New ‘Bachelor’ Mesnick says he’s engaged

32-year-old accountant now empathetic to ‘Bachelorette’s’ plight

Craig Sjodin / AP

Jason Mesnick, a single dad, is the latest “Bachelor,” which premieres Monday, Jan. 5 on ABC.

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updated 3:38 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2009

NEW YORK - Though he wasn't picked in the finale of "The Bachelorette," Jason Mesnick isn't just giving love another shot — he says he's found it.

Mesnick, ABC's newest "Bachelor," says he's engaged to one of the women who compete for his affection on the reality series, which premieres Monday night. The 32-year-old accountant has finished filming "The Bachelor," but can't reveal his pick until the finale.

Mesnick says being pursued by 25 women made him empathetic to "Bachelorette" DeAnna Pappas, who chose snowboarder Jesse Csincsak (Sin-Sac) over him.

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Says Mesnick: "It gives you a lot more respect for what she had to go through."

Csincsak and Pappas have since broken up.

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