After losing the heart of Desiree Hartsock during Season 9 of “The Bachelorette,” Juan Pablo Galavis, 44, became the first Latino lead when he was cast in Season 18 of “The Bachelor.”
Having become a fan favorite during Hartsock’s season, Galavis’ likeability on the hit ABC show quickly rose above the average threshold of what was to be expected. Throughout his season, though, female contestants began to feel burned by the Venezuelan star, causing an uproar among cast members.
While he left the show in a relationship with Nikki Ferrell, he decided not to propose to her, leaving her with his final rose and a promise to continue their relationship.
Although the former couple dated for seven months before officially splitting, it would be runner-up Clare Crawley who stole the season’s storyline after she later lit fire to her finale dress. Not only did Crawley burn her turquoise number, but she also confronted Galavis, telling him she would “never want my children having a father like you.”
Despite his rocky relationships with contestants, Galavis has thrived on the outside of the screen. Here are five noteworthy facts about one of the franchise’s most talked about male leads in history:
Where Was Juan Pablo Galavis Born?
GettyGalavis was born in Ithaca, N.Y., on August 5, 1991. At the age of 2, he moved to Venezuela, where he was raised for most of his life before returning to the United States to play collegiate soccer.
Juan Pablo Galavis Played Professional Soccer
Galavis grew up playing soccer in Venezuela before he attended Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, N.Y., to play midfielder for their team. While there, he accomplished a record-setting amount of assists, earning 25 overall.
After his college years, he played for several professional teams throughout Venezuela. Some of which include Monagas SC, Aragua FC, Caracas FC, Guaros FC and more.
In 2008, Galavis played for the Strikers, formerly known as Miami FC. During that same year, he retired from professional ball.
Juan Pablo Galavis’ Daughter Was on ‘American Idol’
Galavis decided to retire from professional soccer to focus his time on fatherhood, as he welcomed daughter Camila in 2009 with his ex-girlfriend Carla Rodríguez.
In 2024, Camila appeared on Season 22 of “American Idol,” where her father supported her during her audition. Although Camila made it through, she was sent home during the Hollywood round.
Juan Pablo Galavis Is a Licensed FIFA Football Agent
In 2019, Juan became a licensed FIFA football agent. He represents players through RedWine Sports, his management company.
According to his LinkedIn profile, RedWine Sports represents “professional soccer players in many different types of negotiations, providing advice and representation concerning contracts, endorsement and advertisement deals, public appearances, and financial investments and taxes, among other areas.”
He also represents rising musicians through RedWine Management.
Is Juan Pablo Galavis Married?
Juan married TV host and model Osmariel Villalobos in August 2017. The couple, however, quietly divorced two years later in 2019 before they announced their split in 2020.
Since his divorce, Juan has not been married again.
