Gerry Turner met 22 eligible senior women on Season 1 of The Golden Bachelor in 2023. A handful of those women have remained relevant in Bachelor Nation since the show ended and are doing big things today!
While some of the rejected ladies have gone on to find new love after things didn’t work out with Turner, others are continuing to fulfill their lives with family, work, and hobbies. Of course, with buzz about a possible Golden Bachelor in Paradise season, there could be an opportunity for these ladies to grace our television screens again, too.
Scroll down to see where the biggest names from Season 1 of The Golden Bachelor are today.
The Bachelor, Season 29 Premiere, Monday, January 27, 8/7c, ABC
Joan Vassos
Joan Vassos had to leave Golden Bachelor early for a family emergency, but she got her second chance when she was cast as the lead for Season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette. She met Chock Chapple on the show. They got engaged and are still together!
Theresa Nist
Theresa Nist got married to Turner after their Golden Bachelor engagement. However, just three months after their January 2024 wedding, the two split. Their divorce was finalized in June 2024.
While part of the reason for the divorce was that the two couldn’t agree on a place to live, Nist has said there was more to it than just that, although she hasn’t specified the reason.
Nist hasn’t moved on romantically but said she is still open to finding love again. She’s continued to fill her life by working and spending time with her kids and grandkids.
Leslie Fhima
Leslie Fhima was the runner-up on Golden Bachelor. Once the show ended, she admittedly didn’t do much dating, and instead stayed focused on her family and staying in shape (she’s a personal trainer).
In the fall of 2024, Fhima was romantically linked to Jordan Heller from Vassos’ season of The Golden Bachelorette. However, she has said that they’re just friends.
Faith Martin
After her third place finish on The Golden Bachelor, Faith Martin has been keeping busy. She’s continued to perform shows for her music career and works as a DJ, hosting the radio show On the Road on 102.7 KORD in Washington. Plus, she’s been doing a ton of traveling!
Susan Noles
Kris Jenner look-alike Susan Noles has been thriving since Turner sent her home ahead of hometown dates. She officiated the lead’s wedding to Nist and is now co-host of the Golden Hour podcast, where she gives “wisdom about relationships, heartbreak, and even sex because nothing is off limits.”
April Kirkwood
April Kirkwood has found a lot to keep busy thanks to her career as a licensed holistic therapist. She’s also a model and inspirational speaker, so she has plenty on her plate.
Sandra Mason
Sandra Mason found love after The Golden Bachelor! Turner dumped her before hometown dates, but she has since moved on with Charles King … who was a contestant on The Golden Bachelorette!
The two hard-launched their relationship in January 2025. They met two months earlier while attending Vassos’ Men Tell All taping. Afterward, King slid into Mason’s DMs and they were finally able to meet up around New Year’s Eve.
Ellen Goltzer
Ellen Goltzer finished in fourth place on Golden Bachelor. Aside from spending a lot of time with her family in the months since, she also devotes a lot of her time to pickleball and golf.
Nancy Hulkower
Nancy Hulkower is one of Vassos’ closest friends from Golden Bachelor. In fact, she even popped up on an episode of The Golden Bachelorette to lend an ear as her pal’s journey wound down.
Hulkower has been open about her experience with diabetes on various podcasts.
Kathy Swarts
Kathy Swarts hosts the Golden Hour podcast with Noles. Swarts is still single but has been vocal about being ready to find love again. “Still on the prowl,” she joked in November 2024.
