Bachelor Nation fans won’t have to wait for too long for a new season of “The Bachelorette” because its 18th season will be premiering on October 19, 2021.
It will star Michelle Young, the elementary school teacher who arrived late on Matt James’ season of “The Bachelor.” Although it was apparent to the audience that Young and James had chemistry, he eventually gave his final rose to Rachael Kirkconnell, leaving Young completely heartbroken as a runner-up.
Young was ready to walk down the aisle with James; unfortunately, he wasn’t prepared to do the same. The 28-year-old officially earned the Bachelorette gig during the “After the Final Rose” special in March with Emmanuel Acho.
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She was totally up for the challenge and said, “I do think this process works. When you can set down all of these outside distractions and dive in, I think you can really learn a lot about somebody. I’m just excited. I’m ready to get started.”
In the promo for her new season, Young wrote a letter to her potential fiancé.
“Finding love hasn’t really been easy for me,” she read. “I was never the girl invited to cute dates at the apple orchard in the fall. I was the girl picked last for prom, but first for basketball. It was like there was nobody for me. Hey soulmate, if you’re listening, you’ll need to understand, in my heart of hearts, all I’ve ever wanted is love,” she continued. “And I hope you can be that man.”
Michelle Young Reflects On Her Breakup With James
In March, the stunning school teacher reflected on her heartbreaking split from James. “I didn’t know it was coming,” Young told Becca and Tayshia of Bachelor Happy Hour. “It was difficult, but I’m doing OK.”
After their final adrenaline-pumping date rappelling down the side of a chateau at Pennsylvania’s Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, James confessed to Young that he had doubts about their relationship. The Bachelor told the standout contestant that he couldn’t see her future during an emotional exchange.
“After that breakup, it was really hard for me to get closure and there was a conversation that I wanted to have because I was really struggling,” said Young, who revealed on “After the Final Rose” special.
However, Young said that James’ rejection was a blessing in disguise, as it taught her how to rely on herself.
“The most valuable thing that I’ve actually learned from this process is that I now know that I can get the answers and closure within myself. Even walking on that stage for ‘AFR,’ I had the closure I needed,” she said. “I had some questions, but I also wasn’t putting the ability for me to get closure on Matt’s responses.”
Who Will Michelle Young Choose?
On October 5, Reality Steve alleged on a blog post that Young is engaged to Nayte Olukoya. Although this insinuates that he might be the winner of “The Bachelorette,” fans are keeping their fingers crossed.
Reality Steve has previously teased that Olukoya was a hopeful candidate to win the show. He revealed that Young took Olukoya on a one-on-one date on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota.
Along with photos, Steve tweeted, “Michelle currently is on a one-on-one date with two of her female friends and Nayte Olukoya. They took a pontoon boat out on Lake Minnetonka then arrived at Lord Fletchers where Michelle and Nayte played volleyball with her two friends.”
He also disclosed that Young chose Olukoya again for yet another one-on-one date two weeks later. Considering that Reality Steve is usually correct regarding the Bachelor Nation winners, fans might be congratulating the pair soon.
Who Is Nayte Olukoya?
Olukoya is a 27-year-old sales executive who went to Eastern Washington University and now lives in Austin. Before being a contestant on “The Bachelorette,” he was working for Indeed.com. According to his LinkedIn, he was a senior account executive in the organization.
It looks like Young and Olukoya may end up bonding over their love for kids and teaching as he has experience working as a teacher’s aide.
His ABC bio reads, “His dream woman is outgoing, spontaneous, and has enough swagger of her own to keep up with him.” Given that Young is all of those things, it’s pretty much a match made in heaven.
What Should Fans Know About Young’s Season?
On October 12, ABC dropped an almost four-minute trailer for Young’s upcoming season. It will premiere on Tuesday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET and air every Tuesday night afterward.
Filming reportedly began at the end of July and wrapped up in early September. ABC and Young coordinated this schedule to film during summer vacation to avoid missing out on time with her students.
Young’s hosts will be Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe; the former Bachelorette duo also hosted Katie Thurston’s season earlier this year.
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According to Reality Steve, Young started filming her season in July 2021 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California. Filming later moved in August 2021 to the Semple Mansion in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This makes Young’s season of “The Bachelorette,” the first to film in more than one location.
