The Golden Bachelor was a must-watch, but The Golden Bachelorette's Joan Vassos will be a better lead than Gerry Turner was. Unlike 72-year-old Gerry, 61-year-old Joan isn't as interested in fame, so she'll be in a much better position to find love. Gerry is a retired restaurateur who made his television debut when he was chosen to lead the first season of The Bachelor spin-off, and Joan made her television debut during his season. Joan, a private school administrator, was one of the 22 women who vied for Gerry's heart.
Though Joan and Gerry didn't hit it off right away, she won a group date challenge and spent one-on-one time with The Golden Bachelor, and the two hit it off. Their budding relationship was stunted when Joan had to leave the show early due to a family emergency. When The Golden Bachelorette season 1 was announced, there was a great deal of speculation about who the lead would be. Joan was among the favorites, so it wasn't a total surprise when she was chosen. She seems more down to earth than Gerry and will be an excellent lead.
Joan Is Looking For Love Not Fam
Joan exited Gerry's season of The Golden Bachelor to be with her daughter, who had just had a baby and was struggling with post-partum depression. Though Joan liked Gerry and they had just had an incredible date and connection overall, she put her family first and walked away from the show. This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Joan isn't doing this for fame but to find true love.
Joan Is More Authentic Than Gerry Was
She's More Grounded
They say that everything happens for a reason, and maybe Joan went home early from The Golden Bachelor season 1 because her true love was still out there. Joan was widowed in 2021, and she was finally ready for a second chance to build a special connection with a new man. The Golden Bachelorette season 1 has a much higher chance of resulting in an ideal match because Joan is more honest than Gerry. He may have had the best intentions, but Gerry even lied about his past relationship status.
Gerry claimed that he had been single since the death of his wife in 2017, but it turned out he'd had a serious relationship that ended poorly.
Joan Is More Realistic Than Gerry Was On The Golden Bachelor
She Doesn't Plan To Rush Into Marriage
In a May interview with CNN, Joan made it clear she would not be rushing into marriage no matter what happened on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. She said it wasn't entirely because of Gerry and Theresa's divorce, she feels people need more time to get to know each other. This means fans can forget about another Golden Bachelor wedding special. She explained that while two of her children are excited about the opportunity, the other two don't want to have to see their mother making out with multiple men on TV.
