Michelle Young and Nyate Olukoya are engaged. Image Source: US Weekly
The final episode of season 18 of ‘The Bachelorette’ premiered on Tuesday, and Michelle Young chose Nayte Olukoya as her final pick and gave him the final rose. Nayte Olukoya decided to take the opportunity to propose the elementary school teacher, Michelle Young. The three-hour finale episode, titled, ‘After the Final Rose’, also featured a tough breakup with runner-up Brandon Jones.
Nayte Olukoya approached Michelle Young as she stood on the steps and confessed his feelings and love for one last time. He said, "Michelle, the very first night I met you, I knew right then and there that we had a connection that I wanted to hold on to. The second night that we were together, we talked about running away together. I’m standing in front of you right now, and the feelings are the same. I want to run away with you. I want to run away to forever with a woman that I've come to love. This is an amazingly crazy, wow-kind of love. And through this journey, you've shared a lot of vulnerable sides of your past, and I know that you've felt unseen at times, so I want to let you know that I am completely prepared, willing, and ready to make sure that you are always chosen first, seen now, today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives. I love you, Michelle. "
To which Michelle Young replied to him by saying, "From the moment you stepped out of the limo, I felt there was a connection. It was a moment where I was feeling things I didn't even know it was possible to feel. Walking into this, I feared that I would not be loved as much as I loved the other person. Through our conversations, there were moments when I felt that fear creeping in. This has not been a smooth ride. But I'm also not willing to let that fear stop me from being with you. Because I love you with my whole heart and I don't want to wake up with anyone but you and I don't want to do life with anyone but you. I want to be standing with my soulmate, and he's standing right in front of me. "
Michelle Young and Nayte Olukoya. Image Source: PR Newswire
In the finale episode, Michelle said to Brandon Jones, "It’s not that I don’t love you, because I do. It’s just that my heart is pushing me in a different direction and I have to go with what I feel, and it hurts so much because you are this unbelievable person. "
The finale was shot in September 2021, and it has been two long months since the couple has been engaged and after the premiere of the finale episode, Nayte took to his social media account to express his love for his lady love as he wrote, "Michelle, ever since September 9th, 2021, when I got on one knee to ask you to spend the rest of our lives together, it has been an absolute dream come true. There will inevitably be ups and downs, just like any other strong relationship. But I don’t care if it’s tomorrow, 5 years from now, or 50 years from now. I plan on always giving you my full effort and working through life with you."
Michelle’s mother, Lavonne Young, also told host Kaitlyn Bristow that the entire family loves Nayte, and she is happy for both of them. Michelle Young recently spoke to People Magazine and shared, "I fall more in love every day. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family with a healthy marriage, and I thought, "I'm not going to give up until I have that." He's my person. And I didn't know I could love at this level. "
Nayte Olukoya added to her statement, "It's so natural for us to be together. I've never felt the way I feel before. I'm all in!" Michelle said that right from the start, the two of them had an undeniable connection, and she thought that she was in trouble when she was falling in love with Nayte. Further on in their conversation, Nayte expressed that the group dates did make him a little uncomfortable, but all he did was focus on Michelle.
Talking about the proposal, Nayte said, "I had a conversation with Michelle, and I was like, 'I want you to know I'm scared.' But at the end of the day, I've never been so aligned with how I feel about somebody. When I closed my eyes and thought about the future, I saw her next to me. So I was very confident and comfortable getting down on one knee. And I'm so glad she said yes! " The two have been living in bliss, with their days filled with dancing, singing, and simply goofing around, which also includes their "serious talks about the future" as well.
Michelle Young said, "You can have all these passionate moments, but when you get into the real world, are you a person who's going to stick in and hold on and work through things? That's when I truly understood the depth of Nayte. He said love changes, but it doesn't mean you love each other any less." Nayte lastly added, "Now it's done, and we're just two people madly in love going down this road. And we're each other's rocks for life."
According to the reports, the producers decided to cut down on a lot of scenes between Michelle and Nayte because their connection was so strong. A source told The Sun, "Their connection is so strong, people would assume it's inevitable that they end up together. They cut out their first kiss and didn't air a lot of scenes that showed their strong connection. And it's really strong and genuine, probably the most genuine connection a lead has had on this show. Even with their scenes scaled back, people can sense their chemistry. They seem like they'll be a couple who make it. "
Michelle Young wrote on her Instagram, "Dear SoulNayte, stepping into the role as The Bachelorette, I was optimistic about what I would find. I hoped for a best friend, a life-long partner, but I truly landed one of a kind. I’ve asked for someone who sees me, challenges me, while accepting me for who I am. I’ve asked for someone who will never let go, and you’ve already shown me you will be that man. The way you’ve pushed yourself to be vulnerable, even if it wasn’t for others around us to see. I’ve learned our love story doesn’t need to be perceived as perfect. As long as it’s perfect for you and me. You’ve quickly become the pep in my step, The reason I smile through hard days. I love the way you love. You make me feel beautiful in so many ways. SoulNayte thank you for answering, and although we have no idea what’s in life’s plan, I feel incredibly at peace knowing I’ll have you by my side, thank you for being that man. Love, Your FIANCÉ, Michelle."
Are you happy with this new couple in town?
