The Bachelor US star makes history as franchise’s first Asian American lead

A Bachelor star has stunned America with her history-making feat, marking the first time it’s happened in the franchise’s 22-year history.

Jenn Tran has been announced as the first Asian lead on the US Bachelorette.

The US version of The Bachelorette has cast an Asian American woman as the female lead for the first time in the franchise’s 22-year history.

The Bachelor star Jenn Tran, who starred in the latest season of the long-running reality show, has been announced as the new The Bachelorette Season 28 lead.

During the three-hour live Bachelor finale, which aired in the US on March 25, franchise host Jesse Palmer welcomed former Bachelorette Charity Lawson to the stage to announce that Tran would be following in her footsteps, making her the first Asian American Bachelorette in history.

Jenn Tran is the first Asian American Bachelorette lead in the US franchise's 22-year history.

“That is an absolute insane thing to come out of your mouth,” Tran told Palmer.

“It’s incredible and I feel so grateful and so honoured to be the first Asian American Bachelorette in this franchise.

“Growing up, I 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 supporting character roles, fulfil some sort of stereotype and I always felt boxed in by that.

“I was like, ‘I don’t see myself on screen, I don’t see myself as a main character. And now to be here today sitting in this position saying I am going to lead my own love story I am going to be the main character … I just can’t help but think of how many people I’m inspiring and how many lives I’m changing.”

Jenn said she felt “honoured”.

For those who need a refresher, Joey Graziadei said goodbye to Tran in Jasper, Canada ahead of Hometown Week.

Per Jenn’s official ABC bio, the 25-year-old physician assistant student from Miami, Florida “is bubbly and compassionate, and has dedicated her life to helping others.”

Jenn was on Joey Graziadei's season of The Bachelor.

“She is currently studying to become a physician assistant, and while she is passionate about working in health care, she is also ready to prioritise finding love. Jenn has had multiple serious relationships but is still looking for a man who’s as reliable and thoughtful as she is,” the bio continues.

“When she’s not studying, Jenn loves reading books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, paddleboarding, and travelling whenever she has the chance.”

There’s still a lot we don’t know about Tran’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette, but per Palmer, it’s set to premiere on ABC in the US in July 2024.

This story originally appeared on Decider and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as The Bachelor US star makes history as franchise’s first Asian American lead