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Who gets first impression rose in 'The Bachelor' 2024? Lea Cayanan dubbed 'cringe' as she burns date advantage card from Joey Graziadei

'The Bachelor' Season 28 contestant Lea Cayanan entered with the secret envelope sparking everyone's curiosity

AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Lea Cayanan received the first impression rose in the premiere episode of 'The Bachelor' Season 28. She had obtained a special card from Joey Graziadei on 'The Bachelorette's 'After The Final Rose,' and made a memorable entrance by burning the card upon her arrival on the show. As Lea entered with the gifted secret envelope, it sparked everyone's interest in knowing what was inside it. Later in the episode, it was revealed that the secret card had the power to steal someone's date.

After reading the contents of the card, Lea broke down into tears, describing it as "tricky to navigate." Despite the potential advantage, she decided not to use it and threw the card into the fire, expressing that she would have felt guilty about stealing another woman's date. Fans speculate that Lea burned her card to make a lasting impression on Joey Graziadei, believing that her actions would have had an effect on him.

Lea made a firm statement about her priorities, saying, "If I'm not Joey's person at the end of this, then I'm not. It's not gonna matter if I get a little card." However, some fans found humor in Lea's dramatic reaction to the steal-a-date card.

One fan sarcastically commented, "LMAO @ the drama Lea created w/her steal a date card. The crying. The virtue signaling. The ridiculousness of it all. Oh, the torment of getting an advantage! Then she was rewarded for her cringe performance w/a rose. Lol, people are different today."

On the other hand, another fan praised Lea's strategic move, stating, "Lea played that PERFECTLY. Let Joey know how she felt about it and wanted him to have full autonomy of his journey, telling the girls, and then burning the card. All the other girls saying they would use it shows they are on the selfish side. Brilliantly played."

Another fan tweeted about Lea's unconventional move, stating, "Lea burning the first date letter to get the 1st impression rose." There was also a playful jab at Lea, with a fan mentioning, "Lea burning the 1-on-1 power (I’m sorry for the very niche reference)."

On a positive note, a fan appreciated Lea's strategic decision, commenting, "All time FLEX by Lea burning the note. She could’ve thrown it away, told nobody. She did it in front of everyone. Chess, Not Checkers."

Will Lea Cayanan be eliminated from 'The Bachelor' Season 28?

It appears that despite Lea's strategic moves in the premiere episode, her journey on the show may be short-lived. Reality Steve reports that Lea is set to be eliminated in the 6th Rose ceremony. Alongside her, Katelyn DeBacker, Jessica Edwards, and Lexi Young are also reported to be ruled out from the show at that time. 

Who is 'The Bachelor' Season 28 contestant Lea Cayanan's ideal partner?

Lea's pursuit of a deep connection and her desire for a serious, long-lasting relationship demonstrates her commitment to finding a meaningful connection. Her shift away from casual dating suggests that she values sincerity and loyalty in a partner. As she navigates her journey on the show with Joey, it will be interesting to see if their connection aligns with her vision of a committed relationship. Only time will tell whether Joey is the one who shares Lea's perspective on love and can provide the depth of connection she seeks. 

'The Bachelor' Season 28 new episodes air every Monday 8 pm ET on ABC, and is available for streaming on Hulu the following day.