The Golden Bachelorette: Signs Mark Anderson's New Relationship Will Last Throughout 2025 (A Break Up Isn't Happening Any Time Soon)

Although he didn’t find love with Joan Vassos on The Golden Bachelorette , Mark Anderson’s shocking elimination led him to something even better. Mark, the father of The Bachelor’s Kelsey Anderson, won fans over with his kind, genuine nature. Six years after the death of his wife, he was finally ready to pursue love again. His story struck a chord with Joan, who was also re-entering the dating scene after the loss of her husband to cancer.

Mark and Joan hit it off, especially on their one-on-one date. So Mark and viewers alike were shocked when Joan pulled him aside and explained her need to eliminate him. While Joan appreciated how Mark’s time at the mansion had helped him heal from losing his wife, she felt she was missing from his story. Joan and Mark were at different places in the mourning process, and she didn’t think he was ready for a serious relationship. After recovering from his stunning rejection, Mark proved Joan wrong by finding true love all on his own.

Mark Is Being Low-Key About His Relationship

His Subtlety Is A Sign Of His Contentment

Mark first caught followers’ attention when he appeared in a Halloween Instagram post with actress Barbara Alyn Woods. Over the next several months, Mark and Barbara continued to appear together on social media. Although they’ve never publicly addressed their relationship, their photos speak for themselves.

Mark and Barbara’s low-key attitude towards publicizing their relationship proves how comfortable they are with their status. They don’t need to make bold proclamations about their love or define their relationship to their followers. This allows Mark and Barbara to build their connection without any distractions, which is a promising sign for their future. They are clearly happy together and aren’t letting anybody else’s opinions get in the way.

Mark Doesn't Seem Like The Type Of Guy To Date Someone Unless He's Serious About Them

He’s Ready To Commit To Barbara

Mark was married to his late wife, the mother of his five children, for 18 years before her 2018 death. He was vulnerable on The Golden Bachelorette season 1 about how much he cherished and missed her. Mark was ready to find love again, but he didn’t take the matter lightly. After the heartbreak of losing his beloved wife, it's doubtful Mark would enter a new relationship casually.

Although Mark and Barbara are playing it cool, the photos they’ve shared reveal their commitment. The couple has gone on vacations together and spent time with each other’s families. These are signs that even though they’re keeping their romance low-key, Mark and Barbara are pretty serious. Mark is still healing from a devastating loss, and he wouldn’t open up his heart again unless he thought it was forever.

Mark Is Finally Ready For A Relationship After The Death Of His Wife

Joan & The Mansion Men Helped Him Move On

Joan didn’t think Mark was ready for a relationship, but his romance with Barbara proved otherwise. When he was at the mansion, he bonded with other men who had experienced similar losses, and they supported each other in their healing journeys. Like Joan, Mark learned he could hold on to the love he had for his late wife while also loving somebody new.

Mark’s time on The Golden Bachelorette was pivotal to his healing process, and it may be what opened the door to his relationship with Barbara. He missed his opportunity with Joan and didn’t want to let any more chances pass him by. Mark and Barbara seem content in their relationship, and the fact that they found each other without the help of a TV show gives them an even better chance at success. He may have left the mansion alone, but now that he’s found love, Mark and Barbara are in it for the long haul.