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13-Year-Old Bakery Owner Michael Platt Uses His Business To Help The Homeless

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A 13-year-old entrepreneur from Maryland is using his love for baking as an avenue to pay it forward and fight hunger amongst the homeless. According to People Michael Platt —who owns the bakery Michael’s Desserts—donates one of his treats to a homeless person for each dessert that is sold at his store. 13-Year-Old Boy Opens Bakery and Gives a Cupcake to the Homeless for Every Treat Sold https://t.co/aSXWARtERV — People (@people) June 27, 2019 The pre-teen has been passionate about merging his passion for the culinary industry with activism. Cognizant of the issues faced by individuals from underserved communities, he wanted to utilize his baking skills as a way to uplift the homeless population. Every month he makes over 100 treats and delivers them to shelters in the Washington, D.C. area. Building a business has been far from easy for the youngster. He was diagnosed with epilepsy after suffering several seizures. Due to his ailment, he had to be homeschooled and couldn’t participate in sports which is what led him to baking. Platt didn’t let his health issues hold him back from pursuing his dream. In the midst of everything, he was focused on using his home-made desserts as a way to make an impact. “I’ve seen a cupcake inspire smiles, tears, amazement, joy, satisfaction, happiness and other private emotions that I won’t share out of respect for people’s dignity,” he wrote in an Instagram post . “I’ve passed a cupcake to someone sitting with all their possessions in a shopping cart and had them tell me that this one simple act gave them hope. I’ve left a cupcake beside someone who’s sleeping under blankets on a grate because their friend on the grate next to them said it was ok when I asked. That’s why I give away cupcakes.” Platt has partnered with No Kid Hungry—a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to addressing child hunger in America—to further his mission. Aside from his work with the homeless, he’s also using his desserts to highlight Black pioneers. He’s named some of his cupcakes after influential leaders including Maya Angelou , Nelson Mandela , Harriet Tubman , and Martin Luther King Jr. SEE ALSO: Donations Pour In To Help Formerly Homeless Student Attend An HBCU LeBron James Aims To Combat Hunger In Underserved Communities [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881358″ overlay=”true”]

13-Year-Old Bakery Owner Michael Platt Uses His Business To Help The Homeless

Pharrell Williams Vows To Give 114 Harlem High School Graduates Internships

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P harrell Williams is investing in the futures of youth from underserved communities. According to Because of Them We Can , the music producer surprised the 2019 graduating class at Promise Academy by vowing to give them all internship opportunities after they complete their first year of college. 100% of the graduating seniors from Harlem’s Promise Academy got accepted into college, then @Pharrell surprised them w/internships next summer! https://t.co/fUvdHeUxeG — #becauseofthemwecan (@Becauseofthem) June 28, 2019 Williams served as the commencement speaker for the Harlem-based school. During his speech, he gave the graduating class—which consisted of 114 seniors—encouraging words about how to navigate the next chapter of their journeys. Graduates and their loved ones were in for a surprise when he shared that he would provide the students with internship opportunities as a way to establish a stepping stone for their success. After Williams shared the news the sea of graduates—who proudly donned blue cap and gowns—erupted into cheers and clapping. “The world is watching Harlem, but this renaissance will be different,” said Williams during his speech . “Believe it or not, with respect, it’s going to actually be better and the reason why is because the new Harlem Renaissance has education at its core.” Williams has lended his voice to several social issues and the philanthropist has been dedicated to ensuring that students—specifically those from underserved communities and underrepresented groups—have access to enriching opportunities. In April, he teamed up with Verizon to introduce a tech-focused music curriculum to schools throughout the country. Through the program, students will have the opportunity to explore music through robotics, virtual reality, and other types of technology. In 2018 he hosted the Yellow Ball gala in partnership with American Express Platinum to benefit Young Audiences Arts for Learning; an organization that implements arts education curriculums in different community centers and schools across the country. SEE ALSO: Pharrell Williams Launches Music Education Program In Partnership With Verizon Black Teacher Gives Students Haircuts For Graduation [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881358″ overlay=”true”]

