Princess Charming (German TV series)

Last updated
Princess Charming
Genre Dating game show
Presented by
  • The Big Reunion:
  • Lola Weippert (season 1-2)
  • Amiaz Habtu (season 3)
  • Charlotte Würdig (season 5)
Starring
  • Princess Charming:
  • Irina Schlauch (1)
  • Hanna Sökeland (2)
  • Madleen Matthias (3)
  • Lea Hoppenworth (4)
  • Vanessa Borck (5)
Narrated by
  • Nagmeh Alaei (Seasons 1-2)
  • Moretta McLean (Season 3)
Opening theme
Country of originGermany
Original languageGerman
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes51
Production
Running time75-80 Minutes
Production companiesSeapoint Productions GmbH & Co. KG
Original release
Network RTL+
Release25 May 2021 (2021-05-25) –
present
Network VOX
Release29 October 2021 (2021-10-29) –
28 June 2022 (2022-06-28)
Network VOXup
Release10 July (2024-07-10) –
13 September 2024 (2024-09-13)

Princess Charming is a German reality dating show that premiered on May 25, 2021, streaming on premium sector of RTL+ and began airing on October 29, 2021, on television on VOX. It is streaming on RTL+, operated by the RTL media group, in German. The show features women-identifying and non-binary contestants [1] and is modeled after Prince Charming (started in 2019). [2] Princess Charming was hailed as an example of German TV shows becoming more inclusive by Deutsche Welle . [3]

Contents

On June 22, 2021, RTL+ officially renewed the series for a second season which premiered on June 14, 2022. [4]

On March 20, 2023, RTL+ renewed the series for a third season [5] which premiered on September 1, 2023. [6] VOX did not include it in its schedule. The channel had previously stopped the airing of the second season earlier than intended due to low ratings. [7]

On December 11, 2023, RTL+ renewed the series for a fourth season [8] which premiered on July 3, 2024. It was also broadcast on free-to-air television by VOXup, a sister station of VOX. [9]

On March 21, 2025, RTL+ announced a fifth season [10] which premiered about two months later on July 24 of the same year. [11]

Format

The original concept of Princess Charming, opening casting calls in October 2020, was to have a bisexual female lead, while the contestants were supposed to be lesbian or bisexual women and heterosexual men. [12] However, the channel, in response to audience and applicant requests, changed the show concept to focus on a lesbian lead in December of the same year. [13]

Unlike The Bachelor's "rose ceremony" or Prince Charming's black tie ceremony, contestants are eliminated if they are asked by the Princess Charming to take off and return the necklace they had previously been given.

Seasons

SeasonOriginal runPrincessWinnerRunner-upStill togetherRelationship notes
RTL+VOXVOXup
1 May 25, 2021 – July 27, 2021October 29, 2021 – December 3, 2021N/AIrina SchlauchLouElsaNoAfter the end of filming Irina and Lou didn't start a relationship.
2 June 14, 2022 – August 16, 2022June 21, 2022 – June 28, 2022 [a] N/AHanna SökelandJessicaLauraNoHanna and Jessica started a relationship after the end of filming, but announced their breakup in April 2025.
3 September 1, 2023 – November 3, 2023N/AN/AMadleen MatthiasElsaNinaNoAfter the end of filming Madleen and Elsa didn't start a relationship.
4 July 3, 2024 – September 4, 2024N/AJuly 10, 2024 – September 11, 2024Lea HoppenworthN/AChristine,
Maike		N/ALea declined to get involved with either finalist.
5 July 24, 2025 – October 2, 2025N/AN/AVanessa BorckN/AN/AN/AVanessa aborted the season before the finale.

