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Who Is ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Contestant Michael Allio? Learn About His Late Wife Laura, Son and Job
He’s a catch! Former Bachelorette contestant Michael Allio was an early frontrunner on Katie Thurston’s season, and now, he’s appearing on season 8 of Bachelor in Paradise. The Ohio native, who is the father to a son named James, is giving love a second chance after his wife, Laura Ritter-Allio, died. Scroll down to learn everything about him.
Who Is Michael Allio’s Son?
The 38-year-old’s biggest priority is his son, and he previously confirmed that he was allowed to FaceTime James daily while competing on Katie’s season, despite contestants not being able to have any access to technology while in the mansion. It’s safe to say, he is most likely allotted the same amount of time while on the beach in Mexico.
However, Michael was sure to be around for his only child’s major milestones. The busy dad gushed over his adorable mini-me starting kindergarten in August.
“James was so brave today. I couldn’t be more proud,” the reality star wrote, adding that he was “wrecked” in the heartfelt post. “I knew today would be heavy, but I had no idea it would be this bad. I think it’s because we’ve just been through so much together.”
When Did Michael Allio’s Wife Laura Die?
Michael opened up about the death of his wife during The Bachelorette. He and Laura met in 2003 while attending Loyola University in Chicago, and they wed in September 2016. Seven months after giving birth to their son, Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and died two years later in January 2019.
Michael reflected on joining the cast of the reality dating show and possibly getting married again. “I look at it as what a gift to be able to fall in love twice,” he said.
In honor of Laura’s legacy, Michael founded the L4 Project, which offers support for families to “navigate the physical, emotional, institutional and financial complexities that come with a cancer diagnosis,” according to the website. In addition to running the non-profit, the Bachelor Nation star is also a founder and managing partner at Allstera, a company that sells sanitation products and PPE.
Is Michael Allio on Bachelor in Paradise?
Despite his hardships, Michael is ready to find love. He “lives a life that is incredibly fulfilling” and “is more than ready to find someone to share it with,” his ABC bio reads.
“His dream woman is compassionate, empathetic, resilient and not easily offended. A witty woman with a funny bone and a self-deprecating sense of humor is a huge turn-on for Michael, and he loves when a woman has strong convictions and stands up against ignorance,” his bio continued, while adding he’s “serious” about finding love. “Michael says that life is short and that he’s ready to find a woman who makes him a better person every day that they are together.”
Good luck, Michael! If you can’t wait to see what happens on Bachelor in Paradise, see spoilers here.
