The Grant Ellis Winner: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

The Grant Ellis Winner: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

So, you’re looking for the Grant Ellis winner. Honestly, if you watched the finale of The Bachelor Season 29, you know it was anything but a straight line to the finish. It was messy. It was emotional. At one point, I genuinely thought Jesse Palmer was going to have to physically push Grant toward the proposal platform because the guy was absolutely paralyzed by indecision.

But he did it. He made a choice.

The woman who walked away with the final rose and a Neil Lane diamond was Juliana Pasquarosa, a 28-year-old client service associate from Newton, Massachusetts.

The Moment It All Went Down

The finale in the Dominican Republic was a total rollercoaster. Grant was basically vibrating with anxiety. He had narrowed his 25 women down to two: Juliana and Litia Garr, a venture capitalist from Salt Lake City.

The weirdest part? Grant actually told Litia he loved her first.

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Usually, when a lead drops the "L-bomb" to one person and just says they're "falling" for the other, you know who the winner is. Not this time. Grant was so torn that even on the morning of the proposal, he told Jesse he didn't know what he was going to do. It was agonizing to watch. Litia arrived at the platform first, which is usually the "kiss of death" in this franchise. Grant broke her heart, telling her, "I love you, but I'm not your person."

She didn't take it well. Actually, she snapped. She told him it was "all about him" and basically stormed off. It was one of the most awkward rejections in recent memory.

Why Juliana Pasquarosa?

So, how did Juliana become the Grant Ellis winner if he was so obsessed with Litia?

Basically, it came down to the "vibe." During the family meetings, Grant’s mom, Renee, was a bit skeptical of Juliana at first because Juliana hadn't said she loved him yet. Renee even told Grant to "walk away" if she didn't say it. But when they got to their final date, something clicked. Juliana promised to "create a safe space" for him.

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  • The Connection: They bonded early on over a piano.
  • The Chemistry: It was playful and light, whereas things with Litia felt heavy and centered on "the future" (kids, timelines, etc.).
  • The Proposal: Grant called Juliana his "best friend" and promised he'd be there for her through the toughest times.

Juliana’s reaction was classic. She said "yes, a million times" and then yelled, "Abso-freakin-lutely, baby!"

The Aftermath (The Part Nobody Talks About)

Here’s the thing about being the Grant Ellis winner—the "happily ever after" didn't actually last that long.

The finale aired in late March 2025. By June 2025, the couple officially announced their split on Instagram. It was a "three months and out" situation. Juliana had even planned to move to Boston to be with him, and ABC had gifted them a trip to Italy that they never got to take.

Why did they break up? Rumor has it—and Juliana hinted at this—that watching the season back was brutal for her. Seeing how much Grant struggled to pick her over Litia, and hearing him tell another woman he loved her while only saying he was "falling" for Juliana, created a lot of trust issues. It's hard to build a foundation when you realize you were almost a coin flip.

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What Grant Ellis is Doing Now

Since the show wrapped and the breakup settled, Grant has mostly returned to his life in New Jersey and Houston. He’s still a day trader, focusing heavily on the S&P 500. He hasn't jumped back into the reality TV world yet, though there was some chatter about him appearing on Bachelor in Paradise or even Dancing with the Stars.

For now, he seems to be laying low, probably trying to distance himself from the "indecisive" label that the show gave him.

What You Should Know

If you're following Grant or Juliana on social media, here’s the reality of the situation:

  1. They are not together. Don't get your hopes up for a reunion.
  2. Litia is the fan favorite. Most of the "Bachelor Nation" discourse still centers on whether he made the wrong choice.
  3. The "Winner" Title is Relative. Juliana got the ring, but she also got the public heartbreak.

If you’re looking for more updates on the Season 29 cast, keep an eye on their Instagram stories. Most of them are currently in the "influencer" phase of their careers, which means you'll see a lot of hair gummy ads and "Get Ready With Me" videos before any actual news about their love lives.

To stay ahead of the curve, check out the latest casting calls for the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise, as that’s usually where these "winners" and "runners-up" end up clashing again. It’s a mess, but we love it.