Can you say “FINALLY”? This announcement may be coming a bit earlier than we’re used to, but it’s waaaayyyyy overdue. On tonight’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, current contestant on Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor, Rachel Lindsay, was revealed as the next Bachelorette.
Even though sources leaked that Rachel would be named the Bachelorette tonight, I’ve been burned far too many times before by these announcements. I had to see it for myself before I could truly believe.Â
During a (standing) interview, Rachel explained that she was approached about being the Bachelorette shortly after getting cast off from Nick’s season but thought producers were just trying to make her feel better following the heartbreak. (Side note: She already seems ~so~ relatable and real. Killing it!)
Rachel will be the first black lead in the Bachelor franchise’s 33-season history. The show has long come under fire for its lack of diversity. Yesterday, executive producer Mike Fleiss seemed to confirm the rumblings in his tweets teasing the “historic announcement.”
When tonight’s episode of The Bachelor ended, Rachel’s relationship with Nick was flourishing after another romantic one-on-one. We might not know yet how their story ends, but I’m ready to skip ahead to May 22 (yep, we have a premiere date, too!) and see what’s next for Rachel.