MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Connie Crayden Sets The Record Straight On Her Past With Bryce From 'Married At First Sight'

Connie Crayden Sets The Record Straight On Her Past With Bryce From 'Married At First Sight'

12 Times The Royal Family Seemingly Used Fashion To Convey A Hidden Message

12 Times The Royal Family Seemingly Used Fashion To Convey A Hidden Message

Six Prominent Prominent Australians On What Fuels Them In The Fight For The Future

What Women Want

Rumour Has It, Bella Varelis And The New 'Bachelor' Jimmy Nicholson Were Once An Item

Rumour Has It, Bella Varelis And The New 'Bachelor' Jimmy Nicholson Were Once An Item

{headline}

{headline}

11 Australian Beauty Brands Founded By Inspiring Women To Shop Now

11 Australian Beauty Brands Founded By Inspiring Women To Shop Now

Every Cast Member From Netflix's 'Moxie' That You Should Be Following On Instagram

Every Cast Member From Netflix's 'Moxie' That You Should Be Following On Instagram

25 Fashion Brands Founded By Powerhouse Australian Women You May Not Know About

25 Fashion Brands Founded By Powerhouse Australian Women You May Not Know About

{headline}

{headline}

Meghan Markle Accuses "The Firm" Of "Perpetuating Falsehoods" About Her In Explosive New Clip

Meghan Markle Accuses "The Firm" Of "Perpetuating Falsehoods" About Her In Explosive New Clip

Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! March 5th - March 11th

Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! March 5th - March 11th

Behold The Kardashian Dragon, Dressed Head-To-Toe In Custom SKIMS

Behold The Kardashian Dragon, Dressed Head-To-Toe In Custom SKIMS

Buckingham Palace Has Launched An Investigation Into Meghan Markle Bullying Allegations

Buckingham Palace Has Launched An Investigation Into Meghan Markle Bullying Allegations

Australia, Prepare The Roses! Meet Your New Bachelor, Jimmy Nicholson

Australia, Prepare The Roses! Meet Your New Bachelor, Jimmy Nicholson

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

  1. Home
  2. News

'The Bachelorette New Zealand' Faces Backlash Over Two Female Leads

The historic move has been met with controversy
  • 03 Feb 2020

The Bachelorette New Zealand has made the history books after deciding to have two female leads in one season but the move has been met with controversy online.

WATCH BELOW: Netflix Puts The Theory That 'Love Is Blind' To The Test In Its New Reality Dating Show

Last month, Dr Lesina Nakhid-Schuster, 32, was introduced to fans as the new Bachelorette.

But those who tuned in on Sunday will have been surprised to see 22-year-old contestant, Lily McManus, join the series.

While some viewers have embraced the change, there was widespread backlash with a number of social media users calling out the television show for failing to give Nakhid-Schuster the spotlight.

"We thought we were going somewhere with a beautiful brown Bachelorette taking centre stage for the first time, we thought," one viewer tweeted.

Another agreed, adding: "I am done with #TheBacheloretteNZ. WOC are at a significant disadvantage on reality dating shows."

"There are very few WOC leading ladies on these shows. Here was a chance for us to see a smart, beautiful, accomplished WOC lead. We were represented. So what does @TVNZ do?"

Brianna Fruean on Twitter
nobody reads the herald on Twitter
perinisese lea on Twitter

The show also drew criticism from viewers for introducing a second female lead over on its official Instagram page.

"So a woman like Lesina, intelligent, kind and beautiful, is not enough so they have to bring in the white girl," one user commented. "Would never happen on The Bachelor."

"Bad move Bachelorette. You obviously could not keep a women of colour Bachelorette on there for long right?" another wrote. "Pretty sure you'll lose viewers."

thebachelorette_nz View Profile
1,355 likes - View Post on Instagram
🚨Reveal alert 🚨Introducing @lilymcmanus!! 😍You now have two Bachelorettes... #thebachelorettenz

In response to the backlash, McManus has defended the show's decision to switch up the format insisting that the women are not in competition with each other.

