Kaitlyn Dawn Bristowe was born on June 19, 1985, in Leduc, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of a ballerina. She developed a passion for dance early on and earned a dance scholarship that took her to Vancouver, British Columbia. She then began working as a spin-class instructor while also waitressing at various local restaurants.

Bristowe entered reality television in 2015 as a contestant on The Bachelor season 19, finishing third. She was then named the lead of Season 11 of The Bachelorette, becoming engaged to Shawn Booth in the finale. She went on to co-host Seasons 17 and 18 of The Bachelorette alongside Tayshia Adams. Additionally, she won Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars with professional partner Artem Chigvintsev.

Beyond Bachelor Nation, Bristowe launched her hit podcast Off the Vine in 2017. She also founded the wine label Spade and Sparrows in 2019 and released her debut country single, “If I’m Being Honest,” in 2020. In 2025, she began co-hosting Hulu’s Are You My First? alongside Colton Underwood, a reality dating series following a cast of virgins seeking romance.