The Truth About The Bachelor's Alana Milne
She's from Canada. She's a professional photographer. And she wore the same dress as another woman on the first night at the mansion. Yep — we are talking about Alana Milne from The Bachelor. But, aside from the fact that she really "bowled" Matt James over straight out of the limo, what else should we know about the woman vying for the first Black Bachelor's heart?
"Instead of taking the traditional college path after high school, Alana leaned into her desire for adventure and moved to Europe where she enrolled in different programs throughout Europe," Alana's Bachelor bio reads. "She calls this decision her greatest accomplishment yet because it took her on a journey of self-discovery and exploration that really shaped her into the independent woman she is today."
Traveling internationally right after high school definitely sounds fun, and Alana surely has plenty of stories to share with Matt as they get to know each other more. (She's also shared a number of photos from her travels on Instagram, if you are into that kind of pandemic FOMO.) Here's what fans know about Alana so far — because she's one to watch as the season continues, that's for sure.
Chris Harrison compared Alana Milne to Kaitlyn Bristowe
In a video introducing the current round of Bachelor contestants, host Chris Harrison likened Alana Milne to Kaitlyn Bristowe, who competed on Season 19 of The Bachelor and starred as The Bachelorette's Season 11 lead. (Kaitlyn is currently dating Jason Tartick, who was on The Bachelorette Season 14.)
"I'm not going to say the boldest, but [she] definitely [had] one of the boldest entrances of the season," Harrison said of Alana during the live video, according to Bustle. "I'll just give you a hint: Lady and the Tramp." Let's just say, this "saucy" gal certainly has some tricks up her sleeve.
Aside from hinting at Alana's limo entrance, Harrison comparing her to Kaitlyn could mean that she will be one to watch this season. Kaitlyn is one of the most recognizable names in Bachelor Nation, so the comparison could mean that Alana will be sticking around for a good portion of the season. And, who knows — if Alana does not get Matt's final rose (and ultimately, his heart), she could even follow in Kaitlyn's footsteps to star in The Bachelorette.
Alana Milne took inspiration from an iconic Disney scene for her Bachelor entrance
Chris Harrison's comment about Lady and the Tramp was a pretty good clue about what was to come when Alana Milne exited the notorious Bachelor limo. The 26-year-old asked Matt James to hold a bowl of spaghetti before picking up a noodle (with her hands, of course) and making them recreate the spaghetti-eating scene from the classic Disney cartoon, complete with a chaste kiss at the end. It was a bold move, and the contestants who had arrived already watched with shock from an upstairs window overlooking the driveway.
"I'm happy with what I did," Alana said to producers during an on-camera confessional interview. "It was playful. It was cute. It was a way to break the ice." Matt, meanwhile, was left holding the bowl of noodles, saying "I don't even know what to say about that." He was smiling, though, so it looks like he enjoyed the stunt. (And, considering Night One often lasts until the wee hours of the morning, loading up on carbs actually sounds like an ideal strategy.)
Alana Milne works for her family's company
Toronto's Milne Studio offers acting classes for adults and teens, ranging from improv training to a class on accents. But contestant Alana Milne is not an actor or an acting coach — she is the "project manager and headshot photographer" for the studio, according to her bio on the site. If sitcoms have taught us anything, it is that every actor needs a good headshot, so she is doing important work! And the headshots she's taken look great, too.
According to the website, Alana also "manages student relations and has a relationship with each and every student who walks in the doors at Milne Studio." She seems like a people person, which could explain why she was so comfortable with Matt James, locking lips with him before they even had a chance to meet properly.
And, as for potentially relocating to the U.S., Alana already started spending more time stateside during the pandemic, as it was not exactly a great time for in-person group acting classes. "Due to social distancing and lockdown — parts of my job were no longer necessary," Alana wrote in a Google Doc linked in her Instagram bio. "I'm back in the states, working from home, looking for a beach to settle by, and developing a completely sustainable, eco-friendly, and ethically made clothing line." Could she find that beachside home with Matt? Well, he is a commercial real estate broker, so his expertise could be helpful whether they share that home or not.
Alana Milne supports the Black Lives Matter movement
Amid ongoing civil distress, Alana Milne has been outspoken about social justice. In June 2020, Alana posted an illustration of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, three Black Americans whose 2020 murders sparked civil unrest across the country, on Instagram. "It's not enough just to not be racist. We need to be actively anti racist," Alana wrote in her caption. "Police brutality is really just scratching the surface when it comes to systemic racism. I'll do better, be open, and always stand up for black lives."
Being anti-racist might seem like the least anyone can do in 2021, but political controversy has struck Bachelor Nation in the past. Garrett Yrigoyen, who received Becca Kufrin's final rose on The Bachelorette, had to apologize after fans found out he'd liked bigoted Instagram posts. And Bekah Martinez, who competed alongside Becca Kufrin on The Bachelor, called Garrett out for another problematic Instagram post last year. (P.S. Becca and Garrett are no longer engaged.)
It's nice to know that a political scandal is not likely to happen in Alana's case, at least. Whether or not she captures Matt James' heart, Alana is already delighting Bachelor viewers with her confidence and outspoken nature.