Michelle Young’s Season 18 of ‘The Bachelorette’: Everything We Know

Credit: Courtesy Mike Fleiss/Twitter

Michelle Young’s Season 18 of ‘The Bachelorette’: Everything We Know

It’s officially Michelle Young’s turn to hand out the roses as production on season 18 of The Bachelorette is underway. Bachelor Nation met Michelle, a 28-year-old teacher from Edina, Minnesota, on Matt James’ season of The Bachelor. While she was one of the five ladies who arrived late to Nemacolin Resort in Pennsylvania during season 25, Michelle quickly caught Matt’s attention and secured a one-on-one date. In the end, the former basketball player finished as Matt’s runner-up, and he sent her home before the final rose ceremony. “I had to walk away without closure, and I had to fill in the gaps of what our relationship really was, and I wasn’t OK. I wasn’t OK at all,” Michelle told Matt, 29, on After the Final Rose in March. “And producers were in my room … seeing how bad I was hurting and I asked you for a conversation, and it was not a conversation where I was trying to change your trajectory or trying to change your mind or fight for you. It was a conversation so that I could have my inner peace when I left Pennsylvania, and you said no.” Matt, who picked Rachael Kirkconnell, subsequently apologized for how things ended. “If I would have known that this is how you were feeling in that moment, then I would have fought to have that conversation,” the Wake Forest alum said. “Just in terms of there being any doubt in how I felt about you, what I can tell you is that when you showed up when you did, it was a breath of fresh air, and I always tell people who ask that you weren’t late. You were right on time.” [sendtonews type="float" key="4xNmtlOm39-2839631-14453"] Following her confrontation with Matt, it was announced that ABC was giving both Michelle and fellow season 25 alum Katie Thurston a chance to find love. Katie, for her part, immediately went into filming season 17 of The Bachelorette, while Michelle was able to finish the school year ahead of season 18. “I was a little nervous, but once I found out that it was two different seasons, I was here for it,” Michelle said at the time. “I’m excited that I get to have somebody to bond over with this and share notes as we go. I really do think that this process works. When you can set down all these outside distractions and really dive in, I think you can learn a lot about somebody. I’m just excited. I’m ready to get started.” Scroll through for everything we know about season 18:

Credit: The Bachelorette/Twitter

New Trailer

ABC shared another look at season 18 during the September 21 episode of Bachelor in Paradise. In the 30-second trailer, the school teacher geared up for her journey of love as fans saw the first footage from the beginning of her Bachelorette experience.

Michelle, wearing a glitzy gold gown, greeted her 30 suitors upon their unique limo entrances — including one man who comes riding up on a toy firetruck. After a number of men approached the Bachelorette, Clayton, whom Us Weekly confirmed in September would lead season 26 of The Bachelor, made a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo with a punny entrance. “I'm Clay, I used to be a student,” he introduced himself to the Minnesota native in the clip.

Michelle also kissed a number of the contestants in the promo before noting via a confessional interview, “I’m not going to settle."

Credit: Courtesy Michelle Young/Instagram

No Hints

Michelle returned to Instagram in September 2021 after leaving the platform during filming, but she didn't offer any clues about what to expect from her season. "This is one class you won’t want to skip!" she wrote via Instagram, sharing a promo image that showed her sitting on a picture frame surrounded by roses. Katie, who appeared alongside the teacher in season 25 of The Bachelor, commented, "Let’s 👏 goooooo 👏." Chelsea Vaughn added, "OMG SHE’S BACK!! 🔥 Class is in session baby."

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

That's a Wrap?

News broke in early September that one of Michelle’s suitors will be the season 26 Bachelor. Shortly after the September 10 announcement, production on the season seemingly wrapped as cohost Tayshia returned to New York City. The crew of the ABC series will return to filming in late September for The Bachelor.

Credit: ABC

The Tagline

"Love is in bloom. 💐," a caption on the show's official Instagram account read in September 2021 alongside a photo of Michelle surrounded by roses and giving a smoldering look to the camera.

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

A Cause for Celebration

Michelle, Tayshia and Kaitlyn celebrated 200 episodes of The Bachelor spinoff during filming in August. The milestone was honored with a six-tiered cake from Sugarspoon Desserts, a local Black-owned business in Michelle’s native Minneapolis, and featured 200 red roses and one single stem rose in the center of the cake to represent the Final Rose.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bachelorette/Instagram

A New Tease

During Katie’s season 17 finale on August 9, fans got a quick glimpse of Michelle walking in a gold dress in a garden of roses. “Michelle’s season going INSANELY well,” ABC exec Robert Mills tweeted alongside a clip from the commercial.

Credit: Courtesy Michelle Young/Instagram

The Filming Dates

According to reports, production on Michelle’s season began on July 30. Executive producer Mike Fleiss confirmed on August 7 that cameras were rolling.

“On location with our #TheBachelorette,” Fleiss captioned a photo of Michelle. It’s likely season 18 will limit traveling amid the coronavirus pandemic after seasons 16 and 17 (and Bachelor season 25) filmed in one location. 

Credit: ABC

The Premiere Date

Season 18 of The Bachelorette premieres on ABC Tuesday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET.

Credit: ABC

The Hosts

After pre-taping Katie’s After the Final Rose special, Us confirmed in August that Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams will return to host Michelle’s season. The Washington native told Us that she would also be available to give Michelle tips. “She’s a friend of mine and I’ve continued to talk to her leading up to her journey,” Katie told Us in July. “I would love nothing more than to continue to support everyone who goes through this as someone who’s experienced it and has advice to offer now.”

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Katie added, “I think the biggest advice I’ve given her is to just be open. Don’t close yourself off too early. I think guys can surprise you … weeks later when you don’t expect it.”

Credit: Bachelorette/Facebook; ABC; Bachelorette/Facebook

The Contestants

In July, the network dropped the names and photos of 35 men who may have the chance to win Michelle’s heart. It’s possible up to potential suitors will go home before the season officially begins.

Credit: YouTube

What Michelle Is Looking for

“She is ready to find love and a man with whom to start a family,” Michelle’s Bachelor bio read. “As a partner, she describes herself as loyal, compassionate and supportive, and shows love through acts of service. … Michelle has big dreams for the future and says she wants a man by her side that is supportive and driven to make the world a better place. She is looking for the superman to her superwoman.”

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin (2)

Kaitlyn on Filming With Michelle

When asked what her favorite thing about filming with the Minnesota native was, Kaitlyn responded “so many things” via Instagram Stories. “Humble, kind, punctual, self aware,” she added.

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Tayshia Talks the Men

“I have met all of the men from Michelle’s season and there are some amazing guys in her cast,” the cohost teased on her “Click Bait” podcast in September. “I can’t wait for you guys to watch her season. It’s gonna be really good. There’s some guys that you would never expect to surprise you the way they do.”

Credit: Courtesy of Clayton Echard/Instagram

The Bachelor

A source confirmed to Us that Clayton Echard, one of Michelle’s suitors, will be the season 26 Bachelor.

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

A 'Fairytale' Season

"It's going to be really romantic," Kaitlyn teased when talking to Entertainment Tonight on October 18 about the upcoming season. However, there are “some really heartbreaking heartbreaks,” the host continued. “I cried a few times."

Tayshia agreed that Michelle’s journey to find love will give Bachelor Nation all the feels. "It's actually really romantic," she told ET. "It's like a fairytale, which is different ... You guys will understand that word at the end. It unfolds beautifully.”