“The Bachelor’s” Juan Pablo has made it clear that he’s looking for a woman that could not only be his wife, but also a stepmother to his daughter Camila. Two episodes in the 32-year-old single dad has sent home 12 gorgeous bachelorettes who he felt didn’t meet that criteria … and fans are wondering why “free spirit” Lucy is still in the running.

For those unfamiliar with Lucy, she’s a 24-year-old from Santa Barbara, CA whose occupation is listed as “free spirit.” During the premiere of “The Bachelor” the brunette beauty arrived barefoot, fearing that she would tower over Juan Pablo if she added shoes to her 5’9” frame. The bachelorette succeeded in breaking the ice with Juan Pablo, but then had viewers scratching their heads when she used her one-on-one time with him to explain that she was a drifter.

The single dad is looking to settle down and expand his family, which is why “Bachelor” fans were surprised when Lucy made it past the first Rose Ceremony. And while Lucy may not seem like the number one choice for stepmom, viewers can’t deny that she’s not loveable. The brunette took one for the team in episode 2 when Elise felt uncomfortable posing nude for the photo shoot with Best Friends Animal Society. Being comfortable naked (she hung out in the hot tub topless earlier in the episode), Lucy happily exchanged her fire hydrant costume to help her fellow bachelorette out.

So, why is Lucy still around? According to “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison, Juan Pablo’s attraction to Lucy is definitely something he’s been having an internal struggle with. Explaining to TV Guide that Lucy’s actions are not an act, Harrison dished that the contestant is “always naked, she never wears shoes and she just doesn’t have a care in the world.”

“I think [at first] he was attracted to that and she’s stunningly beautiful, but then everything runs through this Camila family filter and you realize, wait a minute, is this going to be Camila’s stepmom?” Harrison told TV Guide. “No, I’m not sure that’s going to work. He’ll have to see some more character, depth and maturity from her and she got a rose, but you’ll see he’s going to be like, we’re have a good time, but there has to be more depth.”

Juan Pablo added to Chris Harrison’s explanation, revealing in his People.com “Bachelor” blog: “Ay Lucy! I had no idea Lucy was topless so much.”

“I don’t love that she’s like that, but at the end of the day, she’s just a happy camper,” he said of the bachelorette. “That is who she is, and she’s not going to change. Despite all the inappropriate behavior, she did help Elise, and I did respect that. She made Elise feel more comfortable, and she didn’t have to do that. I liked that, but please, Lucy: Keep your top on.”

Does this mean that Lucy will be sticking around on the show for a while? Unfortunately we won’t know until the Rose Ceremony, but Juan Pablo did drop one hint – “Ay, Lucy!”

According to Chris Harrison you never want to hear Juan Pablo says the “Ay” and then a name. Viewers witnessed that in episode two when the bachelor said “Ay, Victoria” to the contestant who got hammered during the group date after-party. “So when he said, ‘Ay, Victoria,’ you knew she was toast,” Harrison said to TV Guide. “He’s not a partier; he’s subdued and family-oriented and not the guy who’s going to be taking tequila shots.”

Do you think Lucy is a good fit for Juan Pablo? Or should she become the next “Bachelorette” and try to find her free spirit soul mate? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or send a tweet to @AmandaTVScoop.

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