It’s prime time to prep before the new season premieres.
We’re just days away from the premiere of the first-ever season of The Golden Bachelorette, where 61-year-old Joan Vassos will be looking for love among a pool of 24 potential suitors. But just who is ABC’s next leading lady? You probably remember her from when she made a splash on Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor, but we’re sharing more must-know tidbits about the Golden Bachelorette.
Who is Joan Vassos, the new Golden Bachelorette?
As you might recall, we first met Joan as a contestant on The Golden Bachelor, where she competed for Gerry’s heart. The two of them had an instant connection that really took off after the talent show group date — but soon after Joan and Gerry’s charged one-on-one date, she chose to self-eliminate. That was because Joan’s daughter had recently given birth and was going through a hard time, and Joan chose to prioritize her role as a mother.
“Once you become a mom, you’re always a mom, even as your kids get older,” she’d said when she explained why she was leaving.
Now, Joan is getting her second chance at love as ABC’s Golden Bachelorette. You’ll get to see her journey beginning Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.
Joan Vassos’ age and hometown
Joan is a 61-year-old from Rockville, Maryland. The New York Times reported in a recent profile that Joan grew up in Olney, Maryland, with a mother who was a nurse and a father who worked as an electrical engineer for NASA. She has one younger brother.
Joan Vassos’ career
Vassos is a school administrator in Rockville. According to her LinkedIn, she attended the University of Maryland for her undergraduate degree, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1985.
She married her first husband, John, in 1988, when Ms. Vassos was 25, and he took over his father’s business selling office equipment while Vassos worked writing code for AT&T.
She’s been working in alumni relations and fundraising for a private school in Bethesda, Maryland, for close to three years — before that, she was a self-employed interior designer. Her ABC bio reads, “Joan is proud of herself for starting a new career in this chapter of life and for how resilient she’s been through many unexpected life changes.”
She’s a mother of four and grandmother of two
Her four children are Allison, Nicholas, Erica, and Luke. She describes herself as “a loving mother and a hard worker” who is “happiest when she’s at the beach with her family.” She’s clearly incredibly devoted given the fact that she chose her daughter’s well-being over her own quest for love on The Golden Bachelor.
Joan Vassos’ first husband died of cancer
Joan told the NY Times that she met her husband John at a bar in Ocean City, Maryland, the summer before her junior year of college. She described herself as a “wallflower” and a “math nerd,” while John was outgoing and the life of the party. They got married in 1988.
Joan’s ABC bio reveals that after 32 years of marriage, she lost her husband three years ago to pancreatic cancer. She recounted that in February 2018, John said he was too sick to travel to Wisconsin for one of Luke’s college lacrosse games, and after seeking medical attention, a scan showed a mass on his pancreas. On Valentine’s Day 2018, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
On the most recent anniversary of her husband’s death, she posted a moving tribute on Instagram, writing, “I always knew that the hole he left in the universe when he passed away could never be filled, but I didn’t realize that maybe people might just stop noticing it was there.”
She continued, “He was the husband that always made me feel safe and cherished. He was the parent that was always the fun one because that’s all he knew how to do.”
Now, she’s ready to find someone “with whom to enjoy life,” according to her Golden Bachelor bio, and she’s looking for “a family man with whom to blend her life.” Her hobbies include listening to Elton John, visiting historical museums, and cooking — so perhaps she’ll connect with someone who enjoys those things as well. Or maybe someone who can appreciate a big, juicy burger — Joan’s favorite food!
When will Golden Bachelorette season 1 premiere?
The good news is, we don’t have to wait long at all to watch Joan hand out her first roses! The Golden Bachelorette premieres Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
