Hold on to your hats, Bachelor Nation fans! We’ve got some exciting news that’s making waves. Ricki, the 20-year-old daughter of fan-favorite Bachelorette Emily Maynard, is expecting her first child. Talk about a full-circle moment for this family!
Ricki shared the happy news with her followers on Instagram. On Tuesday, August 26, she posted an ultrasound photo. She got a kick out of quoting Huda Mustafa from ‘Love Island USA,’ playfully writing, “Netflix told me I’m not allowed to talk about it.” Later, she treated everyone to a sweet video of her baby moving. “My heart is so full,” she wrote, “but my stomach is so empty because she hates all food. I’m convinced.” Sounds like the little one already has a big personality!
So far, Emily Maynard, who is 39, hasn’t publicly said anything about Ricki’s pregnancy. But knowing Emily, she’s likely bursting with joy behind the scenes. This news brings back memories of Emily’s own journey into motherhood, which was quite the story itself.
A Mother’s Journey and a Meaningful Name
Many years ago, Emily faced a heartbreaking loss. She was engaged to Ricky Hendrick, a promising young man who sadly passed away in a plane crash in 2004. He was only 24. It was after this tragedy that Emily discovered she was pregnant with her first child. At just 19 years old, she welcomed her daughter, Josephine Riddick Hendrick. Emily affectionately calls her Ricki, a beautiful tribute to her late fiancé.
Emily later stepped into the reality TV spotlight. She appeared on season 15 of ‘The Bachelor’ and got engaged to Brad Womack. That didn’t last, and she then became the lead on season 8 of ‘The Bachelorette’ in 2012. She found love and got engaged to Jef Holm on the show. However, their relationship ended just three months after the finale. Emily has since shared some thoughts about her time on TV. In a 2017 podcast interview, she admitted, “I wish I had kept [my time on ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelorette’] completely separate [from Ricki].” She added, “I wish I would have stepped back. Maybe protected her a little bit more from that.”
A Growing Family and Lasting Bonds
Emily found her happily ever after with Tyler Johnson. They tied the knot in 2014 and have built a beautiful, big family together. They’ve welcomed five more children: Jennings Tyler in 2015, Gibson Kyle in 2016, Gatlin Avery in 2017, Magnolia Bella in 2020, and Jones in 2022. Emily has always been open about her love for a bustling home. She once told People in 2017, “You could have 18 kids and it really doesn’t make that much of a difference.” She even joked, “The stroller just gets bigger, but that’s it. I want to have maybe two more. Ricki is so much older, she’s more of a help than anything else. So we’ll see!”
Emily and Ricki share an incredibly close bond. Just last July, when Ricki turned 18, Emily marked the milestone in a fun way. She shared an old photo of Ricki on Instagram, jokingly asking, “My girl turns 18 today, anybody have a horse tranquilizer for me?” Later, she posted a picture of Ricki getting a tattoo, calling it “Doing adult things.” It’s clear these two have a special connection.
Now, as Ricki prepares to become a mother herself, it’s a wonderful new chapter for the entire family. We can’t wait to see more updates from Ricki and to hear what Emily has to say about becoming a grandma!