Meet the New Bachelorette

Fans of The Bachelor already know Rachel Lindsay as the bright, 31-year-old attorney from Dallas who has an easy rapport with this season's Bachelor Nick Viall. On Monday, during a surprise segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with The Bachelor and The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison, it was announced that Lindsay has been named next season's Bachelorette!

The history-making Bachelorette will be the first African-American lead for the series and as she told People Magazine in an interview on February 13:

I’m happy to represent myself as a black woman in front of America and I’m happy for America to rally behind me and see what it’s like for me to be on this journey to find love.

Speaking with Kimmel, she also confessed that she's looking for a man who is ready to start a family, can make her laugh and has a great smile. 

It was a surprising announcement (and a bit of a spoiler) for Bachelor Nation, as Lindsay is still currently featured on The Bachelor and fans are now speculating when and how the circumstances will play out around her exit from the show.

Though he didn't hand her the final rose, Viall wished her good luck on her journey as she takes on the title of Bachelorette.

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8/7C on ABC.

Rachel Lindsay will debut as The Bachelorette on Monday, May 22 at 9/8c on ABC.