life completely changed everything for her.

After competing in Miss Alabama USA 2017, but not placing, Hannah Brown won Miss Alabama the following year. "So I'm Miss Alabama USA 2018," she wrote via Instagram at the time. "If you're shocked, I am too. If you are excited — sweet — I am too! The Lord is so faithful. I'm honored He has given me this opportunity to serve His people with this shiny hat." Hannah, added, "That's my goal this year — to love and encourage people anyway I can."

During the pageant, she used her platform to advocate for those suffering from depression and anxiety. (Hannah later opened up about her struggles with mental health, recalling that for years she "silently struggled internally as I was externally championed as the one who always seemed happy," per People.)

Six months later, Hannah competed in Miss USA 2019, but did not place at the national pageant (per Pageant Planet). Little did she know, a bigger and better opportunity was right around the corner because later that year she joined Season 23 of "The Bachelor." Unfortunately, she and lead Colton Underwood were not a match as she was eliminated in week seven, but she was announced as the new star of The Bachelorette" Season 15 on March 12, 2019.

Hannah Brown's star rose after she became "The Bachelorette," as she arguably quickly became one of the ABC franchise's most entertaining leads to date. Though her season was filled with drama and controversial contestants like Luke P., fans loved Hannah because she was unapologetically herself throughout it all. In fact, she made headlines for openly admitting to having premarital intimate relationships and telling one of her suitors that "Jesus still loves me."

The reality star did find love with Jedd Wyatt and he proposed on the show's finale. "I've sometimes questioned why God has allowed things to happen in my life the way they did," she told him during the episode. "There are so many times in my life where I thought that it would be it and it wasn't, I didn't understand why but it's led me to this moment, it's led me to you. I've been praying for this moment for a long time, and I've been praying for you."

Sadly, the couple broke off their engagement after Hannah found out that Jedd had a girlfriend while filming "The Bachelorette." But the journey continued.

After breaking up with fiance Jed Wyatt, there's was a time where the pageant queen-turned-reality star struggled. In a lengthy Instagram post, she was candid about how she felt about the whirlwind year she had just had. "Honest policy: I'm struggling. Life is so different," she wrote in August 2019. "Since last August, I've been a pageant queen, a Bachelor contestant, and The Bachelorette. I've been in love with multiple people, I got engaged, I broke off an engagement, and I shared it all with millions of people." She added, "It's uncharted territory for me, and it's been hard to really process what the heck is going on."

A few weeks later, a new and exciting opportunity came knocking at her door: "Dancing With the Stars." Hannah traded in her roses for dancing shoes when competed on Season 28 with professional partner Alan Bersten, which ended with her taking home the Mirror Ball Trophy. Turns out those early pageant days pulled through for Hannah. She's a multi-hyphenate! 

Following her time on "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," and "Dancing with the Stars," Hannah Brown spent some time with ex Tyler Cameron and sparked reconciliation rumors after they spent time together during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the twosome's relationship was purely platonic — at least according to them — and they've since moved on with other people. Hannah, for her part, met and fell in love with Adam Woolard.

The reality star confirmed her new romance in February with a PDA-filled Instagram Story photo one month after they were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles, Calif., according to Us Weekly, with sources saying Hannah may have found a perfect match in Adam. "They're both from the South. He's into working out, staying fit and enjoys doing a lot of sports: kickboxing, soccer, baseball, tennis — you name it," an insider explained.

In March, Hannah opened up about her relationship with Adam during a YouTube Q&A, admitting that while she was hesitant about falling in love again, she "picked a good one." In fact, she said that her life is "like an enchanted movie or something" and that "every day is so great." You love to see it!