Who Is Joan Vassos? Meet the New ‘Golden Bachelorette’ Star, Her Family, and More!

Meet Joan Vassos, ABC’s first-ever Golden Bachelorette. Some of you might remember her from the first ever season of The Golden Bachelor, where she tried (and failed) to win over Gerry Turner’s heart. But who is Joan really? And what does she hope to get out of her new title as “The First Ever Golden Bachelorette ?” We dove deep into all of that and more. Plus, all the must-know details about the new reality show The Golden Bachelorette.

Who is Joan Vassos?

Joan Vassos is a 60-year-old Private School Administrator from Rockland, Maryland. She has four children and two grandchildren, one of whom was born during her journey on The Golden Bachelor. It was due to that delivery that Joan decided to self-eliminate from the show during week three, a decision that showcased her true character and that at the end of the day, her family will always remain her top priority.

“My daughter just had a baby and it wasn’t a normal, you know, everyday delivery at all. Things go wrong. And even if everything went right, you need your mom,” Joan revealed in a confessional interview before she went home. “My family will always be first. Once you become a mom, you’re always a mom, even when your kids are older. Nothing is more important.”

Prior to trying to find love on TV, Joan was married for 32 years before her husband tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021.

Outside of becoming a reality TV star and spending time with her family, Joan “loves listening to Elton John, hanging with her dog, and cooking a delicious meal,” according to ABC. She also loves dancing, drinking wine, museums and hamburgers.

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What has Joan Vassos said about becoming the first Golden Bachelorette?

On May 15, 2024, it was announced that Joan would be the first Golden Bachelorette. In the announcement, she wrote, “The first Golden Bachelorette… I truly can’t believe it! I’m positively overwhelmed by the love and support you are all sending my way. Thank you, @abc, for picking me up and @bachelornation, for rooting for me! As I embark on this journey, I hope to make you all proud, follow my heart, and have a lot of fun along the way. I’m honored to represent all of the golden ladies out there, turns out we aren’t invisible after all. ✨🌹”

Also excited about the news? Her ex, Gerry! After hearing the news, the Golden Bachelor took to Instagram and wrote, “Dear Joan, congratulations on being named the first-ever Golden Bachelorette. You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation. From one golden to another….relax, breathe and enjoy.”

What can fans expect from ‘The Golden Bachelorette’?

The Golden Bachelorette will follow the same premise and guidelines as The Bachelorette. Joan will date a large group of older gentlemen each week, and at the end, a small number of them will be sent home if she doesn’t feel like they have a connection. The cast will also travel around the globe and embark on once-in-a-lifetime dates, all in the hopes of finding true love.

When does ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ air?

As of now, The Golden Bachelorette doesn’t have an official release date. ABC has said that it will hit the small screens in the fall, but they didn’t specify when.

However, if you simply cannot wait that long to watch, The Bachelorette is set to air on July 8, with Jenn Tran starring as the lead. She is the first Asian-American to be cast as the lead in Bachelor Nation history.

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