Akron was host to the beginning of Michael Allio’s fairytale ending July 31 when he proposed to Jadé Marie Chapman at the Seiberling Nature Realm.
But this time, there were no reality television cameras following the Akron-area native and former Bachelor Nation star around.
Allio is known for his appearances on “The Bachelorette” in 2021 and “Bachelor in Paradise” in 2022, the latter of which he won.
“What began as an unexpected friendship became forever,” the two posted in a joint Instagram message Aug. 6. “Every visit felt like coming home. … We collected moments, crossed milestones, became a family and watched two separate places on a map slowly become one home. Every road led to you. And from here on out, we take the same one.”
Allio, 42, and Chapman, 34, now live together in Akron with Allio’s 9-year-old son, James, according to People.
How did Michael Allio and Jadé Marie Chapman meet?
Allio spoke about his late wife, Laura Ritter-Allio, on television. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and died almost two years later.
Chapman, a beauty influencer and founder of JADÉ Complexions, saw Allio on TV in 2021, People reported, and reached out to tell him she was moved by his story.
The two formed a platonic friendship and began dating about three years ago, People reported.
How did Michael Allio propose?
Allio’s proposal was in the works for over a month, and he included his son in the planning.
The two created an illustrated children’s book telling Allio and Chapman’s love story, People reported. Allio showed her the book the day he proposed, and on the final page, it said, “Jadé Marie, will you marry me?”
James handed Allio a custom ring from Cullen Jewellery, with an engraving inside saying “To the stars,” and Chapman said yes, People reported.
What does Michael Allio do now?
Today, Allio is a cancer advocate in honor of his late wife.
He founded St. James Therapeutics in 2018, which works to develop products that make cancer patients’ treatment more tolerable, according to its website.
Allio told the Beacon Journal in December 2022 that many cancer patients experience hand-foot syndrome, a chemotherapy side effect, that causes redness, swelling and blistering on one’s hands and feet.
This prevented his late wife from being able to hold their son, who was 7 months old at the time. They began researching formulas to relieve the syndrome’s effects, and they found one that worked.
Four months after his wife died, Allio wrote and filed a patent for the formula. It was approved and is currently undergoing further research and development, according to St. James Therapeutic’s website.
“There’s a ton of money being poured into cancer research, which is phenomenal, but there’s not a lot of companies or products that are focused on cancer support,” Allio told the Beacon Journal in 2022. “If we can create very niche products that address these concerns, it can help people feel like themselves again.”
Allio continues to serve as CEO of the company today, and now he’s got a fellow entrepreneur by his side in his future wife.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-area native Michael Allio, Bachelor Nation star, proposes to girlfriend
Reporting by Lauren Cohen, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lauren Cohen, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
