The 'Golden Bachelorette' admits to lying to her family about a 'super embarrassing' aspect of her experience on the dating show.

Joan Vassos, after being crowned "The Golden Bachelorette," had to conceal some truths from her loved ones regarding the selection procedure.

Vassos told Planet Chronicle Digital that they were very insistent on me not kissing men on TV and about fantasy suites, which made them feel extremely embarrassed.

However, I had previously stated that I wouldn't kiss anyone. We were all aware that this was untrue. Therefore, I sighed and chuckled, saying, 'Oh well!'

During the premiere season of "The Golden Bachelor," Vassos made her debut on the show, and her family was more anxious about it than her assuming the role of "The Golden Bachelorette."

"It was uncertain what the outcome would be, whether it would resemble a group of elderly individuals on a date and potentially be undignified or embarrassing for them," she elaborated.

"After seeing that it was portrayed nicely and demonstrated that dating at this age isn't embarrassing, the women were great personalities. Additionally, the men in my season were amazing, and they were less worried about me."

The contestant on 'The Golden Bachelorette' had to conceal from their family that they kissed other participants on the show.

According to the show's synopsis, Vassos, as "The Golden Bachelorette," will have the choice of 24 eligible men who are at their peak.

Vassos stated that he was seeking someone who was ready to embark on a new adventure in the second half of their life. He emphasized the importance of having fun and showcasing on the show that dating was still possible, even for older individuals.

"I desire a kind, generous individual who will welcome my family and allow me to be involved in theirs. My life revolves around family, and I hope to find someone with similar values."

Vassos, a 61-year-old mother of four and grandmother of three, claims that being a mother and grandmother are the keys to staying youthful.

"I said I wouldn't kiss anybody. And I we all knew that was a lie. So, oh well!" — Joan Vassos

The school administrator stated, "Being out in the fresh air and being active is important for staying young, as I believe happiness plays a significant role in this. I have a dog, so I take the dog for a walk frequently. This helps me maintain a youthful spirit."

After 32 years of marriage, John passed away due to cancer. Despite the loss, she credits her family and friends for helping her get through the difficult times.

"When John passed away, I had an eight-month-old grandson who became my source of comfort. Being around a little eight-month-old can make anyone feel happier," she said.

The resident of Rockville, Maryland, stated that she has "amazing friends" in addition to her other accomplishments.

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"I couldn't just sit around and say, 'I won't go out for the next week.' That wasn't allowed. They would come and drag me out of my house. However, staying busy helped a lot. So, you know, even though you still had your grief when you got home, going out and having a lighter feeling, like for dinner or a walk with a friend, really does help."

The bond between Vassos and Gerry on "The Golden Bachelor" was formed through their mutual experience of losing a spouse.

Vassos stated that he and the person he was with got along well. Although he didn't receive much help from the person during his grief journey, he imagined a life with someone else because that's what people do on TV shows. He started having real thoughts about whether this person could be the one he wanted to have a life with. As a result, he imagined that he could possibly have a life with him.

Vassos left the show early to help his daughter, who was struggling with postpartum depression.

"What if Gary had formed stronger connections with others and our connection had ended up being more than just a friendship? Would it have turned out differently? Despite my love for him, I'm not sure how our friendship would have evolved. But I believe it turned out as it was meant to."

In January 2024, Gerry and Theresa Nist got married, but their marriage didn't last long as they divorced a few months later, shocking many.

"Vassos stated that he observed their love connection and journey, and believed they were a great match. However, he was surprised that they didn't make it despite coming out of the "The Bachelor" bubble."

She added, "I'm not surprised. There are success stories and failures, and I wouldn't call them failures. They're just revelations that happen after leaving 'The Bachelor' bubble."

"I am looking for someone who's ready to spend the second half of their life with some adventure. I want to have fun." — Joan Vassos

Vassos believes that the "Bachelor" curse can't be avoided because it takes effort.

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"The Bachelor offers therapy and couples therapy. If you're interested in participating, it's a great idea. The time between leaving, taping, and being able to be together in public can be challenging for couples, and this is where things often start to go wrong. To stay connected and maintain a healthy relationship, it's important to do therapy or something else that keeps you connected, even though you can't see each other."

Vassos is not as concerned about ending his season with an engagement as he is with finding a genuine partner.

"I knew that this was an amazing opportunity and that I wouldn't have men preselected for me, 24 of them. So, I recognized it as a great opportunity. I thought it was likely that I would find a man who would be a good match for me. Therefore, I wanted to come off the show with someone I wanted to explore a life with outside of the 'The Bachelor' bubble...date or figure out what a living situation might look like, what the future might look like with that person, but didn't necessarily have to be an engagement."

"The Golden Bachelorette" premieres Wednesday, Sept. 18 on ABC.