Introducing Jenn Tran: The first Asian woman to lead ‘The Bachelorette’ finally
Alexandra Del Rosario March 26, 2024
Former “Bachelor” contestant
Jenn Tran
is ready to lead her own love story, and to make TV history while doing so.
Tran, a
26
-year-old aspiring physician assistant from Miami, will star in the next season of
the
ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” She is the first Asian woman to lead the series in its
21
-year
–
history. “I feel so, so grateful and honored,” Tran said reflecting on the milestone during Monday’s “Bachelor” finale.
“Growing up I’ve always wanted to see Asian representation on TV, and I feel like it was really sparse,” she continued. “Any time Asians were in the media it was to fill supporting-character roles, to fill some sort of stereotype
,
and I always felt boxed in by that … I don’t see myself on screen. I don’t see myself as a main character.”
Over the
p l
ast decade, the “Bachelor” franchise has diversified its lead cast, which has been overwhelmingly white.
These Black ‘Bachelorette’ stars found love in each other. They also made TV history
Tran, who is Vietnamese American and bilingual, began her journey on the “Bachelor” franchise as one of the dozens of women vying for
28
-year-old tennis pro Joey Graziadei’s love in Season
28
. Tran and Graziadei’s on-screen romance fizzled out in the seventh week of the competition, and she was eliminated.
“I know we would’ve been amazing together. I know we would’ve been so happy,” Tran said upon her exit.
The finale not only teased the University of Wisconsin
–
Madison alum’s upcoming “Bachlerotte” journey, but also revealed that Graziadei is engaged to
Kelsey Anderson
, a project assistant for a consulting firm. Leading up to the the pair’s Tulum engagement, finalist and accounting executive
Daisy Kent
admitted to the bachelor, “
Y
ou’re not my person,”
before leaving then left
on her own terms.
After Kent’s exit, Graziadei got down on one knee for Anderson, who accepted his proposal and his final rose.
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With her “Bachelor” days now behind her, Tran said on Monday’s episode, “I am going to be the main character of my story.”
She added: “I just can’t help but
thing think
about how many people I’m inspiring and how many lives I am changing.”
Tran is “ready to find love with a man who’s as reliable and thoughtful as she is,” according to ABC’s announcement. Who answers that call may be among
the
the contestants in “The Bachelorette” Season
21
, which will air in the summer.
