The Bachelor became a family affair for Kelsey Anderson when her father, Mark Anderson, went on to appear in a franchise show himself. 58-year-old Mark made his television debut when Kelsey took her boyfriend, Joey Graziadei, home to Louisiana for hometown visits. The show’s fans instantly fell in love with the widowed army veteran, particularly after he talked about his enduring love for his late wife. There was immediate speculation that Mark could be the next Golden Bachelor, but he was announced as a contestant on The Golden Bachelorette instead.
Though fans expected Mark to win The Golden Bachelorette’s heart, he and Joan Vassos lacked chemistry. They tried to spark a flame, but it wasn’t working, and Joan sent Mark home before hometown dates. Mark was down, but not for long. He was soon rumored to be dating a television actress, and the couple has been going strong ever since. Kelsey finally responded to rumors of the relationship, and The Bachelor season 28 star confirmed some of the rumors.
Mark Hadn’t Dated Since Denise’s Death
He Was No Stranger To True Love
Long before appearing on The Bachelor season 28 and The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Mark was a widowed father of four living a life of relative obscurity in Leesville, Louisiana. He was married to Denise Anderson for 18 years, until she was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and passed away two months later. Like Mark, Denise was also an Army veteran. The couple met while they were both serving in the military overseas. Mark was deeply devoted to his late wife and was shocked to suddenly find himself single again.
Mark’s enduring love for his late wife was on display during The Bachelor season 28, when he gifted Kelsey and Joey a photo album of pictures of him and his late wife. He wanted to share a glimpse into his love life, and it was a beautiful moment that illustrated Mark still being deeply in love with his late spouse. It didn’t seem like he was ready to find love again. According to both Mark and Kelsey, he hadn’t dated much since his wife died, so going on The Golden Bachelorette was a big step.
What Happened Between Mark & Joan?
“Something Missing”
Despite high expectations, Joan and Mark lacked chemistry on The Golden Bachelorette. Though Joan initially seemed excited about the opportunity to date Mark, she was more attracted to the other men. When Mark finally received one of Joan’s solo dates, they spent the entire time in awkward silence. Joan pulled Mark aside the next day, told him there was “something missing” between them, and eliminated him before the rose ceremony.
Mark’s New Relationship
Prince Charming & Cinderella
Though Mark was devastated when Joan sent him home from The Golden Bachelorette season 1, he bounced back quickly. Mark was recently out with Barbara Alyn Woods, an actress best known for her work on One Tree Hill. During Halloween, Barbara posted an Instagram photo that got a lot of attention. In the photo, Barbara is dressed as Cinderella and Mark as Prince Charming. Barbara’s caption reads, “When Cinderella and Prince Charming have a baby…” This was about her daughter, Natalie Alyn Lind, who is also in the photo, dressed as a Star Wars character.
“I was like, ‘Dad, is she Cinderella and you’re Prince Charming? There’s definitely more than friends.'”
Mark and Barbara managed to stay quiet about their relationship status but during the holidays, Kelsey recently posted an Anderson family holiday photo that seemed to confirm her father’s relationship. In the photos, Mark, his children, and their significant others gather on a stairway in matching pajamas, and Barbara is there with the Anderson family. It was hard not to read this as validation that Mark and Barbara are a couple.
Kelsey Addressed The Relationship
The Rumors Were True
In an exclusive interview with E! News, Kelsey confirmed her father and Barbara were in a serious relationship. “I feel like they love each other,” Kelsey went as far as to say. She even addressed Mark’s now-famous Halloween photo. According to Kelsey, Mark told her he was hanging out with his friend on Halloween. When Kelsey saw they were dressed as Prince Charming and Cinderella, “I was like, ‘Dad, is she Cinderella and you’re Prince Charming? There’s definitely more than friends.'”
When Joan eliminated him, Mark expressed gratitude for the opportunity, because it helped show him that it was time to open his heart again.
During the interview, Kelsey talked about how happy she was that her father had found someone. She went on to say how much she liked Barbara and appreciated her trying to get close to Mark’s children. It’s great that Kelsey is happy for her father. She was very close to her mother, despite how odd it must be to see her father with someone new. Since she saw her father kiss Joan on national television, it wasn’t entirely new to her.
Mark Can’t Be The Golden Bachelor
He’s No Longer On The Market
Later episodes of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 featured ads inviting women to apply for The Golden Bachelor season 2, but the identity of the show’s lead remains unclear. Since appearing in The Bachelor 28, Mark has been a fan favorite, but being in a relationship means he can’t be a Bachelor lead. When Joan eliminated him, Mark expressed gratitude for the opportunity because it helped show him that it was time to open his heart again. If he had already found true love with Barbara, he got what he needed from the show.
