Michelle Young (television personality)

{{short description|American television personality (born 1993)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Michelle Young

| image = Michelle Young by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Young in 2023

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|6|3}}

| birth_name =

| birth_place = St. Louis Park, Minnesota, U.S.{{cite web|url=https://bradleybraves.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/michelle-young/9001|title=Michelle Young|work=Bradley Braves|accessdate=March 15, 2021}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| occupation = Television personality

| alma_mater = Bradley University

| television = The Bachelor
The Bachelorette

| partner = Nayte Olukoya (2021–2022)
Jack Leius (2023–present; engaged)

| children =

| parents =

}}

Michelle Anne Young (born June 3, 1993) is an American television personality. She received national recognition as the runner-up on season 25 of The Bachelor, and as the star of season 18 of The Bachelorette.

Early life and education

Young was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota to parents LaVonne and Ephraim Young, and was raised in nearby Woodbury. She has two siblings, Angela and Alex. She was a star basketball player at Woodbury High School, and played Division I basketball at Bradley University on an athletic scholarship.{{cite web|url=https://www.rivertowns.net/944074-woodbury-girls-basketball-young-earns-all-star-tournament-mvp-honors|title=Woodbury girls basketball: Young earns All-Star tournament MVP honors|work=RiverTown Multimedia|date=April 27, 2011|accessdate=March 15, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-teacher-michelle-young-poised-to-become-the-bachelorette/600034762/|title=Minnesota teacher Michelle Young poised to become "The Bachelorette"|work=Star Tribune|first=Jenna|last=Ross|date=March 15, 2021|accessdate=March 15, 2021}} She graduated from Bradley in 2015 with a degree in elementary education.{{cite web|url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/nick-in-the-morning/2021/01/26/bachelor-michelle-young-grabs-matt-james-attention/4257091001/|title=Former Bradley basketball player Michelle Young impresses 'The Bachelor' in reality-TV debut|work=Journal Star|last=Vlahos|first=Nick|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=February 9, 2021}}

Television career

=''The Bachelor''=

Young first appeared as a contestant on Matt James' season of The Bachelor. She entered in the third week of the competition, where she made it to the final two but was rejected in favor of fellow contestant Rachael Kirkconnell.{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/the-bachelor-adds-5-contestants-meet-the-women-joining-matt-james/|title=Meet the 5 New Women Joining Matt James' Season of 'The Bachelor'|date=January 22, 2021|accessdate=March 16, 2021|work=Us Weekly|last=Longeretta|first=Emily}}{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/the-bachelor-finale-matt-james-tearfully-breaks-up-with-michelle-young-162004|title='The Bachelor' Finale: Matt James Tearfully Breaks Up With Michelle Young

|work=Entertainment Tonight|last=Gawley|first=Paige|date=March 15, 2021|accessdate=March 15, 2021}}

=''The Bachelorette''=

Young and Katie Thurston were announced as the leads of consecutive seasons of The Bachelorette on March 15, 2021, during the Bachelor season 25 "After the Final Rose" special.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-bachelorette-renewed-season-17-18-2021-katie-thurston-michelle-young-1234715310/|title='The Bachelorette' To Air 2 Seasons In 2021 Starring Katie Thurston & Michelle Young

|work=Deadline|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=March 15, 2021|accessdate=March 15, 2021}}

= Bachelor Happy Hour =

Young was announced as the new co-host on Bachelor Happy Hour with Becca Kufrin in March 2022.{{Cite web |last=Rosario |first=Alexandra Del |date=March 21, 2022 |title=Michelle Young Joins 'Bachelor Happy Hour' Podcast As Co-Host |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/michelle-young-bachelor-happy-hour-podcast-co-host-1234982891/ |access-date=July 12, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Outside of her appearances on The Bachelor franchise, Young works as a fifth grade teacher at Echo Park Elementary School in Burnsville, Minnesota.{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesotan-michelle-young-a-fan-favorite-makes-final-two-on-the-bachelor/600032051/|title=Minnesotan Michelle Young, a fan favorite, makes final two on 'The Bachelor'|work=Star Tribune|first=Jenna|last=Ross|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=March 15, 2021}} She was previously employed as a fifth grade teacher at Normandale Hills Elementary School in Bloomington.{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/the-bachelor-meets-minnesotan-michelle-young-s-students-parents/600026362/|title='The Bachelor' meets Minnesotan Michelle Young's students, parents|work=Star Tribune|first=Jenna|last=Ross|date=February 23, 2021|accessdate=March 15, 2021}}

On September 9, 2021, Young got engaged to Nayte Olukoya, whom she chose as the winner on her season of The Bachelorette.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CXxmx86rpI5/|author=Nayte Olukoya|date=December 21, 2021|title=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...|accessdate=December 22, 2021}} They announced their breakup on June 17, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1335024/the-bachelorettes-michelle-young-and-nayte-olukoya-break-up-6-months-after-finale-airs|date=June 17, 2022|title=The Bachelorette's Michelle Young and Nayte Olukoya Break Up 6 Months After Finale Airs|accessdate=June 17, 2022|last=Weinberg|first=Lindsay|work=E!}}

On October 27, 2023, Young announced she was dating Jack Leius in an Instagram post.{{Cite web |title=Former Bachelorette Michelle Young Debuts New Romance with Jack Leius After Nayte Olukoya Split |url=https://people.com/former-bachelorette-michelle-young-debuts-new-romance-with-jack-leius-8383985 |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}