In the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner and a cast of truly incredible women took Bachelor Nation by storm. And after it wrapped up in the fall, all eyes were on the franchise to produce an equally heartwarming show for the ladies. Luckily for fans, ABC has found its Golden Bachelorette star in Joan Vassos, a 61-year-old school administrator.
Joan is now sharing her excitement as she packs up for the Bachelor Mansion, meaning that filming is just about to begin.
“Excited, nervous, and overpacked… but, mostly ready to get this golden journey started ✨” the mom-of-four captioned a June 12 video of her filling her bags. “Feeling all the feels as I pack up to start my next chapter at the Bachelor Mansion 🌹 I’ve never been this vulnerable and grateful at the same time.”
“I’m not sure what this journey holds, but if it’s anything like my suitcase, it’s sure to be FULL of surprises!” she continued. “Here I go…”
Here’s everything you need to know about the new season:
Is there going to be a ‘Golden Bachelorette’?
After months of speculation, it finally became official in February: There will be a Golden Bachelorette series. In that month, ABC dropped a teaser trailer on Instagram and, while it didn’t have a ton of info, it definitely confirmed that fans could expect another Golden love story.
Who is the ‘Golden Bachelorette’?
The Golden Bachelorette lead will be Joan Vassos, a a 61-year-old school administrator and mother of four from Maryland, the show announced in May. Fans of the The Golden Bachelor will remember that Joan and Gerry seemed like a match early on in the season, but things took an unexpected twist when she had to leave due to an urgent family matter.
“Joan describes herself as a loving mother and a hard worker who would love to find someone with whom to enjoy life,” her Golden Bachelor bio reads. “She’s happiest when she’s at the beach with her family and is looking for a family man with whom to blend her life.”
In addition to being a mother of four, Joan is also a grandmother to two.
She was married for 32 years until her husband John Vassos died of pancreatic cancer in January 2021.
“It’s been three years…Some days it seems like it just happened and I can’t catch my breath, still feeling the shock of it,” Joan reflected in an emotional Instagram post earlier this year. “Other days it feels like he’s been gone a lifetime.”
Overall, Joan enjoyed her time on the show and is definitely interested in coming back.
“It’s like speed dating on steroids,” she told E! News of her time on the original Golden show. “People find love on the show, and I want to find love still.”
Gerry thinks Joan will be ‘phenomenal’ in her role.
Gerry Turner, who led the first Golden Bachelor season, has officially passed the baton to Joan.
“Dear Joan, Congratulations on being named the first-ever Golden Bachelorette. You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation,” he wrote in a May Instagram post. “From one golden to another…relax, breathe and enjoy.”
Joan wrote a sweet reply in the comments. “What a beautiful message from my fellow golden,” she said. “You have taught me so much about being open and vulnerable and how looking for love at this age can be dignified and fun. Thank you my friend for setting the stage for the rest of us Goldens…and I’m open to advice!!! XO.”
When and where is the ‘Golden Bachelorette’ filming?
While there’s been no *official* word from Bach Mansion on a filming schedule, Joan has shared she’s packing up and ready to go.
Is there a ‘Golden Bachelorette’ premiere date?
There isn’t an official premiere date, but it will air on Wednesdays on ABC in the fall, according to the network’s calendar.
