ABC has announced that Joan Vassos, a 61-year-old grandmother from Rockland, Maryland, will be the network’s first-ever Golden Bachelorette. The exciting reveal came during ABC’s upfront presentation to advertisers on Tuesday, as Vassos made a surprise appearance, confirming her role as the lead for the highly anticipated new season.
Joan Vassos is a school administrator and mother of four who quickly captured viewers’ hearts during her brief stint on the inaugural season of “The Golden Bachelor” last year. Despite self-eliminating in week three due to a medical concern with her daughter, she left a lasting impression with her warmth and poetic charm, famously writing a humorous poem titled “I Just Hope I Don’t Vomit on Your Shoes” for the season’s lead, Gerry Turner.
The decision to cast Vassos as the Golden Bachelorette is a big change for the long-running Bachelor franchise, which has traditionally focused on a younger demographic.
“As you get older, you become more invisible. People don’t see you anymore. Like you’re not as significant as when you’re young,” Vassos shared during her time on “The Golden Bachelor,” a sentiment that resonated deeply with viewers of all ages.
While the inaugural Golden Bachelor season ended on a high note with Turner’s proposal to Theresa Nist, the couple’s swift divorce just three months after their televised wedding added an unexpected twist to the show’s narrative. However, the strong ratings and renewed interest in the franchise have prompted ABC to forge ahead with the Golden Bachelorette spinoff.
The Golden Bachelorette is slated to premiere in the fall on Wednesday nights.
