"The Bachelorette" starts: Muckis, tattoos and oregano for the bin

The start of the new "Bachelorette" season surprises with a leading actress who gives the format a new coat of paint.

"The Bachelorette" starts: Muckis, tattoos and oregano for the bin

The start of the new "Bachelorette" season surprises with a leading actress who gives the format a new coat of paint. Also included: A cuddly plush elephant, two old hands and a sad spice jar.

Sharon Battiste expects nothing less than the ultimate kick: "I'm looking forward to the adventure of my life," the new bachelorette grins excitedly at the camera. In distant Thailand, the former "Cologne 50667" actress finally wants to find her Mr. Right. There are many roses, lots of six-packs and date prospects that leave nothing to be desired in terms of action and romance.

But before the big rose show begins, the main protagonist grants a brief insight into the private archive. 174 centimeters of concentrated female power with Jamaican roots: Sharon Battiste not only gives the format a long overdue repaint on the outside. Even behind the facade, there is a woman with an edgy attitude, who wears her heart on her sleeve. "I suffer from patches of hair loss and I've been through a toxic relationship," Sharon reveals.

Now going bald (when she's not wearing one of her countless wigs), Sharon is ready "for a fresh start." With a lucky pen from mom and a memory book from her best friends in her luggage, the 30-year-old finally gets going. The available dream princes have already positioned themselves under the Southeast Asian sun with lots of body lotion on their bodies and extremely heavy dumbbell fuss. Again, high-waist pleated trousers, fortune cookie tattoos, snow-white rows of teeth and sustainable elementary school pick-up lines are very popular.

The Balzmob presents itself as a mixture of Neckermann and McFit models, highly motivated and willing to lay the world at the feet of the new Bachelorette. Some people are already very familiar with the usual dating show procedure. The 36-year-old Mo, for example, was already in front of the camera for the dome show "Are You The One", while Dennis, who was thirteen years his junior, once tried his luck in love on "Love Island". The rest of the love-hungry squad is still pretty inexperienced in front of, behind and with the camera. For Sharon this means: open your eyes and prick up your ears. The bachelorette will no longer experience the candidates as virginal and authentic as the first walk over the red introductory carpet.

The model lady is standing on high heels in the yellow glitter fummel and can hardly wait any longer. Then the limousine finally pulls up. The cheeky Hanoverian Jan gets out and opens the party with a big grin on his face and a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Lukas from Hamburg follows the "opener" and leaves a first lasting impression on Sharon: "You smell good!" whispers the bachelorette. The pulse increases.

Gradually, not only more and more men, but also more and more gifts are fluttering into the feudal house. A "self-written thought letter" from physiotherapist Maurice, a plush elephant from sales professional Steffen and a lollipop conjured up from hobby magician Stas: The bachelorette is happy about (almost) everything. The only candidate who makes a blunder with his souvenir is entrepreneur Alex. The spice jar that I brought with me is not really well received by the bachelorette: "Oh, I always secretly scratch oregano from the pizza," admits Sharon.

Yes, not everything is "on top" in beautiful Thailand. There is still a lot of room for improvement here and there. But everyone is willing and keen on the journey, which begins with a confusing speed-dating chaos and eventually ends with one last rose, lots of goo and fireworks in the sky.

For the two genre connoisseurs Dennis and Mo, the dream of an unforgettable courtship tour with a happy ending already bursts after the first glass of Prosecco. At the Night of the Roses, the duo gets nothing. For 17 other candidates, on the other hand, the pink trip is only really starting now. We stay in the middle, instead of just there. Promised. Cheers!