"When I was asked to do this show, woman empowerment was always a main priority of mine," she wrote on Instagram.

"The show had to be about two women raising each other up and supporting one another through such a wild experience. Lesina is a GREAT mate of mine and the amount of support we have been able to offer each other throughout this makes my brain melt in the best possible way. We are two very different women, who are looking for two very different things."

lilymcmanus View Profile
12.4k likes - View Post on Instagram
Y'all mind if I join this nationally televised tonsil hockey tournament? When I was asked to do this show, woman empowerment was always a main priority of mine. The show had to be about two women raising each other up and supporting one another through such a wild experience. Lesina is a GREAT mate of mine and the amount of support we have been able to offer each other throughout this makes my brain melt in the best possible way. We are two very different women, who are looking for two very different things. There are so many different ways of being a woman in this day and age and to me that is the most exciting thing. It's amazing to see this franchise represent a woman like myself who isn't ready for marriage and kids and show that a relationship without these things is still worthy and valid. No matter how this show is edited I can assure you there is no man worth getting in between mine and lesinas bromance. Am I terrified to watch myself pull the small organ in which is my heart, out of my chest and show it to The whole of New Zealand? Yes. Am I going to do it in the most lily way possible? Also yes. Our route is defiantly unconventional, yet I still wouldn't have had it any other way @dr_lesina Will we find our dream men? Will we choose no one and start dating each other? Will I remember all of their names? How many times can I say "shit" on Tv? Only one way to find out. @thebachelorette_nz 7.30 on @tvnz.official

The male contestants later earned that they were cast with each Bachelorette in mind.

In response to fans' concerns over the new show format, Nakhid-Schuster tweeted that everything "all works out well" in the end.

We guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

  • News
  • Lifestyle

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Connie Crayden Sets The Record Straight On Her Past With Bryce From 'Married At First Sight'

Connie Crayden Sets The Record Straight On Her Past With Bryce From 'Married At First Sight'

12 Times The Royal Family Seemingly Used Fashion To Convey A Hidden Message

12 Times The Royal Family Seemingly Used Fashion To Convey A Hidden Message

Six Prominent Prominent Australians On What Fuels Them In The Fight For The Future

What Women Want

Rumour Has It, Bella Varelis And The New 'Bachelor' Jimmy Nicholson Were Once An Item

Rumour Has It, Bella Varelis And The New 'Bachelor' Jimmy Nicholson Were Once An Item

{headline}

{headline}

11 Australian Beauty Brands Founded By Inspiring Women To Shop Now

11 Australian Beauty Brands Founded By Inspiring Women To Shop Now

Every Cast Member From Netflix's 'Moxie' That You Should Be Following On Instagram

Every Cast Member From Netflix's 'Moxie' That You Should Be Following On Instagram

25 Fashion Brands Founded By Powerhouse Australian Women You May Not Know About

25 Fashion Brands Founded By Powerhouse Australian Women You May Not Know About

{headline}

{headline}

Meghan Markle Accuses "The Firm" Of "Perpetuating Falsehoods" About Her In Explosive New Clip

Meghan Markle Accuses "The Firm" Of "Perpetuating Falsehoods" About Her In Explosive New Clip

Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! March 5th - March 11th

Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! March 5th - March 11th

Behold The Kardashian Dragon, Dressed Head-To-Toe In Custom SKIMS

Behold The Kardashian Dragon, Dressed Head-To-Toe In Custom SKIMS

Buckingham Palace Has Launched An Investigation Into Meghan Markle Bullying Allegations

Buckingham Palace Has Launched An Investigation Into Meghan Markle Bullying Allegations

Australia, Prepare The Roses! Meet Your New Bachelor, Jimmy Nicholson

Australia, Prepare The Roses! Meet Your New Bachelor, Jimmy Nicholson

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

6 issues for $35 -

Shop This Offer
6 issues for $35