ABC’s ‘The Bachelorette’ casts its very first Asian American leading lady
Photo: Richard Middlesworth / Disney
After 20 seasons, ABC’s ‘The Bachelorette’ has finally cast its very first Asian American leading lady, Jenn Tran. Jenn is a 26-year-old bilingual Vietnamese American who lives in Miami. She’s a graduate student studying to become a physician assistant.
"I feel so so grateful and so honored to be the first Asian bachelorette in this franchise," Jenn said after it was announced she would be the new Bachelorette. "Growing up, I've always wanted to see Asian representation on TV. And I feel like it was really sparse. Any time Asians were in the media, it was to fill a supporting character role, to fulfill some sort of stereotype, and I felt really boxed in by that because I was like, 'I don't see myself on screen. I don't see myself as a main character.'"
Previously, Jenn was a contestant on ‘The Bachelor’ and she opened up about her mother. "She is the woman I want to be when I grow up. She came here from Vietnam, and she left medical school to give my brother and I a better life. And when my dad left, she took on the role of two parents and never complained once."
Even if reality dating shows aren’t your thing, I see this sort of Asian representation to be positive. Seeing someone like Jenn, the child of immigrants, on such a notable TV show, can help normalize Asian stories, culture, and love.
Season 21 of ‘The Bachelorette’ starts filming soon and is expected to air later this summer. See below to learn more about Jenn.
#TheBachelor has met his match! Joey Graziadei and fiancée Kelsey dish on his romantic proposal: "I’m just so glad that we get to tell everybody and express our love." 💍@MelissaABCNews has more on the finale and Jenn Tran's historic casting as the next "Bachelorette." pic.twitter.com/cChRE2q18s
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 26, 2024
