Michelle Young gave her final rose to Nayte Olukoya on Tuesday’s season 18 finale of The Bachelorette on ABC.
The 28-year-old elementary school teacher from Woodbury, Minnesota, made her decision after the two finalists met her family and she went out on last dates with them.
The two-hour finale opened with co-host Kaitlyn Bristowe, 36, revealing that she was flying solo after her co-host Tayshia Adams, 31, was recently exposed to COVID-19.
Final rose: Michelle Young gave her final rose to Nayte Olukoya on Tuesday’s season 18 finale of The Bachelorette on ABC
Brandon, 26, a traveling nurse recruiter from Portland, Oregon, declared his love for Michelle during their time together and in a sweet love note.
Nayte, 27, a sales executive from Winnipeg, Manitoba, struggled to convince Michelle’s mother LaVonne that he was ready to propose.
LaVonne and Michelle’s father Ephraim told their daughter that they resonated more with Brandon and were unsure of guarded Nayte.
Michelle, however, felt more sure about Nayte after he started to be more vulnerable during a shaman ceremony.
Shaman ceremony: The 28-year-old elementary school teacher felt more sure about Nayte after he started to be more vulnerable during a shaman ceremony
Family meeting: LaVonne and Ephraim told their daughter that they resonated more with Brandon and were unsure of guarded Nayte
‘I’ve never been more certain about somebody,’ Nayte told her.
He finally admitted that he was terrified about losing her at the end of the show.
‘I have come to grow very strong feelings for you. Very, very strong,’ Michelle told him.
Flying solo: The two-hour finale opened with co-host Kaitlyn Bristowe, 36, revealing that she was flying solo after her co-host Tayshia Adams, 31, was recently exposed to COVID-19
‘I love you,’ Nayte told her.
‘I love you, too,’ Michelle replied.
Michelle gushed about Brandon who was upfront about her feelings for her from the beginning.
‘A life with Brandon is going to be a happy life, fulfilling life, and I know that there’s a lot of love between us,’ Michelle said in a confessional.
Happy life: ‘A life with Brandon is going to be a happy life, fulfilling life, and I know that there’s a lot of love between us,’ Michelle said in a confessional
Brandon and Nayte both picked out engagement rings from jeweler Neil Lane ahead of the final rose ceremony.
Michelle, however, crushed Nayte as she admitted to him that her heart was pushing her in a different direction.
She got choked up and cried while telling Brandon that he would always have a piece of her heart.
Former couple: Brandon won over Michelle’s family, but her heart pulled her toward Nayte
‘I truly wish you nothing but happiness. I truly mean that. Even if it’s not with me,’ Brandon told her during their talk down by the beach.
‘You’ve been worth it every second. Giving my heart was worth it. It’s something that I’ll never regret. I will always be here for you,’ Brandon told her.
‘I’m sorry,’ Michelle said.
Tough split: ‘I truly wish you nothing but happiness. I truly mean that. Even if it’s not with me,’ Brandon told her during their talk down by the beach
They both said they loved each other before hugging and crying together on the sand.
Kaitlyn earlier in the show forewarned viewers that one of the most brutal breakups in The Bachelorette history was going to happen and she was being truthful as Brandon took it pretty hard.
‘In my heart, it’s telling me she made a mistake, like, go fight for her, but, you know, I don’t think it was a mistake. I think she followed her heart, and that’s where her heart led, and at the end of the day, like, what can I do about it?,’ Brandon said before he tearfully climbed into a vehicle to be driven away.
Duly warned: Kaitlyn earlier in the show forewarned viewers that one of the most brutal breakups in The Bachelorette history was going to happen and she was being truthful as Brandon took it pretty hard.
Nayte was next on the beach and declared his love for Michelle as he dropped to a knee.
‘Michelle, I love you. I love you. I don’t ever want to let go. I am absolutely crazy for you. Michelle Anne young, will you marry me?,’ Nayte asked her.
‘Yes, of course,’ Michelle replied.
Michelle then offered her final rose and Nayte gladly accepted.
The newly engaged couple were then serenaded by a mariachi band.
Said yes: ‘Yes, of course,’ Michelle replied when Nayte asked her to marry him