First ‘Golden Bachelorette’ Announced, Who Is She?

'Golden Bachelorette' logo/Credit: ABC Instagram

The wait is finally over! ABC finally announced who will be the first-ever Golden Bachelorette for the season airing this fall, who is it? It’s probably not who you were expecting.

ABC Fall Schedule Shakeup

ABC unveiled it’s fall schedule at the Disney Upfronts this week. The network previously announced in February that they were going ahead with Season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette.

The announcement came weeks before Golden Bachelor couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist announced they were divorcing after three months of marriage. Despite the shocking turn of the events, ABC didn’t change the plans for the senior dating spinoff with a female lead.

Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner/Credit: Theresa Nist Instagram
Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner/Credit: Theresa Nist Instagram

The Golden Bachelorette will air this fall, but not in Bachelor Nation’s usual Monday time slot. Mondays are reserved for football. Dancing With The Stars returns for a new season to air on Tuesdays, leaving the Bachelor Nation spinoff to air on Wednesdays.

But good news – the episodes will be an hour and a half long, thirty minutes longer than the Golden Bachelor.

Notably missing from the ABC fall schedule is Bachelor In Paradise.

First Golden Bachelorette Announced, Who Is She?

The Golden Bachelorette has a place in the fall schedule, but no lead. Until now. ABC exec Robert Mills took to Twitter to share the news before the network could make an announcement with promotional photos.

According to the Bachelor insider, the first-ever Golden Bachelorette isn’t Leslie Fhima, Faith Martin, or any other name thrown in the ring in the last few months. So, who is it?

Your first-ever Golden Bachelorette is Joan Vassos! She was a contestant on Gerry Turner’s season but self-eliminated early on after a family emergency.

Joan Vassos via Insta
Joan Vassos via Instagram

Joan is your #GoldenBachelorette!!! It’s going to be fantastic! The guys are great! The dates are great!” Robert Mills announced in the tweet.

According to her abc.com bio for the Golden Bachelor, the 61-year-old “has four kids and two grandkids and is looking for love again after losing her husband of 32 years to pancreatic cancer.”

The bio continued, “Joan loves listening to Elton John, hanging with her dog, and cooking a delicious meal. Joan describes herself as a loving mother and a hard worker who would love to find someone to enjoy life with.”

All in all, “Joan is a great catch,” who enjoys an occasional glass of wine and history museums, the network proclaimed.

Variety confirmed the casting news.

Are you excited to watch Joan Vassos get a second chance at love? Share your reaction in the comments.

Jennifer Havener
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