‘The Golden Bachelorette’ star is a mom of four adult children: Allison, Nicholas, Erica and Luke
Meet Joan Vassos’s kids!
The star of The Golden Bachelorette is the mother of four adult children, Allison, Nicholas, Erica and Luke, whom she shares with her late husband, John Vassos.
During her time on the The Golden Bachelor, Vassos regularly opened up about motherhood and her kids. In fact, the reason why she chose to self-eliminate during week four of Gerry Turner’s season was to prioritize her family.
“My journey to find love took a detour this week as I traded the mansion for motherhood and headed home to be with my family. Family comes first, period. Once a mother, always a mother, I’ll always choose my kids first,” Vassos wrote in part on Instagram upon her departure from the senior dating show in October 2023.
Vassos expanded on her self-elimination when speaking on The Women Tell-All episode in November 2023, revealing that she rushed to her daughter’s side after she experienced postpartum depression. Vassos later confirmed that her daughter is “healthy and happy now” and thanked her followers for their support.
Beyond speaking about motherhood on screen, Vassos gives the public a glimpse into her family life on Instagram, sharing photos alongside her children and the sweet activities she enjoys with her grandkids.
According to her Golden Bachelor bio, Vassos describes herself as “a loving mother and a hard worker who would love to find someone with whom to enjoy life.” It continues, “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.”
Read on to learn more about Vassos’ four children.
Nicholas Vassos
Nicholas Vassos (pictured right) is a Maryland native born to Vassos and John on March 8, 1990. He was a standout athlete in high school, lettering in two varsity sports: football and wrestling.
After graduating high school, Nicholas went on to play football at Georgetown University in 2009. According to his bio on the team’s website, he listed his father as “the most influential person in his athletic career.”
While at Georgetown, Nicholas studied at the McDonough School of Business. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and management in May 2013, per his LinkedIn profile. He then earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland in 2023.
Currently, Nicholas works as a senior manager of business systems at an insurance company. Vassos has shared various photos with him on her Instagram, though he keeps his social media page private.
Erica Vassos
Erica Vassos (pictured right) is a Maryland native who works as an educator in her home state. She graduated from American University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching in 2014 and now works as a third-grade teacher, per her LinkedIn.
Vassos shares a close bond with her daughter, as seen in the reality star’s sweet Instagram posts. In April 2022, the proud mom shared two photos alongside Erica in celebration of her wedding.
“My favorite girl is getting married and I couldn’t be happier! I love you @ericavassos and @bhikes30 July 23rd is going to be WILD,” Vassos captioned the post.
Erica and her husband Brent Hiken first crossed paths at a tiki bar in 2019 and the rest was history, per their wedding website. They eventually tied the knot in Washington D.C. in July 2022.
Since getting married, Erica and Brent have welcomed a little girl. Vassos chose to leave The Golden Bachelor to help her daughter after she gave birth.
In addition to a daughter, the pair also share a pup named “Joe Flacco Junior.”
Allison Vassos
Little information has been made public about Vassos’ daughter, Allison (pictured second to left). While she appears in a few family photos alongside her siblings on her mom’s Instagram, she keeps her own social media page private.
According to her LinkedIn, Allison attended the University of Maryland Global Campus between 2016 adn 2018. She now owns her own business, Ittybitty Boutiques, based in Potomac, Md.
Allison is also a mom, per her Instagram bio.
Luke Vassos
Vassos’ son Luke (pictured second to left) was born on June 26, 1996, in Silver Spring, Md. Like his older brother, Nicholas, he also played sports throughout high school and college.
Luke played lacrosse for Marquette University and was named Big East All-Academic during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. During his final year with the team, he reflected on his time as a student-athlete and what he’s learned from his experience.
“I’ve learned that you have to have a positive mindset in every situation. It is easy to get down on yourself when things are not going your way, but a positive mindset will get you back in the right direction,” Luke told the school in 2019.
Now, Luke works for a software development company as a corporate account executive, according to his LinkedIn profile. He’s been with the company since graduating college.
Little information has been made public about Luke’s personal life, as his social media page is private. However, Vassos regularly shares family photos on Instagram that include him alongside his siblings.
Upon being announced as The Golden Bachelorette star, Vassos told CNN what Luke and his siblings thought of their mom’s leading role on the reality dating show. “My first and third children are very into this. They think it’s really fun and like, what a cool experience for mom,” she began.
“My daughter Erica and my son Luke are a little, like a little cringey. Like, ‘Don’t kiss a guy on TV. This is gonna be really embarrassing. My friends are watching.’ But overall, all of them want me to find love,” Vassos added.
