The Bachelorette is trying to shake things up quite a bit in 2021 with a big twist to the lineup. Unlike previous years, two women will embark on their journey for love in their own seasons.
The big announcement was made on Monday night during the “After the Final Rose” special of The Bachelor season starring Matt James.
Katie Thurston, a 30-year-old bank marketing manager from Renton, Washington, who was eliminated in Week 6 of the 25th season of The Bachelor, will be the first one to launch the new formula.
Thurston will start filming Season 17 of The Bachelorette in the upcoming weeks and will lead the popular dating show this summer.
She is looking for a very ambitious man who is not afraid of challenges in his personal life or in his career. Thurston also dreams of becoming a talk show host one day.
She made a huge entrance on James’s season of The Bachelor when she met him with a vibrator and admitted that she would probably use it while staying in the house.
Moments like this one made her a real fan-favorite with a lot of supporters on social media, but her upbeat approach to sexuality was not enough to get her anything higher than an 11th place in the season.
The second woman, who will get a season of The Bachelorette, is Michelle Young, the runner-up on the 25th season of The Bachelor.
Young, a 27-year-old teacher from Edina, Minnesota, will be the star of Season 18 of The Bachelorette, which is expected to air in the fall.
The former basketball player almost captured James’s heart, and she was reportedly not ready to leave the classroom again, so her season will be filmed in the summer.
Young, who is aiming to reach high places in life, is hoping to find a man who will have her back at all time.
While most fans of the show are happy with the two choices, some have brought up other names. One commenter stated: “I love them both, but I would have chosen Abigail over Katie. I think she deserved it a little more. Excited to watch both seasons and hoping Abigail is in paradise.”
A supporter of the two contestants hit back with, “Idc what yall say, I’m here for Katie and Michelle! I also think that having Kaitlyn and Tayshia host will be good for them because that way they can give Katie and Michelle advice.”
This critic replied: “Not watching. Hope this is the worst-rated season yet. These past two seasons were terrible. Glad y’all made it easy for me this time.”
Australia also updated the concept of the show in 2020 with two sisters — Elly and Becky Miles — and best friends as Bachelorette(s).