Season 1

The first season premiered May 25, 2021 on RTL+ and October 29, 2021, on VOX. 30-year-old Irina Schlauch, a lawyer from Cologne, was the first Princess Charming. She said in an interview to be a fan of Prince Charming and wanting to "create more visibility and acceptance" for lesbian women through the show's format. In the same interview, she mentioned enjoying sports, including soccer, and having a twin sister. [14] The season, which was filmed on the Greek island of Crete, consisted of nine episodes and one reunion special. [15]

At the Reunion, Irina and Lou announced they did not start a relationship after the finale. [16]

Contestants

NameAgeHometownOutcomePlace
Lou21 Saarbrücken Winner1
Elsa22 Berlin Runner-up2
Bine33 Berlin Week 83-4
Miri28 Kiel
Gea28 Berlin Week 75-6
Kati29 Berlin
Iry27 Cologne Week 67-8
Sarina27 Stolberg
Wiki27 Hamburg 9 (quit)
Jana26 Dorsten Week 510-11
Johanna26 Hildesheim
Saskia25 Berlin 12 (quit)
Britta26 Aachen Week 413 (disqualified) [b]
Anja30 Leipzig Week 314-16
Niki27 Berlin
Tabi25 Dortmund
Lia30 Berlin Week 217-18
Sandra31 Ratingen
Sonja30 Salzburg Week 119-20 (disqualified) [c]
Ulle28 Berlin

Contestant Progress

ContestantsEpisode/Week
123456789Reunion
LouININININININININWINNERGuest
ElsaININININININININELIMGuest
BineINININININININELIMGuest
MiriINININININININELIMGuest
GeaININININININELIMGuest
KatiININININININELIMGuest
IryINININININELIM
SarinaINININININELIM
WikiINININININQUIT
JanaININININELIM
JohannaININININELIM
SaskiaININININQUIT
BrittaINININDISQGuest
AnjaININELIM
NikiININELIM
TabiININELIM
LiaINELIM
SandraINELIM
SonjaDISQ
UlleDISQ
  The contestant went on a Group date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on both a Group date and a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Single date with the Princess
  The contestant went on a Group date and stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Double date with the Princess and another contestant.
  The contestant quit the competition.
  The contestant was disqualified.
  The contestant had to give up her necklace and was eliminated.
  The contestant was the runner up.
  The contestant won Princess Charming.

Season 2

The Princess Charming of the second season, 28-year-old project leader Hanna Sökeland from Hanover, was introduced on April 21, 2022. [17] The second season began airing June 14, 2022 on RTL+. [18] VOX initially broadcast the season, releasing each episode one week after its debut on RTL+. [19] However, the channel stopped airing it after the first two episodes due to low ratings. This also meant that the season could only be watched by RTL+ subscribers, since the "catch-up offer" (meaning the episodes were available for free on the RTL+ website for a few days after airing on VOX) expired. [20]

At the Reunion, Hanna and Jessica announced they were still together. [21] In April 2025, Sökeland confirmed media reports about their alleged breakup. [22]

Contestants

NameAgeHometownOutcomePlace
Jessica26 Munich Winner1
Laura22 Munich Runner-up2
Carolin29 Leipzig Week 83-4
Jasmin Amelia28 Osnabrück
Maria30 Cologne Week 75
Tyshea30 Cologne 6 (quit)
Sabcho28 Berlin Week 67
Dora23 Cologne 8-9 (quit) [d]
Paula28 Bremen
Jördis34 Berlin Week 510
Sarah28 Düsseldorf 11 (quit)
Charlotte29 Bremen Week 412-13
Lena20 Leverkusen
Katharina30 Cologne 14 (quit)
Anastasia26 Kempten Week 315 (quit)
Aylin30 Berlin Week 216-17
Kim25 Hanover
Jay27 Frankfurt 18 (quit)
Vivien25 Velbert Week 119

Contestant Progress

ContestantsEpisode/Week
123456789Reunion
JessicaININININININININWINNERGuest
LauraININININININININELIMGuest
CarolinINININININININELIMGuest
Jasmin AmeliaINININININININELIM
MariaININININININELIMGuest
TysheaININININININQUIT
SabchoINININININELIM
DoraINININININQUITGuest
PaulaINININININQUITGuest
JördisININININELIM
SarahININININQUIT
CharlotteINININELIM
LenaINININELIM
KatharinaINININQUIT
AnastasiaININQUIT
AylinINELIM
KimINELIM
JayINQUIT
VivienELIM
  The contestant went on a Group date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on both a Group date and a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Single date with the Princess
  The contestant went on both a Group date and stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Single date and stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant quit the competition.
  The contestant had to give up her necklace and was eliminated.
  The contestant was the runner up.
  The contestant won Princess Charming.

