Who is Joan Vassos, the first ‘Golden Bachelorette’ in the new reality show?

Joan Vassos, a school administrator from Rockland, Maryland, will be the first star of the new reality dating show The Golden Bachelorette, which is to premiere on ABC and Hulu this week.

Vassos, 61, was a contestant in the first season of The Golden Bachelor in 2023, but pulled out of the show in episode three to be alongside her daughter, who had recently given birth by C-section after a difficult pregnancy.

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A “remarkable woman” with “strong family values”

In a post on social media after her departure from The Golden Bachelor, Vassos wrote: “Family comes first period. Once a mother, always a mother, I’ll always choose my kids first […]. As for me and my journey to love... guess we will have to see where it takes me next.”

“Vassos is a remarkable woman whose life has been defined by her resilience, zest for adventure and strong family values,” The Golden Bachelorette’s showrunners said in a press release in May. “It was those family values that led to her heartbreaking decision to leave ‘The Golden Bachelor,’ self-eliminating after a medical concern with her daughter arose.”

ABC says that Vassos - who has four children and three grandchildren - is looking for love after the death of her husband, to whom she had been married for over 30 years.

Vassos enjoys “the music of Elton John, spending time with her dog, and cooking”, the network adds. “Now, as she steps into the golden spotlight and begins her journey to seek love once more, Vassos envisions a future filled with shared moments by the beach and cherished time with family.”

When does The Golden Bachelorette 2024 premiere?

The first season of The Golden Bachelorette will premiere on ABC on Wednesday September 18, at 8pm ET/5pm PT. (If you don’t have cable, you can tune in on the streaming platform fubo, which offers new users a free introductory trial.) Hulu subscribers can watch episodes of The Golden Bachelorette the morning after they air on ABC.