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Katie Thurston: 5 Things To Know About ‘The Bachelorette’ Star

ABC
THE BACHELORETTE - “1701” – Katie Thurston sets off on her journey to find love with her charm, wit and take-no-nonsense attitude that fans fell in love with during her time on “The Bachelor.” With the help of former Bachelorettes and mentors Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams by her side, Katie is ready to meet her men; with 30 lucky potential suitors pulling out all the stops, props and moves in hopes of catching her eye before the first rose ceremony. Strap in, it’s going to be a season like no other on “The Bachelorette,” airing MONDAY, JUNE 7 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin) KAITLYN BRISTOWE, TAYSHIA ADAMS, KATIE THURSTON
THE BACHELORETTE - “1704” – A group date of Truth or Dare seems to be all fun and games until the night takes a serious turn and the men find themselves contemplating telling Katie a slimy secret they’ve uncovered. Later, Tayshia surprises Katie with a revelation about someone from her past and the men band together to tell the truth, leaving one suitor to fend for and defend himself. Tired of questioning who is here for the right reasons, our strong-willed Bachelorette takes a stand like we’ve never seen before to ensure the house is filled with good vibes only. It’s a rollercoaster of a week, to say the least, on an all-new “The Bachelorette,” MONDAY, JUNE 28 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin) HUNTER, KATIE THURSTON
THE BACHELORETTE - “1705” – Fourteen remaining suitors are ready to finally put the drama behind them and focus on getting quality time with Katie, until Tayshia stops by to drop the bomb that there are actually 15 men hoping to capture Katie’s heart and Blake will be joining them in the house. Later on the massive group date, Bachelor Nation favorites Wells Adams and Franco stop by to introduce and commentate on an intense game of America’s hottest new sport – Bash Ball; but when more than egos end up getting bruised, Katie steps in and stands up for her guys, ending the game early and giving everyone the attention they deserve. Later, Katie and Andrew S. have an important conversation about their future and one guy gets greedy with Katie’s time. At the end of the night, a rose ceremony will bring Katie one step closer to hopefully finding her match on an all-new “The Bachelorette,” MONDAY, JULY 5 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin) KATIE THURSTON, TRE
THE BACHELORETTE - “1705” – Fourteen remaining suitors are ready to finally put the drama behind them and focus on getting quality time with Katie, until Tayshia stops by to drop the bomb that there are actually 15 men hoping to capture Katie’s heart and Blake will be joining them in the house. Later on the massive group date, Bachelor Nation favorites Wells Adams and Franco stop by to introduce and commentate on an intense game of America’s hottest new sport – Bash Ball; but when more than egos end up getting bruised, Katie steps in and stands up for her guys, ending the game early and giving everyone the attention they deserve. Later, Katie and Andrew S. have an important conversation about their future and one guy gets greedy with Katie’s time. At the end of the night, a rose ceremony will bring Katie one step closer to hopefully finding her match on an all-new “The Bachelorette,” MONDAY, JULY 5 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin) KATIE THURSTON, BLAKE MOYNES View Gallery View Gallery 23 Photos.
Deputy Editor of New York City

Ahead of ‘The Bachelorette’ premiere, get to know about season 17’s star, Katie Thurston.

Katie Thurston’s journey as the Bachelorette officially begins on June 7. Katie was introduced to Bachelor nation during season 25 of The Bachelor earlier this year, but she was dumped by Matt James. During After the Final Rose in March, it was announced that she would be the new lead for season 17 of The Bachelorette. In an unexpected twist, the after-show’s host, Emmanuel Acho, also revealed that there will be a second Bachelorette season in 2021, with Michelle Young at the helm.

Katie and Michelle walked out together on After the Final Rose and revealed that they will BOTH be the Bachelorettes! They will have two separate seasons, with Katie’s season up first. “I’m ready to find love,” Katie said. “I’m talking forever, my husband, and I’m at a place in my life where I’m the best version of myself.”

katie thurston
Katie Thurston promoting ‘The Bachelorette.’ (ABC)

Why Did Katie Thurston Go Viral On TikTok?

Even before her Bachelor days, Katie was already a social media sensation thanks to a TikTok video that went viral. In May 2020, Katie posted a video of herself sharing a story about when she “s*** [herself] at work.” She went into pretty extensive detail about the situation, which involved drinking an iced coffee at 3:00 in the afternoon. We’ll let you watch the explanation for yourselves (below)!

@thekatiethurston

Story Time! Releasing all parts today! #poop I Shit Myself pt.1

♬ original sound – Katie Thurston

What Does Katie Thurston Do For A Living?

Katie may be super candid when it comes to sharing her personal life online, but she also has a steady job. She works as a Bank Marketing Manager in Washington state. In a partner, Katie is looking for someone who is equally as ambitious as she is. “Katie is looking for a mature man who has ambitions to succeed in everything he does, both personally and professionally,” her ABC bio reads. “Nothing turns her off more than someone who sits around playing video games all day.”

Katie Thurston’s Dad Died In 2012

Although Katie did not open up to Matt about her father’s passing on The Bachelor, she did talk to another contestant, Sarah Trott, about losing her father on the Jan. 18 episode of the show. Sarah explained that her father was currently suffering from ALS, and admitted it was hard for her to be away from home while filming the show. Katie revealed that she could, sadly, relate all too well to Sarah’s pain.

“I 100 percent encourage you to be with him,” Katie urged. “I understand that more than I would like to. I missed out on my goodbye to my dad. I would never want that for you.” Katie didn’t share any details beyond that, but was clearly touched by hearing Sarah’s heartbreaking story.

Does Katie Thurston Have Social Media?

katie thurston
Katie Thurston promoting ‘The Bachelorette.’ (ABC)

In 2020, Katie “randomly gained a large audience on TikTok,” according to her Instagram bio from earlier this year. Her TikTok username is @ventwithkatie. Fans can also follow her on Instagram, where she already has more than 100,000 followers, at the handle @thekatiethurston. Her Twitter is @atiethurston

How Old Is Katie Thurston?

Katie’s Bachelor bio confirmed she was 29 when she filmed the show during the fall of 2020. However, she turned 30 on Jan. 3, according to a Jan. 2 post on her Instagram page. “Today marks the last day of my twenties,” Katie wrote. “Life really does pass by quickly. If I died tomorrow, I wouldn’t be happy with what I accomplished. I followed the ‘rules’ of life. Get a career. Save the money .Start that 401k. Buy the house. And for what? An entire decade to pass without feeling fulfilled? This past year, I finally unapologetically loved who I am. I lost people along the way, and that’s ok. We aren’t meant to please everyone. What I do know is life is too short to feel unfulfilled.”