Season 3

The Princess Charming of the third season, 23-year-old college student Madleen Matthias from Weyhe, was introduced on August 16, 2022. The season began airing September 1, 2023 on RTL+. Three contestants were absent from the first episode and joined the competition later on. One of them, Stephie Stark, had previously been a contestant on the German version of The Bachelor and publicly came out as pansexual before joining Princess Charming. [23] The season additionally featured Elsa, a returning contestant from Season 1. [24] Unlike the previous two seasons, this one was mainly shot on the Thai island of Ko Samui, with the finale taking place in Bangkok. [25]

At the Reunion, Madleen and Elsa announced they did not start a relationship after the finale. [26]

Contestants

NameAgeHometownOutcomePlace
Elsa24 Berlin Winner1
Nina31 Berlin Runner-up2
Aleyna23 Cologne Week 83-4
Natalie31 Mönchengladbach
Jazz28 Hamburg Week 75-6
Melanie29 Berlin
Aysun23 Mannheim Week 67-9
Gabi29 Berlin
Lili29 Cologne
Linh26 Salzburg Week 510-11
Stephie28 Cologne
Kim32 Cologne Week 412
Maria29 Frankfurt 13-14 (quit) [e]
Rahel27 Berlin
Desi25 Cologne Week 315 (quit)
Ailena26 Regensburg 16-17
Meli27 Zürich
Ebru33 Buchholz in der Nordheide Week 218-20
Lucy25 Innsbruck
Nora25 Cologne

Contestant Progress

ContestantsEpisode/Week
123456789Reunion
ElsaINININININWINNERGuest
NinaININININININININELIMGuest
AleynaINININININININELIMGuest
NatalieINININININININELIMGuest
JazzININININININELIM
MelanieININININININELIMGuest
AysunINININININELIM
GabiINININININELIM
LiliINININININELIMGuest
LinhININININELIM
StephieINININELIM
KimINININELIM
MariaINININQUIT
RahelINININQUIT
DesiININQUITGuest
AileenaININELIM
MeliINELIM
EbruINELIM
LucyINELIM
NoraINELIM
  The contestant went on a Group date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on both a Group date and a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Single date with the Princess
  The contestant went on a Single date and stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant quit the competition.
  The contestant had to give up her necklace and was eliminated.
  The contestant was the runner up.
  The contestant won Princess Charming.

Season 4

The Princess Charming of the fourth season, 30-year-old copywriter Lea Hoppenworth from Berlin, was introduced on June 11, 2024. The season began airing on July 3 of the same year. [27] Maike, one of the featured contestants, had previously been in a relationship with Hoppenworth. [28] The main shooting location remained Ko Samui [29] while the finale was filmed in Phuket instead of Bangkok. [30]

In the finale, Hoppenworth decided to eliminate both remaining contestants. She was therefore the first Princess Charming to not pick a winner. [31]

Contestants

NameAgeHometownOutcomePlace
Christine28 Cologne Runner-up2
Maike30 Berlin
Marlen31 Cologne Week 93-4
Sarah29 Berlin
Katharina28 Regensburg Week 85-8
Marjam30 Hamburg
Hang31 Hanover
Laura28 Bochum
Lara27 Frankfurt Week 79-10
Tommi23 Osnabrück
Inci27 Heidelberg 11 (quit)
Lucia28 Leipzig Week 512-14
Sara20 Vienna
Seleya23 Cologne
Melissa28 Neuss 15 (quit)
Sina24 Munich 16-17
Tay25 Zurich
Julia23 Berlin Week 218-20
Lisa24 Bamberg
Viviana24 Vienna

