The Golden Bachelorette’s Joan Vassos gave her final rose to Chock Chapple, but several men on her season would’ve been a better fit. The 61-year-old Joan made her television debut during Gerry Turner’s season ofThe Golden Bachelorbut had to leave early due to a family emergency. Instead of closing the book on her journey, Joan wrote a whole new chapter by agreeing to beTheBachelorspin-off’s first female lead.
Long before looking for love on national television, Joan was married to Joan Vassos for 32 years until he died in 2021. She continued to struggle with the loss, but she had promised her late husband that she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life all alone. Joan kicked offThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1by welcoming 24 highly eligible older bachelors, including 60-year-old Chock. The insurance executive from Kansas must have left quite an impression on Joan that night because he received her first solo date.
Chock and Joan spent a romantic day at Disneyland together, and Chock was a clear front-runner throughout the season. After sending home all the other men, Joan gave Chock her final rose,and he gave her a sparkling diamond engagement ring. Since getting engaged, Joan and Chock have been flying high on the wings of new love, but several other men may have been a better fit for Joan.
8Gary Levingston
65 Years Old
65-year-old Gary is a retired finance executive, who hails from Palm Desert, California. One interesting fact about Gary is he’s the godson of legendary musician Tina Turner and shares his godmother’s love of music. Not only does Gary have a beautiful singing voice, but he can dance too. The outgoing Gary showed off his dance moves duringThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1,andJoan was blown awayby his fun personality.
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During a group date to the prom, Joan and several men, including Gary, got all dressed up and danced up a storm to a performance by the 1990s pop icon Taylor Dane. Gary wasa great communicator and one of the most gregarious men to participate in Joan’s season, and maybe with more time, he could have won her heart. Though Joan seems happy with Chock, she could come to regret not giving Gary more of a chance.
7Jack Lencioni
68 Years Old
Jack was a 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, Illinois, before joining thecast ofThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1. Jack is a big Elvis Presley fan who’s proud he attended the late star’s final live concert in Chicago. The fun-loving Jack stood out as quite the character duringThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1, despite not sharing a romantic spark with Joan.
Jack loved to cook, and he took advantage of the chef’s kitchen atTheBachelormansion to cook Joan an elaborate dinner.Joan’sother men loved Jack, who was always good for a laugh. Jack was eliminated, but not before he did multiple cannonballs inTheBachelormansion’s pool. Joan may only have eyes for Chock, but she may have shared more laughs with Jack. She’d certainly never be bored.
6Pascal Ibgui
69 Years Old
Pascal Igbui was a 69-year-oldluxury salon owner from Chicago, Illinois, who broke Joan’s heart. Long before appearing onThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1, Pascal was originally from France, and Joan was charmed by his accent, style, and joie de vivre. Aftertraveling to Chicago to meet Pascal’s familyand spend time in his salon, she gave him one of the final three roses.
Things were going great between Joan and Pascal, but their overnight date changed everything.
When a symbolic bonding activity made Pascal question his commitment to Joan, he panicked. In a scene posted to YouTube byBachelor Nation, Pascal told Joan that he could never love her as anything other than a friend, and he eliminated himself from the show. Joan was devastated and may come to miss the connection she had with Pascal.
5Keith Gordon
61 Years Old
61-year-old Keith Gordon stood outfrom the other men ofThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1 from the moment he arrived on night one. Foregoing the usual limousine entrance, Keith pulled up in a classic car and stepped out to meet Joan with a huge grin. That night, Keith not only received Joan’s first impression rose, but he alsogot her first kiss of the season. Joan, the mother of four adult children, promised her children that she wouldn’t kiss too many men.
Joan kept her word to her children by kissing only one man on the first night, and that lucky man was Keith.
Joan saidKeith made her feel safe and protected, reminding her of the way her late husband made her feel. Getting Joan’s first rose is one thing, but getting her last rose is another thing entirely. When her initial connection with Keith didn’t deepen, Joan sent Keith home, but maybe he just needed a little more time to wow her.
4Mark Anderson
58 Years Old
Mark Anderson, a 58-year-old retired Army veteran from Leesville, Louisiana, wasa familiar face when he joined the cast ofThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1. Mark made his television debut duringThe Bachelorseason 28, when his daughter, Kelsey Anderson, brought her now fiancée, Joey Graziadei, home for her hometown visit.
Mark was married to his late wife, Denise Anderson, for 18 years until she passed away in 2018, and they had five children together.
Mark’s warm,sensitive nature and rugged good looks made him an instant fan favorite, and it’s no surprise he was cast inThe Golden Bachelorette.Though Joan seemed to like Mark, she sent him home after a painfully awkward solo date. Mark seemed to really like Joan, so he was shy whenever he was around her. Mark couldn’t show Joan his real personality.
3Jordan Heller
Jordan, a 61-year-old sales manager from Chicago, Illinois, described himself asan old-fashioned man who missed the simple things in life.Jordan stood out to Joanduring the big group date to the prom, and it was revealed he once dated Taylor Dane, who was coincidentally performing for them during that group date.
Joan seemed to want things to work out with Jordan, but she was bothered by the fact that their relationship never deepened over time.
Joan even visited Jordan’s hometown and met his family, hoping he’d open up and let her in. When Jordan couldn’t let his walls down, Joan sent him home in fourth place. Some people need more time than others to open up, and sadly,those people don’t get far on reality television dating shows, where people have to bond quickly.
2Guy Gansert
66 Years Old
66-year-old Guy Gansertis an emergency room physician who hails from Reno, Nevada. When not saving lives, Guy has the heart of an adventurer and even plans to hike Mount Kilimanjaro soon. Aside from being an attractive doctor with an adventurous streak, Guy appeared to be a genuinely kind person.
During an episode ofThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1, heused his medical knowledge and bedside manner to help fellow contestant Charles Ling find some closureregarding the sudden death of his wife. When another contestant, Kim Buike, wanted to sing a group song he wrote for Joan, all the other men refused, but Guy agreed to sing with him. Guy didn’t win Joan’s love, as she sent him home in second place, but she may come to miss having a doctor in the house.
1Jonathan Rone
Jonathan Rone, a 61-year-old shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa, was really into health and fitness. There was even a time in his life when he considered being a bodybuilder. Joan was instantly attracted to the tall, handsome Jonathan, and the two had serious chemistry from the moment they met.
Jonathan stood out to Joanduring the prom group date, but Joan ultimately sent Jonathan home. Since leaving the show, Jonathan entered into a committed relationship, so Joan lost out on the opportunity forever.The Golden Bacheloretteseason 1 ended with Joan and Chock getting engaged, but Joan missed out on a lot of great men, including Jonathan.
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The Golden Bachelorette
Cast
The Golden Bachelorette: This reality series offers one woman in her later years the opportunity to find love, as a group of seasoned men compete for her affection. Participants bring diverse romantic histories, seeking a meaningful connection and a chance to build a promising future together.
