Katie Thurston and Michelle Young work pink.
The women, both fans ’favorites of Matt James’ “Bachelor” season earlier this year, each receive their own “The Bachelorette” season, with Thurston airing this summer and Young’s in the fall.
“We’re the Singles,” announced Monday night’s special “After the Final Rose,” which aired after the end of James ’season.
Thurston, a 30-year-old bank marketing manager from Renton, Washington, and Young, a 28-year-old professor from Edina, Minnesota, said Monday they were “ready” to find love.
The upcoming seasons 17 and 18 of “The Bachelorette” will look very different from past years, as longtime host Chris Harrison will not be at the helm of the show. ABC announced a few days ago that former “Bachelorettes” Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams will take on the next hosting duties after Harrison fired himself for admitting he spoke “in a way that perpetuates racism.”
During his season with James, Thurston became a fan favorite, making himself known from the start by arriving at the Nemacolin Resort with a vibrator in hand.
After its elimination in week 6, much of the Bachelor Nation supported Thurston as the next “Bachelorette.” His followers on social media also show the strength of his fan base. Thurston has an Instagram following of 449,000 fans, a Twitter tracking of 53,000 and a TikTok follow-up of over 274,000 fans.
Meanwhile, Young reached the end, but was sent home without a rose, leaving her heartbroken. Competing contestant Rachael Kirkconnell hit the stem (without a marriage proposal), but, as revealed in “After the Final Rose,” she no longer goes out with James.
The couple broke up as a result of the controversy that revolved around Kirkconnell and the franchise after their racially insensitive past photos and social media interactions resurfaced.