Contestant Progress

ContestantsEpisode/Week
12345678910
ChristineINININININININININELIM
MaikeINININININININININELIM
MarlenININININININININELIM
SarahININININININININELIM
KatharinaINININININININELIM
MarjamINININININININELIM
HangINININININININELIM
LauraINININININININELIM
InciININININININQUIT
LaraININININININELIM
TommiININININININELIM
MelissaININININQUIT
LuciaININININELIM
SaraININININELIM
SeleyaININININELIM
SinaININININELIM
TayININININELIM
JuliaINELIM
LisaINELIM
VivianaINELIM
  The contestant went on a Group date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on both a Group date and a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Double date and stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Double date with the Princess and another contestant.
  The contestant quit the competition.
  The contestant had to give up her necklace and was eliminated.
  The contestant was the runner up.

Season 5

The Princess Charming of the fifth season, 28-year-old influencer Vanessa Borck from Berlin, was introduced on March 21, 2025. [32] The season was again shot in Thailand (with the location not further disclosed by RTL) [33] and began airing on July 24 that year. [34]

In the tenth episode, Borck announced to the remaining contestants that she decided to abort the season due to Lotti, a contestant she had developed feelings for, quitting shortly beforehand. Because of this, Borck was the first Princess Charming to prematurely end the competition and the second to not pick a winner. [35]

Contestants

NameAgeHometownOutcomePlace
Anna29 Iserlohn Week 104-8
Kim28 Aachen
Marlene27 Cologne
Seinep29 Oldenburg
Shirine33 Hanau
Lotti27 Berlin 9 (quit)
Fiona24 Cologne Week 910
Donija31 Bielefeld 11 (quit)
Jeni26 Essen
Bianca36 Berlin Week 812-13
Lara23 Magdeburg
Vanessa26 Dresden 14 (quit)
Alia26 Viersen Week 515 (quit) [f]
Caro26 Cologne
Chantal-Jale24 Wuppertal
Johanna26 Freiburg im Breisgau Week 216-17
Julia27 Hamburg
Kelly31 Kassel Week 118

Contestant Progress

ContestantsEpisode/Week
12345678910Reunion
AnnaINININININININININABORTGuest
KimINININININININININABORTGuest
MarleneINININININININININABORT
SeinepINININININININININABORTGuest
ShirineINININININININININABORT
LottiINININININININININQUITGuest
FionaININININININININELIMGuest
DonijaININININININININQUITGuest
JeniININININININININQUIT
BiancaINININININININELIM
LaraINININININININELIM
VanessaINININININININQUIT
AliaININININQUITGuest
CaroININININQUIT
Chantal-JaleININININQUITGuest
JohannaINELIM
JuliaINELIM
KellyELIM
  The contestant went on a Group date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on both a Group date and a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Single date with the Princess.
  The contestant went on a Double date, a Single Date and stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant stayed a night together with the Princess.
  The contestant quit the competition.
  The contestant had to give up her necklace and was eliminated.
  The contestant had to give up her necklace due to the Princess aborting the season

Notes

  1. ↑ VOX stopped airing the season after the first two episodes due to low ratings.
  2. ↑ Britta was disqualified after fracturing her elbow during a Group date.
  3. ↑ Sonja and Ulle were disqualified after an (unaired) altercation.
  4. ↑ Dora and Paula quit the show together due to developing feelings for each other.
  5. ↑ Maria and Rahel quit the show together due to developing feelings for each other.
  6. ↑ Alia and Chantal-Jale quit the show together due to developing feelings for each other.

