Yahoo Lifestyle Everything to Know About ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Lead Joan Vassos
It’s official—Joan Vassos is the first-ever Golden Bachelorette! The news was first announced on May 14 when ABC posted a clip of Joan walking through a hallway in a sequined gold dress with a gold rose in hand. “The secret is out!” Joan wrote on her Instagram Stories, where she shared ABC’s official announcement. “I’m honored to be #TheGoldenBachelorette.”
ICYMI, Joan was one of Gerry Turner’s contestants on the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor. She made the top 12 before her daughter faced a medical emergency, which prompted her to leave prematurely during the third week of the competition. Now, it’s Joan’s turn for a second chance at love thanks to Bachelor Nation. Here’s everything you need to know about the first-ever Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos!
Joan is a school administrator from Rockland, Maryland.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Joan works in Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at a school in Bethesda, Maryland.
She has four kids and two grandkids.
Joan has two grandkids and four grown kids—Allison, Nicholas, Erica, and Luke. She self-eliminated during week 3 of The Golden Bachelor after one of her daughters was having a difficult experience after giving birth.
“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. “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.”
Joan was married for 32 years.
Gerry Turner gave love a second chance on The Golden Bachelor after losing his wife, and Joan comes from a similar background. She lost her husband of 32 years, John, to pancreatic cancer in 2021 and recently penned an emotional Instagram caption reflecting on their life together. “Some days, it seems like it just happened and I can’t catch my breath, still feeling the shock of it. Other days it feels like he’s been gone a lifetime, those days are worse because I’m afraid the memories are fading,” Joan wrote.
She added, “For years, I’ve tried to think of how to memorialize him, but nothing seems quite right. Plant a tree, put his name on the back of a bench...nope, I’d have to name the tallest building in the world to do him justice. Every floor would stand for something kind he did for someone, the good deeds are too many to even attempt to mention.”
She loves dancing, cooking, and her dog.
According to ABC, Joan “finds solace in the music of Elton John, spending time with her dog, and cooking.”
ABC’s bio writer provided more info on Joan with her Golden Bachelor fun facts (truly, the gift that keeps on giving):
Joan loves dancing after a couple glasses of wine.
Joan enjoys historical museums.
Joan’s favorite food is a big, juicy burger!
Same, Joan. Same.
She reacted to Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s divorce.
After Gerry and Theresa found love on The Golden Bachelor and had a stunning televised wedding special, they filed for divorce three months after they said, “I do.” During an interview with CNN, Joan weighed in on the situation.
“I was surprised. I loved watching their journey. I saw them fall in love,” Joan told the outlet. “I believed, just like they did, that they were the perfect couple. And I applaud that they jumped into this process with both feet and they were ready to find love. And they knew what true love was. They both had it in their previous lives.”
She added, “So I applaud them for doing that. And I also applaud them that when they discovered it wasn’t perfect, that they called it quits, and it’s not the end of the world. And we have to let them live their journey and follow their hearts and it wasn’t right for them, so they split up.” Okay, honestly? She’s a queen for this real response.
She’s still friends with The Golden Bachelor cast
Yep, turns out The Golden Bachelor ladies actually went from television castmates to real-life besties! “I’m so lucky to have been surrounded by such sweet and supportive women,” Joan even penned when she announced she was leaving the show. “Missing these women!”
Since then, the reality star has gone on to spotlight the women from time to time on her Instagram. Case in point? This sweet post after an appearance on Celebrity Family Feud alongside the caption, “Never imagined we’d be on Celebrity Family Feud but yesterday we got to meet Steve Harvey and play to win funding for a charity of our choosing. So thankful to have had this amazing opportunity with my Golden Bachelor ladies!”
Love! To! See! It!
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