Nick Peterson Heads To ‘Bachelor In Paradise’: Hunky ‘Bachelor Pad 3’ Winner Competes For Love, Not Money

Remember Nick Peterson, the guy who stunned his Bachelor Pad 3 co-stars by choosing not to share the grand prize with contestant Rachel Truehart? Three years after he walked off the stage $250,000 richer, he is one of 29 contestants who will appear on the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise.

While ABC has only confirmed the names of the contestants who will appear on the season premiere (August 2), 13 additional contestants will come on to the show throughout the season. According to Reality Steve, Nick Peterson will join the other cast members at the Playa Escondida Resort in Sayulita, Mexico on Week 5.

Keep your eyes on Nick this season — not just because he’s a certified personal trainer and looks great with his shirt off. Rumor has it that he may be part of a love triangle (spoilers) that involves Joe Bailey and Samantha Steffen — one that has a happy ending for Nick.

Peterson got his start with the Bachelor franchise as a contestant on Ashley Hebert’s season of the Bachelorette in 2011. Eliminated on week five, Nick joined Bachelor Pad 3 a year later. Although he didn’t cause drama on the ‘Pad,’ he played the game masterfully, emerging as the big winner in one of the best season finales in the franchise’s history.

If there is any doubt that Nick will be joining Bachelor in Paradise this season, his Twitter feed and recent Facebook posts should clue fans in that he will be taking his shirt off and showing off his abs on this summer’s biggest drama-fest.

Peterson has been promoting Bachelor in Paradise on social media, even going so far as to say “maybe…watch the show” to a woman who asked if he was going to be on BIP.

Peterson won’t be the only Bachelor Pad 3 contestant who will show up in Paradise this season — two of his former Pad-mates will join him on the show. Chris Bukowski (Emily Maynard’s season) is rumored to show up with Nick on Week 5, and Jaclyn Swartz (Ben Flajnik’s season) will arrive Week 6.

Spoilers indicate that Chris and Jaclyn won’t make it as far as Nick does, but you’ll have to tune in to watch the show to find out if he wins this season’s grand prize — this time he’s in it for love, not money.

ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise 2 kicks off with a two-night season premiere on August 2 at 8 p.m. ET.

[Image: ABC]