Joan Vassos is set to become the first-ever golden bachelorette after competing for Gerry Turner’s affection on ‘The Golden Bachelor.’ Her early departure helped win her the lead role.
The production team behind The Golden Bachelorette had a tough decision to make when deciding which of Gerry Turner’s castoffs would become the first-ever golden bachelorette. Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor was packed with gorgeous, vibrant, and interesting women, several of whom expressed interest in finding love on their terms after the season finale. Eventually, The Golden Bachelorette team landed on Joan Vassos, a contestant who left the competition early. The way Vassos left the competition is partly the reason fans will see her date more than two dozen men soon.
Joan Vassos’ early departure helped her get cast in ‘The Golden Bachelorette’
The way Joan’s The Golden Bachelor journey ended, with a self-elimination from the competition, is one of the reasons she was tapped as the first-ever Golden Bachelorette, explained executive producer Claire Freeland. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Freeland explained that everyone was disappointed when Vassos had to leave the competition early. Freeland noted that Vassos left just after she had a wonderful date with Turner. She insisted she felt that Vassos was committed to finding love again. It made sense that she’d be the one to get a second, second chance.
Freeland went on to explain that she personally didn’t feel like anyone got to see enough of Joan. While her early departure seems to have helped her secure her job as the first-ever Golden Bachelorette, that departure concerned Vassos when she was offered the gig. In a chat with Entertainment Tonight just before she began filming The Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos revealed some of her biggest concerns heading into the show. She said she was very worried no one would remember her.
Why exactly did Joan Vassos leave ‘The Golden Bachelor’?
Vassos left The Golden Bachelor after a strong start when she learned her daughter was battling with postpartum depression. Vassos explained during a The Golden Bachelor special that she rushed home when she realized her daughter was struggling with postpartum depression. Vasso headed home to help her daughter find care and provide emotional support.
The Maryland native insists she would have made the same decision again if she had to. Still, that doesn’t mean she didn’t feel like she had walked away from something potentially good. Vassos considered returning to California to re-enter the competition. The production team even purchased her a ticket back. The timing didn’t work out, and her daughter still needed help. She declined the offer.
Turner married show winner Teresa Nist. They divorced just a few months later. While Vassos remains in contact with Turner, rekindling a romance with him was never a consideration. We hope the new love she’s found on The Golden Bachelorette is her next great love. The series premieres on Sept. 18.
