- "Stella Seeks First Dual Spouse" - Stella pursues a potential partner, regardless of gender
For over a decade, RTL has been guiding "The Bachelorette" on a love journey. But this new season, commencing on August 26th, is unique. Initially, it won't air on free-to-air TV as usual, but only on RTL+'s streaming platform. Secondly, this year's male competitors face intense competition: they're not the only ones contesting for the final rose; female contestants are joining the fray as well.
This season's "Bachelorette," Stella Schmidt, is the first bisexual woman to assume this role. The 27-year-old native of Munich has pondered participating in the show for some time, she shared with the German Press Agency. "Now, it's the right time for me because I recently had a significant relationship - my first with a woman. She was the first woman I've ever fallen in love with. And so, I'm now the first bisexual 'Bachelorette'"
"Welcome to the 'Bi-Bachelorette,'" announces the trailer RTL has shared online.
Gender is a Non-factor - 50:50
And so, she embarks on a journey to Thailand in search of her perfect match - be it a woman or a man. "I was open to both men and women - 50:50," she shared. She wasn't focused on gender, "but rather on the question, what kind of person is this?" The show has already been filmed, so she can't disclose the outcome. However, the numbers don't exactly favor the women: there are 15 men and only five women.
"Women are a different kind of challenge," says one of the contestants in the trailer. "Two disparate worlds are colliding here," and: "This is entirely unlike before."
Her predecessor, Sharon Battiste, recently announced on Instagram that she and her chosen one from the 2022 season are back together - the only "Bachelorette" winning couple still together currently. Schmidt admitted she was worried she might not find love herself.
"I was frightened I wouldn't fall in love, that there wouldn't be someone there for me with whom I could build a future," she told dpa. But if the RTL trailer is to be believed, her fears were unfounded. "I fell in love with both," Schmidt says in the trailer.
"I was afraid that maybe I would fall in love and the feelings wouldn't be reciprocated, and afraid that someone might leave voluntarily and hurt me, and also afraid that people might judge me for who I am and that I'm challenging the heteronormative structure. But hope and excitement outweighed everything," she told dpa.
20 contestants are hoping for the final rose - and likely also for fame and new followers on social media platforms.
"Of course, everyone thinks about fame, but for each and every one, the hope of finding love is extremely high," Schmidt said. "And even though we might say at first that we want to participate in the show, the thought is always there: I might find the love of my life. I'm completely certain that real feelings will develop. Those accusations that everything is just for clicks are nonsense."
Stella Schmidt, feeling courageous after her first love with a woman, confesses, "I love you," to someone during her journey for perfection on 'Bi-Bachelorette'. The unique season, with equal representation of men and women, challenges traditional norms and expectations, fostering emotions beyond just love for fame.
