Daisy Kent is not your typical contestant on The Bachelor. The 25-year-old social media influencer from Becker, Minnesota, has a cochlear implant, a device that helps her hear, because she suffers from Ménière’s disease, a rare condition that affects the inner ear and causes vertigo, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears. She also has Lyme disease, which may have triggered her Ménière’s disease.
But Daisy is not letting her challenges stop her from pursuing love and happiness. She is one of the fan favorites on season 28 of The Bachelor, starring Joey Graziadei, a 32-year-old actor and model from Los Angeles. Daisy had the first one-on-one date with Joey, where she opened up about her cochlear implant and how it affects her dating life. She received a rose from Joey and advanced to the next week.
“I’m not here to hide who I am or what I’ve been through,” Daisy told Joey. “I’m here to find someone who accepts me and loves me for who I am.”
Daisy is originally from Becker, Minnesota, and grew up on a Christmas tree farm. She comes from a big, loving family, and her parents’ 30-plus-year marriage has been a significant influence on her outlook on romantic relationships.
Daisy currently resides in San Diego, California, where she moved to attend college. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2021, majoring in digital and social media communications and being a member of Alpha Phi. Daisy works as an account executive at Jungo, a software development company.
Daisy is also using her platform to raise awareness and educate others about her conditions. She has over 2 million followers on TikTok, where she posts videos about her daily life, her journey with hearing loss, and her experience on The Bachelor. She also shares tips and advice for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, or who have Ménière’s disease or Lyme disease.
Daisy started losing her hearing at 15 due to contracting Lyme disease. Diagnosed with Meniere’s disease at 17, she later confirmed having Lyme disease at 21. Daisy founded the nonprofit “Hear Your Heart” to support children with autoimmune disorders or hearing loss, raising awareness and providing medical assistance and education funding.
Daisy has received support and praise from many people, including Abigail Heringer, the first woman in Bachelor Nation history to use a cochlear implant. Abigail, who starred in Matt James’ season in 2021, told PEOPLE that she was excited to see more representation for the hearing loss community on the show, and that she was proud of Daisy for sharing her story.
Daisy wrote a children’s book, “Daisy Doo: All the Sounds She Knew” to aid children diagnosed with hearing loss, aiming to provide support and promote self-acceptance. [ Daisy Doo: Buy Now]
Daisy is not only a contestant on The Bachelor, but also a role model and an inspiration for many people who face similar challenges. She is showing the world that hearing loss is not a barrier to finding love, and that cochlear implants are not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to be celebrated.
“The Bachelor” season 28 airs on ABC on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
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