Pharrell Williams Vows To Give 114 Harlem High School Graduates Internships

Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App

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F or Black entrepreneurs Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon what started out as an app idea to help individuals who struggled to find a good barbershop has transformed into a platform that is changing the landscape of the barber experience. According to Tech Crunch , they raised $8 million for their app SQUIRE during their first round of venture capital financing. Barbershop management platform Squire raises $8 million Series A round https://t.co/ERefXxiZke by @meganrosedickey pic.twitter.com/Hq6HAjLg49 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 25, 2019 Salvant and LaRon are seasoned entrepreneurs who through their own experiences discovered that the process of finding a good barber can often be inefficient. The two decided to team up and develop a solution. The app—which was founded in 2015—connects barbers and customers. Through SQUIRE, individuals can find barbershops in their area, read customer reviews, and book appointments. Customers also have the opportunity to pay for their haircuts through the app. SQUIRE goes beyond simply booking haircut appointments, it provides barbers throughout the country with the platform to sell products and promote their brand. There is a wide range of shops that are included in the app’s directory, including large high-end shops and small locally owned businesses. The app was launched in New York and expanded to cities like Atlanta, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It now features barbershops in 28 cities. Since its inception, there have been $100 million in transactions processed through the app. The fundraising round was led by Trinity Ventures. “Millions of men need haircuts daily and are looking to find the right barbershop, but the process is usually unnecessarily hard and time consuming,” said Salvant in an interview with Forbes . “SQUIRE lets you locate a barber, schedule your appointment and pay from anywhere you are, now making the process quick and convenient.” The entrepreneurs plan on putting the money raised towards marketing and hiring engineers to work on the app’s infrastructure. “In talking to customers, we realized there was a lot of opportunity to build value in a backend management system,” LaRon said in a statement, according to TechCrunch. Both LaRon and Salvant are carving out a space in an industry that is worth billions. According to Statista , the barber industry is expected to be valued at $26 billion by next year. SEE ALSO: Black-Owned Barbershop Pays Off Debt For Students In Charlotte ‘You Next’ Project Illustrates The Impact And Influence Of Black Barbershops [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881358″ overlay=”true”]

Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App

Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App

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F or Black entrepreneurs Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon what started out as an app idea to help individuals who struggled to find a good barbershop has transformed into a platform that is changing the landscape of the barber experience. According to Tech Crunch , they raised $8 million for their app SQUIRE during their first round of venture capital financing. Barbershop management platform Squire raises $8 million Series A round https://t.co/ERefXxiZke by @meganrosedickey pic.twitter.com/Hq6HAjLg49 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 25, 2019 Salvant and LaRon are seasoned entrepreneurs who through their own experiences discovered that the process of finding a good barber can often be inefficient. The two decided to team up and develop a solution. The app—which was founded in 2015—connects barbers and customers. Through SQUIRE, individuals can find barbershops in their area, read customer reviews, and book appointments. Customers also have the opportunity to pay for their haircuts through the app. SQUIRE goes beyond simply booking haircut appointments, it provides barbers throughout the country with the platform to sell products and promote their brand. There is a wide range of shops that are included in the app’s directory, including large high-end shops and small locally owned businesses. The app was launched in New York and expanded to cities like Atlanta, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It now features barbershops in 28 cities. Since its inception, there have been $100 million in transactions processed through the app. The fundraising round was led by Trinity Ventures. “Millions of men need haircuts daily and are looking to find the right barbershop, but the process is usually unnecessarily hard and time consuming,” said Salvant in an interview with Forbes . “SQUIRE lets you locate a barber, schedule your appointment and pay from anywhere you are, now making the process quick and convenient.” The entrepreneurs plan on putting the money raised towards marketing and hiring engineers to work on the app’s infrastructure. “In talking to customers, we realized there was a lot of opportunity to build value in a backend management system,” LaRon said in a statement, according to TechCrunch. Both LaRon and Salvant are carving out a space in an industry that is worth billions. According to Statista , the barber industry is expected to be valued at $26 billion by next year. SEE ALSO: Black-Owned Barbershop Pays Off Debt For Students In Charlotte ‘You Next’ Project Illustrates The Impact And Influence Of Black Barbershops [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881358″ overlay=”true”]

Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App

Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App

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F or Black entrepreneurs Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon what started out as an app idea to help individuals who struggled to find a good barbershop has transformed into a platform that is changing the landscape of the barber experience. According to Tech Crunch , they raised $8 million for their app SQUIRE during their first round of venture capital financing. Barbershop management platform Squire raises $8 million Series A round https://t.co/ERefXxiZke by @meganrosedickey pic.twitter.com/Hq6HAjLg49 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 25, 2019 Salvant and LaRon are seasoned entrepreneurs who through their own experiences discovered that the process of finding a good barber can often be inefficient. The two decided to team up and develop a solution. The app—which was founded in 2015—connects barbers and customers. Through SQUIRE, individuals can find barbershops in their area, read customer reviews, and book appointments. Customers also have the opportunity to pay for their haircuts through the app. SQUIRE goes beyond simply booking haircut appointments, it provides barbers throughout the country with the platform to sell products and promote their brand. There is a wide range of shops that are included in the app’s directory, including large high-end shops and small locally owned businesses. The app was launched in New York and expanded to cities like Atlanta, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It now features barbershops in 28 cities. Since its inception, there have been $100 million in transactions processed through the app. The fundraising round was led by Trinity Ventures. “Millions of men need haircuts daily and are looking to find the right barbershop, but the process is usually unnecessarily hard and time consuming,” said Salvant in an interview with Forbes . “SQUIRE lets you locate a barber, schedule your appointment and pay from anywhere you are, now making the process quick and convenient.” The entrepreneurs plan on putting the money raised towards marketing and hiring engineers to work on the app’s infrastructure. “In talking to customers, we realized there was a lot of opportunity to build value in a backend management system,” LaRon said in a statement, according to TechCrunch. Both LaRon and Salvant are carving out a space in an industry that is worth billions. According to Statista , the barber industry is expected to be valued at $26 billion by next year. SEE ALSO: Black-Owned Barbershop Pays Off Debt For Students In Charlotte ‘You Next’ Project Illustrates The Impact And Influence Of Black Barbershops [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881358″ overlay=”true”]

Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App

New Movie: ‘Black And Blue’ Stars Naomie Harris As A Cop Trying To Survive Her Own Department’s Dirty Deeds[VIDEO]

Source: Alan Markfield / Courtesy Screen Gems ‘Black And Blue’ Is About A Rookie Cop Caught In A Bad Situation It’s no secret that criminal justice systems all over the country are running rampant with dirty cops — and now Screen Gem’s new film ‘Black And Blue’ shines a light on everything that can go wrong when a rookie cop steps into a situation naively. Check out the trailer below: BLACK AND BLUE is a fast-paced action thriller about a rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage. BLACK AND BLUE stars Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter, Nafessa Williams and more!

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New Movie: ‘Black And Blue’ Stars Naomie Harris As A Cop Trying To Survive Her Own Department’s Dirty Deeds[VIDEO]

Khloe Kardashian on KUWTK: Are You Buying Any of This?!?

