From the archives: This reality TV show is filming in Des Moines. (Spoilers ahead!)

Courtney Crowder | The Des Moines Register

Editor's note: This story was originally published on Nov. 1, 2019.

Politics, Schma-olitics.

While the Democratic party is invading Des Moines with giant inflatable dogs, (sort of) celebrities and an offensive onslaught of campaign signs, the REAL NEWS is happening at the Iowa State Capitol — “The Bachelor” is in town filming a hometown date.

(All ye who scroll further than here abandon hope that there won’t be spoilers to Season 24 of “The Bachelor.”)

More: 'The Bachelor' Peter picks final four women for hometown dates

More: Some of Kelsey Weier’s top moments on ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’

“The Bachelor” Pilot Pete Weber and one of his paramours, contestant Kelsey Weier, were spotted on the Capitol grounds filming at about 10 a.m. Friday morning. Weber was standing in a hat (because, cold) and Weier was walking with a dramatic flair reserved for the most successful of pageant girls — a title Weier certainly earned as a former Miss Iowa: 2017 edition.

(SPOILER): Peter and Kelsey in Des Moines now by the state capital shooting separate interviews. pic.twitter.com/YRQQ8DkWKt — RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) November 1, 2019

(SPOILER): Peter and Kelsey in Des Moines now by the state capital shooting separate interviews. pic.twitter.com/YRQQ8DkWKt — RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) November 1, 2019

Thursday night, a CNN reporter in town for the Liberty and Justice event spotted the Bachelor on her flight. (For the record: The flight was American, despite Pete’s Delta ties.)

It’s not all that crazy these days to recognize people on flights to and from Des Moines.



But I didn’t expect to be sitting behind the Bachelor - Pilot Pete - on my flight to Iowa tonight. — Caroline Kenny (@carolinerkenny) November 1, 2019

This means that Iowa’s own is one of the final four contestants (out of 33) on the show, which will premiere in January on ABC.

A graduate of Dowling Catholic High School, Weier has been named a favorite by insiders of the show. Cosmopolitan magazine declared that the former Miss Iowa “makes it pretty far in the race to win Peter’s free Delta miles,” which is a great line that I am literally devastated I didn’t come up with.

Reality Steve, the Maggie Haberman of reality TV information, reported that Weier and Weber had a one-on-one date earlier this month at a soap box derby race where they were surrounded by children (subliminal messaging?).

(VIDEO): Peter and Kelsey arriving at the races with the kids pic.twitter.com/cZpXgeE9gc — RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) October 4, 2019

A twin, Weier is older than her sister Kayla by a whopping three minutes. And, yes, they are the kind of twins who were dressed alike. (Sqeee!)

Her twin is an extended learning program teacher at Grant Ragan Elementary in Waukee, much less visible than being on “The Bachelor,” but (hopefully) much more important to shaping the minds of Iowa’s littlest residents.

In high school, she spent more than 400 hours volunteering for causes that “focused on ecosystem sanitation and nutrition drives for the homeless,” according to a Miss Iowa online profile. She also ran track and helped her team get to state in girls’ basketball.

Weier attended cosmetology school and is a professional color and extensions specialist at Rick Mosley Hair in Des Moines.

In a video posted to the Miss USA site, Weier attributes her strength and independence to her mother, who raised three girls as a single mom in West Des Moines.

“I don’t think I would be as strong or be able to handle some of the pressures that come with pageants if it wasn’t for her,” Weier says tearfully in the video.

Here’s hoping that strength extends to the Bachelor Mansion and that Iowa’s own may be soaring into Pilot Weber's heart on the wings of love.

"The Bachelor" will premiere at 8 p.m. Jan. 6.

Courtney Crowder, the Register's Iowa Columnist, traverses the state's 99 counties telling Iowans' stories. She wrote more words about Chris Soules on "The Bachelor" than anyone in journalism school prepared her for. Please read her other work before emailing that "this isn't news." Reach her at ccrowder@dmreg.com or 515-284-8360. Follow her on Twitter @courtneycare.

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