After months of speculation over who would star on The Golden Bachelorette, the lead has finally been announced. This comes on the heels of the hugely successful Bachelor Nation spin-off The Golden Bachelor, which saw a senior citizen star as the lead of the show for the very first time. Gerry Turner became a fan-favorite in the franchise, and he eventually proposed to Theresa Nist. The couple got married in a live TV wedding in January 2024. Unfortunately, Gerry and Theresa announced their divorce just three months later after they were unable to settle on a location to live together.
ABC announced that The Golden Bachelor contestant Joan Vassos will star as The Golden Bachelorette lead.
During its Upfronts presentation on May 14, ABC revealed that Joan Vassos will star as the first-ever lead of The Golden Bachelorette.
In an announcement video posted on The Golden Bachelor Instagram account, Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" plays while a mystery woman in a shiny gold dress picks up a golden rose and walks along a hallway before turning around and revealing herself to be Joan. She speaks directly into the camera as she says, "I'm Joan, and I'm your first Golden Bachelorette." The video ends as Joan poses for the camera with her hands resting on her hips.
What To Expect From The Golden Bachelorette
Joan Vassos Gets A Second Chance To Find Love On TV
Joan was one of 22 women who competed for Gerry's heart during The Golden Bachelor season 1. Unfortunately, she decided to quit the show in week 3, but she had a very good reason for doing so. Joan decided to leave because her daughter had been dealing with postpartum issues, and she wanted to be with her daughter to help her through her struggles. It was unfortunate timing since she had just gone on a one-on-one date with Gerry in which the two shared a common bond over their respective spouses passing away.
Joan's exit from The Golden Bachelor solidified herself as a possible contender for The Golden Bachelorette season 1. There were other names being floated around online, including Gerry's runner-up Leslie Fhima, Faith Martin and Susan Noles. Despite being rejected by Gerry, Susan actually officiated his and Theresa's wedding. However, it's Joan who will take on the role of The Golden Bachelorette lead. After the unfortunate circumstances surrounding her departure, she's now getting a second chance to find love on TV, this time as the star of the show.
The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and The Golden Bachelor all follow a similar format. The Golden Bachelorette will likely do the same. Joan is expected to film her season over the summer before The Golden Bachelorette season 1 airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. in fall 2024, as announced by ABC. While The Golden Bachelor episodes were only one hour long, The Golden Bachelorette is expanding to 90 minutes each week. If she falls in love and gets engaged, hopefully, Joan decides to take her time before getting married so she doesn't suffer the same fate as Gerry and Theresa.