Keeping Up with the Kardashians finally addressed the 6’10” elephant in the room on part one of its season finale last night. After weeks of hype, the penultimate episode focused entirely on the Tristan Thompson cheating scandal . The second  Tristan Thompson cheating scandal, that is; not the one in which he slept around while his girlfriend was pregnant… but the one during which he made out with his girlfriend’s close pal. View Slideshow: Khloe Kardashian Makes Stunning Admission, Says Tristan Thompson Threatened to Kill Himself As summarized above, the episode was raw and emotional and intense and also revealing — but was it also chock full of BS? Because here’s the thing: Yes, Tristan made out with Jordyn Woods several months ago. The latter has admitted it, the former has not denied it and Khloe Kardashian has ended the relationship over her baby daddy as a result of it. So there’s nothing to debate when it comes to how much Thompson sucks as a boyfriend. The guy totally and completely sucks as a boyfriend. This episode just piled everything on so darn thick that we have a bunch of questions over what we actually heard and learned. For instance: Khloe opened the installment by saying she was crazy sick, suffering through one migraine after another while actually throwing up blood. “Literally my whole head feels bruised because it’s been pounding for so long and it’s terrifying,” she told viewers, adding on air: “I’m supposed to go to Cleveland tomorrow to see Tristan, but the way I’m feeling right now, I don’t know if I can be on a flight like that. I’ve been throwing up blood. It’s so intense. I’m blind in my left eye.” We’re sorry, but: WHAT?!? Khloe is coughing up clood and has gone blind in one eye and is just sort of casually relaying this information to the camera? And we never once heard anything about this condition several months ago, back when this episode was allegedly filmed? Khloe alleged on the episode that she took a pregnancy test (it was negative) and that a doctor could not diagnose whatever the heck was supposedly going on with her. Elsewhere, Khloe made an allegation that created headlines across the Internet hours later: She told Scott Disick that Tristan actually threatened to commit suicide when confessing his sins to her over the phone. “He’s like, ‘I can’t stop thinking about you and what mess I have caused,’” she told Disick. “He’s doing this to get a reaction out of me. Oh, so I’m just allowed to say ‘I’m going to kill myself’ at any time? That’s crazy.” Again, we ask: WHAT?!? Nearly every insider close to Thompson after this scandal broke said he was mostly doing just fine. Moreover, sources now tell Radar Online that Tristan never, ever said such a thing and the fact that Khloe is spreading such a lie has really caused him distress. Keeping Up with the Kardashians Clip: What Did Jordyn Do?!? “He is pissed off because a ton of people, including his family members and NBA execs, are reaching out to him very worried,” Radar writes, quoting someone who knows Tristan well and adding: “He says he told Khloe he didn’t want to live without her, but that didn’t mean he wanted to kill himself.” On the finale, we were told that Khloe asked someone to go check on Thompson after he supposedly uttered the suicidal thought, prompting Disick to deliver this well-scripted speech: “The fact that Khloe is sitting here heartbroken but still worrying about Tristan’s feelings and the possibilities of him being upset or possibly hurting himself… “I mean, it just goes to show that Khloe is an unbelievable person that loves so hard and so much. “Somehow she just keeps getting the short end of the stick, and it’s unfair and it’s hurtful and it’s really hard for me to sit and watch.” We never once heard from Tristan or Jordyn on the episode. We never once saw a text message from either party or listened in one their end of a phone call. We were simply told a bunch of stuff by Khloe and her loved ones and expected to believe it. But what if producers just made it all up? What if Tristan and Khloe were actually on the outs at the time of the spit-swapping and what if he really did only peck Woods a little bit and there wasn’t very much to this whole scandal… … so the family had to REALLY oversell it, giving Khloe some horrible, mysterious disease right when it allegedly happened and then also making her look like a saint by putting her suicidal boyfriend ahead of her own needs, even in the wake of his dastardly actions? What if, you guys? View Slideshow: Keeping Up with the Kardashians: 14 Shocking Secrets Revealed! We know it’s a crazy thought, that Keeping Up with the Kardashians would be a scripted drama that painted its cast members as victims and made sure they were always the heroes of their own stories. And yet. If you agree that perhaps Khloe didn’t actually go blind in one eye and perhaps Thompson never contemplated suicide, then it must be asked: What is the real scandal here? Was it what Tristan did with Jordyn? Or what the Kardashians did in response?

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Khloe Kardashian on KUWTK: Are You Buying Any of This?!?

Fernanda Flores: Jonathan Rivera Is an Abusive, Alcoholic Cheater!

