Michelle Young (television personality)

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Michelle Young
Michelle Young by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Young in 2023
Born (1993-06-03) June 3, 1993 (age 32)
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, U.S. [1]
Alma mater Bradley University
OccupationTelevision personality
Television The Bachelor
The Bachelorette
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [1]
Spouse
Jack Leius
​
(m. 2025)​
PartnerNayte Olukoya (2021–2022)

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 .

Contents

Early life and education

Young was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota to parents LaVonne and Ephraim Young, and was raised in nearby Woodbury. [1] She has two siblings, Angela and Alex. [1] She was a star basketball player at Woodbury High School, and played Division I basketball at Bradley University on an athletic scholarship. [2] [3] She graduated from Bradley in 2015 with a degree in elementary education. [1] [4]

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. [5] [6]

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. [7]

Bachelor Happy Hour

Young was announced as the new co-host on Bachelor Happy Hour with Becca Kufrin in March 2022. [8]

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. [3] [9] She was previously employed as a fifth grade teacher at Normandale Hills Elementary School in Bloomington. [10]

On September 9, 2021, Young got engaged to Nayte Olukoya, whom she chose as the winner on her season of The Bachelorette. [11] They announced their breakup on June 17, 2022. [12]

On October 27, 2023, Young announced she was dating Jack Leius in an Instagram post. [13] They got engaged in October 2024. [14] They got married on June 7, 2025 at Woodland Glasshaus at Bavaria Downs in Chaska, Minnesota. [15]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021–2022 The Bachelor HerselfRunner-up; season 25, Guest appearance; season 26
2021 Good Morning America 3 episodes
Live with Kelly and Ryan October 19 episode
The Bachelorette Lead, season 18
Entertainment Tonight November 23 episode
Extra
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
American Music Awards of 2021 Presenter
2022 Celebrity Family Feud Contestant, one episode

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Michelle Young". Bradley Braves . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Woodbury girls basketball: Young earns All-Star tournament MVP honors". RiverTown Multimedia. April 27, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Ross, Jenna (March 15, 2021). "Minnesota teacher Michelle Young poised to become "The Bachelorette"". Star Tribune . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Vlahos, Nick (January 26, 2021). "Former Bradley basketball player Michelle Young impresses 'The Bachelor' in reality-TV debut". Journal Star . Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ Longeretta, Emily (January 22, 2021). "Meet the 5 New Women Joining Matt James' Season of 'The Bachelor'". Us Weekly . Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ Gawley, Paige (March 15, 2021). "'The Bachelor' Finale: Matt James Tearfully Breaks Up With Michelle Young". Entertainment Tonight . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 15, 2021). "'The Bachelorette' To Air 2 Seasons In 2021 Starring Katie Thurston & Michelle Young". Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  8. ↑ Rosario, Alexandra Del (March 21, 2022). "Michelle Young Joins 'Bachelor Happy Hour' Podcast As Co-Host". Deadline. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  9. ↑ Ross, Jenna (March 9, 2021). "Minnesotan Michelle Young, a fan favorite, makes final two on 'The Bachelor'". Star Tribune . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ Ross, Jenna (February 23, 2021). "'The Bachelor' meets Minnesotan Michelle Young's students, parents". Star Tribune . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  11. ↑ Nayte Olukoya (December 21, 2021). "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..." Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ Weinberg, Lindsay (June 17, 2022). "The Bachelorette's Michelle Young and Nayte Olukoya Break Up 6 Months After Finale Airs". E! . Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  13. ↑ Falcone, Dana Rose (October 27, 2023). "Former Bachelorette Michelle Young Debuts New Romance with Jack Leius After Nayte Olukoya Split". People . Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  14. ↑ Clack, Erin (December 3, 2024). "'Bachelorette' Alum Michelle Young Is Engaged to Jack Leius: 'There Were a Lot of Happy Tears' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  15. ↑ Robinette, Ashlyn (June 12, 2025). "The Bachelorette Alum Michelle Young Marries Jack Leius in 'Timeless' Minnesota Wedding: All the Details (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
Preceded by The Bachelor runner up
Season 25 		Succeeded by
Preceded by The Bachelorette
Season 18 		Succeeded by
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