Former Bachelorette contestants weigh in on the future of the franchise

Katie Thurston's season of The Bachelorette is off to a compelling start, and we're not just referring to the potential romances. Alumnae Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are stepping in as hostesses to guide Katie on her path toward love, and it seems the two predecessors could possibly change The Bachelor and Bachelorette franchise for good. 

Following the debut episode of Katie's season on June 7, fans learned that longtime host Chris Harrison decided to leave The Bachelor franchise after more than 19 years. His involvement with the show remained in limbo for much of 2021 after a racially charged debate surrounding contestant Rachael Kirkconnell surfaced earlier in the year. 

"While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime," the former host on captioned on Instagram. 

Now, two women, and two former Bachelorettes no less, are filling the void. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the duo opened up about what they're attempting to change by stepping in. First thing's first, they do not want to compare themselves to Chris. 

"We are not Chris Harrison. We are Tayshia and Kaitlyn who have been in the position of a Bachelorette; we’ve been a contestant, we can relate to everybody who is living through this journey," Kaitlyn reveals to THR. 

As The Bachelorette's first female hosts—and two people who've been in this unusual position of reality TV stardom—Tayshia echoes Kaitlyn's sentiment and says, "We’re able to have conversations that only we can relate to."

Read more from woman&home:  

• What really happened to The Serpent's Ajay, Charles Sobhraj's accomplice?
• Best scented candles for a warm and cozy home this winter
• Best kindles for digital book lovers - we help you decide which one to buy

Not only are they happy to see women lead the show for the first time, but they're both keen on showing supportive female relationships as the contestant searches for Mr. Right. Additionally, they're both in favor of a more diverse cast and crew.

"I think Tayshia and I both came into it saying, 'We want to be a part of the change," Kaitlyn further reveals.

Viewers can catch the new phase of the reality show on Mondays at 8pm/7pm Central. Later in the summer, expect Bachelor in Paradise to return with David Spade as a celeb guest host. It seems 2021's search for love—and those coveted roses—will be different. Stay tuned.