We probably don’t need to tell you that the goal of reality television is not to perfectly depict reality but to craft a compelling narrative and attract an audience. As a result, the shows we love don’t always provide an accurate depiction of the lives we’re looking in on. And according to Fernanda Flores, the producers of 90 Day Fiance offered viewers a wildly inaccurate portrayal of her brief relationship with Jonathan Rivera. As you likely already know, Jonathan and Fernanda’s breakup was as ugly as they get — and the whole mess is far from over. In fact, last we checked in on him,  Rivera was talking about having Flores deported . For now at least, Fernanda is still living in America, and clearly, she’s not about to take Jonathan’s threats lying down. Fernanda Flores Explains 90 Day Fiance Split, Accuses Jonathan of Abuse in Iconic 44-MINUTE Video Flores recently posted a 44-minute video in which she offered her side of the story — and needless to say, the whole thing is not terribly flattering to Jonathan. One of Fernanda and Jonathan’s most memorable spats came early in their season when Fernanda discovered a pair of women’s underwear in one of Jonathan’s drawers. In her video, Fernanda revealed that she actual uncovered several indicators of Jonathan’s promiscuity, and only one of them was featured on the show: “That same week, I found a lot of stuff—not just underwear,” she says in the clip. “Sex toys, pictures, movies and stuff. Dude, you’re supposed to have left your past behind and start fresh with me. I know you’re a single man. I know that you’re older than me…but I wasn’t understanding why,” she explained.  “I realized not everything is how it seems.” But Fernanda didn’t spend her entire 44-minute rant focusing on Jonathan’s possible infidelity. No, she also addressed his many other red flags, including the fact that he “likes to drink way too much” and “wasn’t careful with money at all.” “He will make good money but spend,” she stated. “He didn’t want to have a plan. He didn’t want to listen to me and I wasn’t understanding.” At one point, Fernanda alleged that she was “in a really abusive relationship,” citing a specific incident in which Jonathan got physical with her after she accused him of cheating: “I remember me looking through his office and stuff and I found a wrapper of a condom,” Fernanda recalled. “I flipped out. I literally flipped out. I yell at him and I tell him, ‘What the f–k is this?’ I was so mad. “His reaction was grab me from the neck, push me into the wall. ‘That’s not mine. You’re crazy.'” On Monday, Fernanda posted a message to her Instagram page explaining that she was forced to delete the video for legal reasons. She specified that she has not wavered in her stance and will post the video again as soon as she’s able: For his part, Rivera has issued a statement in which he denies Flores’ allegation and reveals that he intends to continue with deportation proceedings. “These allegations are completely false and my attorney will now be handling the situation,” Jonathan said. “Clearly, she will do whatever she has to in order to stay in this country.” We’re guessing this situation will get much worse before it starts to get any better. View Slideshow: Jonathan Rivera: 90 Day Fiance Alum Reveals New Girlfriend!

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Fernanda Flores: Jonathan Rivera Is an Abusive, Alcoholic Cheater!

Anfisa Nava Slays at Very First Bodybuilding Competition!

