"The Golden Bachelorette's" Joan Vassos reveals she kept some of her romantic interactions with suitors on the show a secret from her family, as it could have been embarrassing for them.
Joan Vassos, the star of "The Golden Bachelorette," had to resort to some white lies while navigating her journey on the show, specifically regarding her interactions with potential suitors. When she first joined the "Golden Bachelor" franchise last year, she said her family was hesitant about her participating, especially when it came to kissing on TV and indulging in fantasy suites.
"They were very adamant about me [not] kissing men on TV and about fantasy suites. So that was like super embarrassing for them," Vassos told Fox News Digital.
The Golden Bachelorette Kept Her Kissing Secrets from Her Family
To appease her family, Vassos initially promised not to engage in any kissing on the show. However, as filming progressed, she realized the impossibility of keeping such a promise. "But, you know, I said I wouldn't kiss anybody. And we all knew that was a lie. So, oh well!" she added with a laugh.
Vassos's family's initial reservations stemmed from their concerns about how such a portrayal might reflect on their family. "Nobody really knew what this was going to look like, if it was just going to look like a bunch of old people dating and might not be very dignified or, I don't know, it could be embarrassing, I guess, for them," she explained.
The Golden Bachelorette Kept Her Kissing Secrets from Her Family
However, after witnessing the show's respectful depiction of older individuals navigating the dating scene, Vassos's family became more supportive. "So, after they saw that it was really portrayed really nicely, and it showed that, dating at this age isn’t embarrassing, and it could be really fun and, [there were] great personalities of the women. And on my season, the men are amazing. They were a little less worried about me," she said.
As "The Golden Bachelorette," Vassos will have her pick of 24 gentlemen, all in the "prime of their lives," according to the show's synopsis. Her goal is to find someone who shares her adventurous spirit and desire to embrace the second half of their life with enthusiasm.
The Golden Bachelorette Kept Her Kissing Secrets from Her Family
"I am looking for someone who's ready to spend the second half of their life with some adventure. I want to have fun. I want to show on the show that dating is fun and that just because we're a little older doesn't mean that that's out of the question," Vassos said.
Beyond physical attraction and shared interests, Vassos seeks a partner who aligns with her family values and is eager to embrace her extended family. "I also just want like a kind man and a generous person and someone who's going to embrace my family. And I really want somebody who has a family that I can be involved with. So right now, my life is about family, and I hope I find a person that has the same values as me."
The Golden Bachelorette Kept Her Kissing Secrets from Her Family
Vassos attributes her youthful appearance and vibrant spirit to the joy she derives from her family. "They make you happy. I think happiness is a big part of staying young. And then I have a dog, so I take the dog for a walk a lot. So I'm out like in the fresh air and being kind of active," the school administrator said.
Despite losing her husband, John, to cancer after 32 years of marriage, Vassos has found solace and support in her family and friends. "I had an eight-month-old grandson when John passed away. So, he was like my source of comfort. You just can't be unhappy around a little eight-month-old, to be honest," she said.
The Golden Bachelorette Kept Her Kissing Secrets from Her Family
Her close-knit group of friends has also played a vital role in her recovery from grief. "They wouldn't let me sit around and say, ‘I'm going to not go out for the next week.’ That wasn't allowed. They would come and drag me out of my house. And honestly, staying busy helped a lot. So, you know, you still had your grief. It was there when you got home. But going out and having a little lighter feeling, you know, for dinner or go out for a walk with a friend really does help."
One of the bonds that connected Vassos with Gerry Turner on "The Golden Bachelor" was their shared experience of losing a spouse. "We got along great. He did help me kind of in that whole grief journey. I, for the first time, imagined a life with somebody else because that's what you do on the show, like you're looking for life with somebody else. So, you start having these real thoughts like, could this be, you know, would this be something that worked? So, I did actually imagine that I could possibly have a life with him," Vassos said.
The Golden Bachelorette Kept Her Kissing Secrets from Her Family
However, Vassos's journey on the show took a turn when she decided to leave early to support her daughter, who was struggling with postpartum depression. "Who knows what would happen down the road and if he would have formed stronger connections with other people or maybe our connection, would it end up being just our friendship,
