The Bachelorette 2021: Premiere Date, Katie Thurston's Cast, Location and Updated News

Sally Polly April 29, 2021 | 05:52

Be ready Bachelor fans, there's another season of The Bachelorette coming so soon. The season with Katie Thurston, made a memorable entrance wielding a vibrator in the premiere and became a fan favorite for speaking out against the bullying and toxic environment... Keep reading to know more!

Photo: People

Why have one Bachelorette, when you can have two? The Bachelorette 2021 is Katie Thurston ... and also Michelle Young! The two women, who both vied for the love of Bachelor Matt James, were both named as Bachelorette leads at the end of the After the Final Rose special.

Yes, there are two seasons of The Bachelorette this year and Katie is the first to start her journey to find love. Filming is already underway and ABC has set the premiere date for early June.

Katie appeared on the most recent season of The Bachelor and ended up in 11th place, after a date where she and Matt pranked his best friend Tyler Cameron. Katie made a memorable entrance wielding a vibrator in the premiere and became a fan favorite for speaking out against the bullying and toxic environment perpetrated by some of her fellow contestants.

The Bachelorette 2021: Premiere Date

The Bachelorette season 17 will premiere date Monday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

If you previously heard that Katie's season would premiere June 1, that's because Google search had that date listed. However, June 1 is a Tuesday, so it never made a ton of sense. The Bachelor franchise has almost always aired on Monday nights.

The Bachelorette 2021: Location

Photo: Hyatt

Due to the pandemic, Katie's season will film entirely in one location, just like Matt's Bachelor season and Clare/Tayshia's split Bachelorette season.

Bachelor spoiler guru Reality Steve initially broke the news that The Bachelorette 2021 would film at the Hyatt Tamaya outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico even before Katie was officially chosen as the lead.

Steve also tweeted the scoop that Katie and the cast — including the men, crew and hosts Kaitlyn and Tayshia — began quarantining last week.

Who's hosting The Bachelorette?

The first of many highly-anticipated announcements came March 12 with the new Bachelorette hosts. ICYMI: Chris Harrison is taking time away away from the franchise following his controversial interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay.

Former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are assuming the hosting role for season 17. They are stoked for the new gig—just look at their recent social posts.

The Bachelorette 2021: Who is Katie Thurston?

Photo: Getty Images

Katie Thurston, 30, from Renton, Washington, was announced as the season 17 Bachelorette at The Bachelor season 25 “After the Final Rose” special on March 15. Katie was a contestant on Matt James‘ season of The Bachelor but was eliminated in 10th place after Matt couldn’t see a future with her. However, Katie won’t be the only Bachelorette in 2021. Michelle Young, a 27-year-old teacher from Edina, Minnesota and the runner-up on Matt’s season of The Bachelor, was also announced as a Bachelorette at Matt’s “After the Final Rose” special. Michelle will be the season 18 Bachelorette and air her season after Katie’s.

Among the season 25 women, Katie emerged as a leading voice, who repeatedly stood up against bullying and negativity in the house, and women all over America applauded her for speaking up for what she believes in.

Though Thurston works an official day job as a bank marketing manager in Renton, Washington, she's got a much more exciting side gig as a hilarious, no-holds-barred social media star. Prime example: She went viral on TikTok last summer for sharing a video in which she discussed her quarantine masturbation habits and mused about whether she'd hook up with a ghost (final answer: yes).

Between her frank online content and the fact that she stepped out of the limo on night one of The Bachelor with a vibrator in hand, Thurston has been widely praised for her sex positivity. And it's not just for show: "It wasn't some agenda that I had coming on to the show. It's just who I am and who I've been this whole time," she said during an appearance on the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast in January, per People. "It wasn't until after the fact that I realized how big of a deal it was—which excites me, because I do believe it's 2021 and women should be comfortable talking about their sexuality."

The Bachelorette 2021 trailer: Katie's first teaser

“I don’t regret being myself. I know what I deserve," Katie declares at the start of ABC's first promo for The Bachelorette season 17.

The teaser trailer shows a bit of old footage of Katie and Matt during his Bachelor season, intercut with Katie wearing a lavender gown and holding a rose (of course). No vibrator in sight, though.

The Bachelorette 2021: Cast

Photo: StyleCaster

On Facebook, ABC revealed the 34 men who are possible contestants for Katie's season of The Bachelorette. Not all of them will make it into the final cast. They range in age from 24 to 26 and the majority are white.

Two of the men were part of the group initially chosen for Clare's season: Greg (27, Edison, New Jersey) and Karl (33, Miami, Florida).

There are several former baseball players in the mix, along with a contestant from Bravo's Make Me A Supermodel. One is a widower. Another, Andrew Spencer is the cousin of former Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise cast member Clay Harbor.

The Bachelorette 2021 spoilers

Since filming on Katie's season just started, there aren't too many Bachelorette spoilers yet.

Reality Steve tweeted that he has already been digging into the histories of the potential contestants.

Last season, Reality Steve learned the recipient of Matt's first impression rose (Abigail) so it's likely he'll do the same for Katie. Stay tuned!

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