The contestant emerged from Joey Graziadei's captivating season 28 of "The Bachelor," and on Monday, "The Bachelorette" made a groundbreaking moment in franchise history. The long-running and highly popular ABC reality dating series announced its first Asian American lead, marking a significant milestone.
After 20 seasons, Jenn Tran will etch her name in franchise history as the lead of "The Bachelorette." Tran, who gracefully exited Joey Graziadei's recently concluded 28th season of "The Bachelor" before the hometown week, was revealed as the season 21 Bachelorette during Graziadei's thrilling three-hour "After the Final Rose" live finale on Monday night. The revealing moment was shared by former Bachelorette Charity Lawson, who announced to host Jesse Palmer that Tran would be stepping into the role as the next franchise lead.
"It's incredible, and I feel so grateful and honored to be the first Asian American Bachelorette in this franchise," Tran expressed. "Growing up, I always dreamed of seeing Asian representation on TV, but it was sparse. Whenever Asians were featured in the media, they often fulfilled supporting roles or stereotypes, and I always felt constrained by that."
She continued, "I remember thinking, 'I don't see myself onscreen, I don't see myself as a main character.' And now, sitting here in this position, declaring that 'I am going to lead my own love story — I am going to be the main character of my story,' I can't help but imagine the inspiration I'm providing and the lives I'm touching."
"The Bachelorette" is set to return this summer, following Graziadei's season that culminated in an engagement with contestant Kelsey Anderson. Graziadei, himself a runner-up during Lawson's season, expressed his elation, stating, "I feel like the luckiest guy in the world." He revealed plans to relocate with Anderson to New York, eagerly anticipating what the future holds.
In an ABC press release, Tran, a 26-year-old woman described as "sweet and compassionate," is highlighted for her dedication to helping others and her current studies to become a physician assistant. This bilingual Vietnamese beauty, residing in Miami, is eager to embark on a journey to find love with a man who matches her reliability and thoughtfulness. In her downtime, Tran enjoys reading, paddleboarding, and traveling whenever possible.
"The Bachelorette" is a production of Next Entertainment and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, in collaboration with Warner Horizon. Bennett Graebner, Claire Freeland, Jason Ehrlich, Tim Warner, and Peter Gust serve as executive producers, steering this romantic reality series to new heights.