Looks like Anfisa Nava is putting those insane abs to good use! The  90 Day Fiance season four star has spent the last year transforming her body in preparation for her first ever bodybuilding competition. Well, the big day finally came, and we’re here to tell you she absolutely killed it! On Saturday Anfisa competed in the NPC West Coast Classic competition in Riverside, California.  The 23-year-old Russian model walked into the competition a first-timer with no expectations. She then walked away with three medals! Anfisa proudly shared her results on her Instagram, flaunting her medals and, as usual, her incredible physique. “2nd place novice and true novice, 5th place open,” Anfisa revealed in the caption, adding a relieved face emoji. “Such an amazing first show experience,” she recalled.  Anfisa also shared a video clip of herself posing on stage for the final round.  In the video, Anfisa struts and shows off her form to a remix of Flo Rida’s “Low,” as fans in the audience scream out her her name. That’s the dream, people. Anfisa can hardly contain her excitement in the accompanying caption. “Stayed up until 5am re-watching videos from last night at #NPCwestcoast @centerpodium and reading your comments!” she exclaimed. Anfisa added that she tried to sleep, but woke up just a few hours later becasue she was “overwhelmed with joy and excitment.” She also mentions that she had a bit of stage fright, saying that her performance was “A little rushed as I was nervous.” If she was nervous, it didn’t really show on stage. We thought she looked graceful, strong, and happy with her performance. And we know it’s an experience she looks forward to repeating, along with her coach Paul Revelia. “Can’t wait to see what @paulrevelia and I are going to bring to the stage next time,” she wrote, adding the fire emoji for good measure. We’re glad she’s excited for more. Anfisa seemed a bit apprehensive about her future in bodybuilding in a recent interview with  E! Online . “We’ll see how this first one goes. I don’t really have any expectations,” Anfisa told  E! “I just want to get my feet wet and see what its like, and go from there,” she explained. Pretty stellar results for someone who wasn’t even sure she wanted to keep doing this. Maybe she was just being modest. On the other hand, Anfisa definitely had other options, if her competition had turned out to be a nightmare. She’s currently enrolled in community college, and she revealed she also hopes to attend a four-year university starting in August. Between all the hours spent studying, and all the work it takes to maintain that model figure, we expect Anfisa will have her hands quite full. That said, now that her husband Jorge Nava is behind bars, Anfisa will have that much more time to focus on herself. Jorge, who was introduced along with Anfisa on  90 Day Fiance ,  was arrested in February of 2018 for possession of 293 pounds of marijuana (woah!) with intention to sell. In September, he received a two-and-a-half year sentence. Meanwhile, Anfisa’s been throwing herself headlong into her fitness regime, and showing off the results along the way. She recently shared her fitness secrets that led to her 26-pound weight loss and incredible muscle tone. (Spoiler alert — she ate less food and exercised a lot) No doubt, Anfisa’s dealt with plenty of stress, and put in a ton of work lately. But when the reward turns out to be a literal medal, we’re betting it feels worth the trouble. View Slideshow: Anfisa Nava Trashes Body-Shamers, Preps for Bodybuilding Competition

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Anfisa Nava Slays at Very First Bodybuilding Competition!

The Bachelorette Spoilers: Hannah’s Alleged Fiance … Changed!

The downside of producing a reality show all over the world is that it's hard to keep The Bachelorette spoilers under wraps. As a result, Bachelorette spoilers often hit then internet well before the first episode airs – and this season is no different! We already gave you the inside scoop on Luke Parker (ugh), Jed Wyatt (double ugh) and the rest of the contestants. Now, thanks to Bachelorette and Bachelor spoiler master Reality Steve, we know the identities of Hannah's final four  … … and beyond. Boy is there a twist coming, too. Several, really. So buckle up, because we're going to spill it all now. After all, it's hard to wait a whole week between episodes, inquiring minds want to know, and we're such good friends. And hey, if you happen to win big in your office pool 'cause of this, don't forget your friends at The Hollywood Gossip! UPDATE: We've received some new information regarding the identity of Hannah's fiance! Read on for a spoiler that's sure to blow your mind! 1. The Queen of Roses Hannah will hand out a lot of roses when her season begins in May. But in the end, only one eligible bachelor will be left standing. 2. Globetrotter As you know from previous seasons, the show’s cast members do a ridiculous amount of traveling. 3. Where In the World Is Hannah Brown? The upside of this is that Hannah and her chosen companions get to see the world. 4. Loose Lips The downside is that it’s that much harder for producers to keep certain key details under wraps. 5. Valuable Intel Yes, even the patriarchal presence of Chris Harrison isn’t enough to keep Hannah safe from the prying eyes of international Bachelorette obsessives. 6. The Lucky Bro-chelors And so, without further ado, we give you the lucky gents who advanced beyond the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight to join the ranks of Beast Mode Hannah’s Final Four. View Slideshow

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The Bachelorette Spoilers: Hannah’s Alleged Fiance … Changed!