History made on ‘The Bachelorette’ as Texan wins Michelle Young’s season
A Texas resident has captured the Bachelorette’s heart to win season 18 of the show and make history.
Nayte Olukoya, an Austin-based 27-year-old sales executive, got down on one knee during the Dec. 21 finale of “The Bachelorette” and proposed to Michelle Young, 28.
“This is my soul-Nayte,” Young joked after her engagement during the final episode.
Olukoya and the Minnesota teacher are the first Black couple to leave either of the two main series — “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” — together.
After some concern Olukoya wasn’t ready for an engagement, Young accepted his proposal.
“I trust my heart and my heart is telling me that this is my person,” she said during the finale.
“I am completely prepared, willing and ready to make sure that you are always chosen first and seen, now, today, tomorrow and for the rest of our lives,” Olukoya said during his proposal.
While accepting his proposal, Young said she had never felt a love like this before.
“I love you with my entire heart and don’t ever want to think about waking up with anyone besides you and doing life with anyone besides you,” she told Olukoya.
A historic moment for the franchise
After years of complaints of the franchise’s lack of contestants and leads of color, the Bachelor franchise has made strides in showing love in more shades on screen.
“For us, it’s just so incredibly important that we were able to show so many people a Black love story,” Young told the Hollywood Reporter after her finale. “In the past, there have been diverse cast members, but those stories didn’t necessarily have the opportunity to be shown.”
Earlier this year, the franchise saw the first ever Black couple to leave engaged with “Bachelor in Paradise” couple Riley Christian and Maurissa Gunn.
Young, who is the third Black Bachelorette, also made history with her final four selections. Each of the four men who went to hometowns were men of color, which is a first in the history of the franchise.
This meant either suitor Young chose during the finale would mark the first time a Black couple left “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” together.
“I know this isn’t some earth-shattering historic event,” Olukoya said in an Instagram post celebrating the final four. “But I can’t help but think about my experience of growing up in Canada. I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, went to predominantly white schools, and was raised by my Mom and her side of the family. I didn’t see many people who looked like me. And when I did, it was mainly on TV. And many of us know how people who look like me tend to be portrayed on TV.”
The “Bachelor” franchise has been fraught with controversy during the last year after Chris Harrison left his role as the longtime host after defending Matt James’ winner Rachael Kirkconnell when racist photos emerged of her attending an antebellum party.
Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, was interviewing Harrison when he defended Kirkconnell, and she publicly cut ties with the franchise soon after.
Young has been open with her struggles with being the “token” Black girl while growing up.
“I was the girl picked last for prom, but the first for basketball. I made a promise to myself to help empower all hues of Black, white and brown, fighting for opportunities that allow them to blossom from the ground, being that role model young brown girls see when looking around,” Young said during the Nov. 2 episode.
A front-runner from the start
Olukoya caught the former basketball star’s attention from the very beginning of her monumental journey and won the first impression rose on night one. He was also the first kiss of the season.
“Nayte is looking for a teammate for life and is confident that Michelle may just be the one he’s been waiting for,” his ABC bio said.
According to his LinkedIn page, the six-foot-eight Texas resident began working at an Austin-based software company as an account executive this month. Before that, Olukoya had worked at Indeed.com, also based in Austin, since 2019.
Young made her choice between Olukoya and her runner-up, Brandon Jones, after admitting she was in love with both men.
Olukoya’s visit with Young’s parents did not go as anticipated, with her mother telling both Olukoya and Young she didn’t believe he was ready for an engagement.
“You’re not real open with your emotions,” LaVonne, Young’s mother, said to Olukoya. “You’re saying them but I’m not quite feeling them.”
Her family’s conversations with Olukoya caused Young to question their relationship, but Olukoya was able to work out his issues with communicating his feelings.
“All I do is think about life with you,” Olukoya told Young. “As scary as it is to get down on one knee, I want to do that with you.”
“Any fears I had have been resolved,” Young said after Olukoya was able to be vulnerable with her. “I trust my heart and my heart is telling me that this is my person.”
Young, torn between the two men she says she was in love with, knew which man’s proposal she needed to accept.
“What I’m realizing is there is one person I’d be devastated to live without,” she said.
She accepted Olukoya’s proposal, leaving Jones heartbroken. The two announced on the After the Final Rose episode that they are more in love than ever, and are house-hunting in Minnesota.
“The Zillow notifications are going crazy!” Olukoya said.
As part of a holiday surprise, the Bachelor franchise gifted the couple a $200,000 down payment on their future home, bringing Young to tears in the final moments of her season.
This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 9:45 AM with the headline "History made on ‘The Bachelorette’ as Texan wins Michelle Young’s season."
