As one of the longest-running programs on television, The Bachelorette reached a milestone with its series programming. Michelle Young and Nayte Olukoya became the first black couple in the show’s history.
According to Black Enterprise, the couple ended season 18 with the first proposal featuring an all-Black couple.
Young joined The Bachelorette determined to tell a diverse love story after becoming the runner-up on Matt James’ controversial season of The Bachelor earlier this year.
“The story is going to be told accurately,” she told The Hollywood Reporter at the start of her season. “It is going to be told in a way that all walks of life can understand, but is really going to showcase those diverse love stories.”
With an inspiring black love story in the books, the couple is house hunting and planning their wedding. Young was delighted to have shared the history-making event on a reality tv show.
“IT’S SO IMPORTANT,” YOUNG TOLD VARIETY. “NOT ONLY SEEING A BLACK LOVE STORY, BUT SEEING A HEALTHY BLACK LOVE STORY IS SOMETHING THAT’S REALLY NOT SHOWCASED.”
Young plans to resume her career as a school teacher and use social media so her fans can “continue to see that representation and that Black love story grow” while she and Olukoya maintain their newfound fame as a reality star couple.
While the season had four men of color remaining as their final contestants, it was a significant shift following Young’s stint on The Bachelor. The season turned controversial when James’ winner and current girlfriend, Rachael Kirkconnell, was caught in old photos attending an Old South, antebellum-themed party, Black Enterprise reported.
The scandal ultimately led to the departure of longtime host Chris Harrison after he faced backlash for defending Kirkconnell. The ordeal displayed the deep-rooted racism in mainstream television and the popular dating show.
Despite facing racial allegations, the show is working toward diversity and inclusion, with Young and Olukoya’s engagement marking a major accomplishment in the television franchise.
I THINK IT’S SO IMPORTANT. I EVEN THINK ABOUT MY STUDENTS WHO ARE WATCHING, AND IT’S A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE, AT TIMES, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROMANCE AND THAT PART, BUT ALSO, NOT ONLY SEEING A BLACK LOVE STORY, BUT SEEING A HEALTHY, BLACK LOVE STORY IS SOMETHING THAT’S REALLY NOT SHOWCASED,” YOUNG SAID.