References

  1. ↑ ""Princess Charming" kommt - RTL startet lesbische Datingshow". stern.de (in German). 14 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  2. ↑ Döbele, Ralf. ""Prince Charming": Deutschlands erste Gay-Dating-Show". fernsehserien.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  3. ↑ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Is Germany nailing diverse and inclusive entertainment? | DW | 02.07.2021". DW.COM. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  4. ↑ "2022 geht "Princess Charming" in die zweite Runde". RTL (in German). 2021-06-22.
  5. ↑ ""Princess Charming" geht in die dritte Runde". GGG.at. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  6. ↑ Heichel, Michelle (2023-10-28). ""Princess Charming" 2023: Sendetermine und Übertragung". Augsburger Allgemeine . Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  7. ↑ Roth, Veit-Luca (2023-08-16). "Dritte "Princess Charming"-Staffel startet im September". Quotenmeter.de. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  8. ↑ ""Princess Charming"-Kandidatinnen für 2024 gesucht, "Charming Boys" machen Pause". Queer.de. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  9. ↑ Döbele, Ralf (2024-06-11). "Das ist die neue "Princess Charming": RTL+ verrät Termin für Staffel 4". TV Wunschliste. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  10. ↑ Gerriets, Imke (2025-03-21). "Couple on Tour: Vanessa überrascht mit Teilnahme an Datingshow". Watson . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  11. ↑ Neutsch, Juliane (2025-09-25). "„Princess Charming" 2025 – so überraschend endet das Finale". GIGA . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  12. ↑ SPIEGEL, DER (19 October 2020). "Nach "Prince Charming" kommt jetzt "Princess Charming"". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  13. ↑ SPIEGEL, DER (11 December 2020). "Neue Datingshow: "Princess Charming" sucht die Frau fürs Leben". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  14. ↑ Adey, Oliver (2021-05-25). "2021 - Irina Schlauch: This is how the "Princess Charming" experienced her coming out". Brigitte . Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  15. ↑ "Princess Charming ist wieder solo". Queer.de. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  16. ↑ ""Princess Charming" Irina ist wieder single: Aber was lief da zwischen den Finalistinnen?". RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland . 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  17. ↑ "Hanna aus Hannover ist die neue "Princess Charming"".
  18. ↑ ""Princess Charming": Hanna sucht ab Mitte Juni die große Liebe".
  19. ↑ ""Princess Charming" läuft nicht mehr bei Vox". Queer.de (in German). 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  20. ↑ Mantel, Uwe (2022-07-04). "Vox nimmt "Princess Charming" aus dem Programm". DWDL.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  21. ↑ Koshka, Kim (2022-08-16). "Warum mich die zweite Staffel von "Princess Charming" sehr enttäuscht hat". Queer.de. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  22. ↑ Schupp, Karin (2025-05-16). "K-Word #609: Neues aus der Lesbenwelt". L-MAG . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  23. ↑ "RTL stellt die Princess 2023 vor". Queer.de. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  24. ↑ Westermayer, Daniela (2023-08-31). "Elsa versucht ihr Glück nochmal". Südwest Presse . Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  25. ↑ Schupp, Karin (2023-10-28). "Princess Charming 3: Das war Folge 9". L-MAG . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  26. ↑ Vock, Christian (2023-11-03). ""Princess Charming": Zwei Überraschungen beim "großen Wiedersehen"". Web.de. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  27. ↑ "Die neue Princess heißt Lea". Queer.de. 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  28. ↑ Westermayer, Daniela (2024-07-03). "Kandidatin Maike ist Leas Ex!". Südwest Presse. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  29. ↑ "Diese 20 Singles buhlen um Princess Charming". n-tv . 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  30. ↑ Schupp, Karin (2024-09-04). "Princess Charming 4: Das war Folge 10". L-MAG. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  31. ↑ "«Princess Charming»: Datingshow endet erstmals ohne Gewinnerin". Schweizer Illustrierte . 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  32. ↑ Schultz, Maike (2025-03-21). "Bekannt als „Coupleontour": Vanessa Borck aus Brandenburg ist die neue „Princess Charming"". Märkische Allgemeine . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  33. ↑ Schreiber, Michelle (2025-09-19). "„Princess Charming" 2025: Sendetermine von Staffel 5 - Wo läuft die Show im TV oder Stream?". Augsburger Allgemeine. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  34. ↑ Bolte, Marie-Luise (2025-10-02). "Princess Charming 2025 Sendetermine, Kandidatinnen & Staffelabbruch". Ruhr Nachrichten . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  35. ↑ Hofmann, Inga (2025-09-25). "Vorzeitiges Ende von „Princess Charming"". Der Tagesspiegel . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
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