'The Bachelorette' will have two Bachelorettes next season (original) (raw)
For the first time in Bachelorette history, two women will hand out roses all season long — and we have questions.
Updated on March 15, 2022 10:55PM EDT
Seeing as Bachelor Clayton Echard ended up alienating all of his final three women — Susie, Rachel, and Gabby — producers had no shortage of potential Bachelorette candidates. Which may be why they chose two! Both Rachel Recchia, 25, and Gabby Windey, 30, will co-star in season 19 of The Bachelorette.
And unlike season 11 — which started with the male contestants choosing between two Bachelorettes, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson — Rachel and Gabby will both stick around and date the same pool of guys all season long. Most dramatic! Twist! Ever!
ABC announced the news during Tuesday's dumpster fire season finale of The Bachelor. Host Jesse Palmer broke the news to Gabby and Rachel, who seemed truly shocked by the co-Bachelorette revelation.
Sisterhood!. ABC
It's a surprising twist for sure, but it also makes a beautiful kind of sense. Both Gabby and Rachel were completely blindsided by Clayton's absolutely terrible decision-making — and yet they never stopped supporting each other up until the very end. Exhibit A:
Of course, this new set-up leaves me with a lot of questions. What if Gabby and Rachel each want to take a guy on a one-on-one? How can we be sure producers won't try to pit them against each other for maximum drama? And will they each get their own Proposal Platform™ or will they have to share? SO MANY QUESTIONS. And we're going to have to wait longer than usual to get our answers, as ABC won't premiere the new season until July 11. (Perhaps the network is taking pity on the very tired recappers out there?) Jesse Palmer will be the host, which I guess means Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are taking a (permanent?) break from co-hosting.
Though season 18 Bachelorette Michelle Young is still together with her fiancé, Nayte Olukoya, the show's relationship track record hasn't been stellar as of late. Katie Thurston (season 17) and Blake Moynes broke up in October; season 16 Bachelorette-turned-host Tayshia Adams broke up with fiancé Zac Clark in November; and season 16's other Bachelorette, Clare Crawley, split with Dale Moss two times last year.
Are you happy about this twist, rose lovers? And now that the Bachelorettes have been crowned, which women from Clayton's season do you want to see in Paradise? Post your thoughts below!
The Bachelorette premieres Monday, July 11 on ABC.
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