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Michelle Young’s season of The Bachelorette has only just begun, and there’s plenty of romance in store this season. In the premiere episode, which aired Oct. 19, 2021, Michelle gave her First Impression Rose to Nayte Olukoya. That wasn’t the only first he received that night, either. He was also the recipient of Michelle’s first kiss of the season. Let’s take a look at how often the First Impression Rose has predicted the winner and other reasons Nayte could win Michelle Young’s heart.

Michelle Young in a gold dress kissing Nayte Olukoya in a suit while sitting on a couch in a production still from 'The Bachelorette' Season 18. Nayte received the First Impression Rose on the first night.
Michelle Young and Nayte Olukoya | ABC/Craig Sjodin

Nayte Olukoya has a better chance because he’s a suitor on ‘The Bachelorette’ and not the lead on ‘The Bachelor’

Michelle’s season of The Bachelorette is the 18th season of the show, but there have been quite a few more seasons of The Bachelor. That next season of The Bachelor will be Season 26, but it doesn’t have a premiere date yet. Out of the combined shows, nine recipients of the First Impression Rose were the final pick in the finale. 

However, it’s essential to keep in mind the franchise didn’t introduce the First Impression Rose until The Bachelor Season 5. Plus, for whatever reason, The Bachelor Season 6 didn’t include it, and the award didn’t return until season 7. It’s stuck around ever since.

Here’s a list of The Bachelorette recipients:

  • DeAnna Pappas and Jesse Csincsak – The Bachelorette Season 4
  • Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez – The Bachelorette Season 6
  • Kaitlyn Bristowe and Shawn Booth – The Bachelorette Season 11
  • Jojo Fletcher and Jordan Rogers – The Bachelorette Season 12
  • Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo – The Bachelorette Season 13
  • Becca Kufrin and Garrett Yrigoyen – The Bachelorette Season 14
  • Clare Crawley and Dale Moss – The Bachelorette Season 16

And here’s a list of The Bachelor recipients:

  • Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudice – The Bachelor Season 17
  • Peter Weber and Hannah Ann Sluss – The Bachelor Season 24

The First Impression Rose recipients for The Bachelorette outnumber those for The Bachelor, which plays in Nayte’s favor.

Nayte Olukoya was the first suitor out of the limo to meet Michelle Young

Obviously, first impressions count for something. Nayte may have received the First Impression Rose, but he was also the first suitor that Michelle met, period. We can imagine meeting the 30 men of Michelle’s season all in a relatively short amount of time could cause some of her suitors to blur together. However, the first person she meets is likely to stand out in her mind.

Previously, Jordan Rogers was the first person out of the limo on Jojo Fletcher’s season of The Bachelorette. Jojo also awarded Jordan the First Impression Rose, and the two became engaged in the finale. It might only be one example, but it bodes well for Nayte.

Related

‘The Bachelorette’: Michelle Young Says Her Finale Is ‘Intense and Emotional’

Michelle Young’s season of ‘The Bachelorette’ with Nayte Olukoya is just getting started

For those of you worried you may have missed too much of The Bachelorette Season 18, it’s ok. So far, only the premiere episode has aired, and we have a recap of it available. For the rest of the season, you can catch The Bachelorette airing on ABC on Tuesday nights starting at 8 p.m. ET. 

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