The Bachelorette (American season 18)
The eighteenth season of "The Bachelorette" premiered on October 19, 2021. This season features 28-year-old Michelle Young, an elementary school teacher from Woodbury, Minnesota. Young was the runner-up on the 25th season of "The Bachelor" featuring Matt James. The season concluded on December 21, 2021, with Young choosing Nayte Olukoya to be her fiancé over runner-up Brandon Jones. They are still engaged as of and are planning to buy a house in Minnesota together. Production. Casting and contestants. Young was announced as the Bachelorette by Emmanuel Acho during the "After the  Final Rose" special of the 25th season of "The Bachelor" on March 15, 2021. The cast includes offensive guard Bryan Witzmann; undrafted tight end Clayton Echard; 2011 Minnesota Mr. Basketball award winner Joe Coleman; and LT Murray IV, grandson of actor Clint Eastwood. Filming and development. On August 2, 2021, it was reported that former "Bachelorettes" Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe were set to return as co-hosts for the eighteenth season. As with the last three American "Bachelor Nation" editions, which were filmed in a bio-secure bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this season started production on July  30, 2021 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa at the Coachella Valley in Indian Wells, California. Some quarantine restrictions were lifted halfway through the season, the cast and crew were allowed to leave the bubble with limited amount of travel from one location to another including Young's home state of Minnesota. The cast and crew were valid proof of requirement of vaccination status. For the first time since the fifteenth season, the season was able to leave the United States, as both overnight dates and last chance dates returned to its standard format and took place in Mexico with  COVID safety precautions in place. On December 21, 2021, the day of the season finale, Adams revealed she had been exposed to COVID-19 and was not able to host the live finale and "After the Final Rose" special. This left Bristowe to be the sole host. Due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, all of the attendees in the audience must present a negative COVID-19 test and wear masks for the duration of the show. Contestants. 35 potential contestants were revealed on July 26, 2021. The final cast of 30 men was announced on September 27, 2021. Clayton  Echard was chosen as the lead on the 26th season of "The Bachelor" shortly after the completion of filming of this season of "The Bachelorette". Additionally, Young herself appeared on that season in a deleted scene. Young and Rodney Matthews also made an appearance on part one of the live finale. Episodes. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude>