The Golden BachelorpremieredonSeptember 28, 2023,and put asenior-focused spinon the iconicBachelorfranchise.
The confession took Gerry by surprise, and he wasinstantly attracted to Ellenbecause of how genuine she was.
Their connection deepened in week 2 when Gerrygave Ellen a birthday gifton his birthday.
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Not to mention that the twoshared a love for pickleball.
All in all, Ellen seemed like theperfect match for the Golden Bachelor.
The two went on a hot air balloon ride where they shared a kiss.
Over the next few weeks, Ellen told Gerry thatshe was falling head-over-heels in lovewith him.
But sadly, he didnt reciprocate the feelings and eliminated her right before the home visits.
9Sandra Mason
Retired Executive Assistant
Sandra Mason had Gerrys attention right from the start.
Image via Disney/John Fleenor
But Sandra was nothing if not bold, and thats why the fans came to love her so much.
Sadly,she was eliminated during Week 5, but lets just say that Sandra walked away asaBachelorNation icon.
This sweet moment helped her kick things off with the leading man on a great note.
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Nancy lost her husbandMark Hulkower to colon cancer back in 2011.
After that, she started a foundation to help fight cancer in his honor.
The two also bonded over the passing away of their respective spouses.
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During a group date, the ladies participated in aromance novel cover photo shoot.
Nancy later spoke to Gerry, who hadnoticed Nancy being distant.
You really have to appreciate her honesty.
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But thats not where her antics stopped.
April provided the much-needed comedic relief on the show as she tried to seek Gerrys attention.
Thats one way to check that a guy never forgets about you.
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Thats not all, though!
April thenfaked an injury during a pickleball gamethat the leading man organized among all the ladies.
This resulted in Gerry rushing to be by her side.
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The Golden Bachelor bought her water and kept an eye on her to verify she was okay.
But little did she know that this was just Aprils way ofscoring some extra one-on-one time with him.
Aprilslarger-than-life humorand her knack for making everyone laugh made her one of thebest contestants on the show.
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Not to mention that her signature hairstyle made her adead-ringer forKris Jenner.
As far as Gerry goes,he and Susan got along immediately.
5Kathy Swartz
Retired Educational Consultant
70-year-oldKathy Swartzwas one of the shows most unexpected surprises.
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Right off the bat,she was a straight-shooterwho wasnt afraid to say it how it was.
Her interactions with Gerry were sweet.
But what Kathy is remembered for is herexplosive confrontation with Theresa Nist.
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The feud led toKathy actually telling Theresa to zip itwhen she tried to explain her position.
However, some believed that she was just speaking her mind.
And Ill be honest, Kathy wouldmake a pretty greatGolden Bachelorettesolely because of how entertaining and unfiltered she is.
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4Joan Vassos
School Administrator
Joan Vassos was oneof my favorite contestants.
Their shared grief is also why Gerry found himself drawn to her.
Her exit was one ofthe most heartbreaking momentsof the show.
As she tells Gerry that she has to leave, both of them have tears in their eyes.
Now,Faith was a master of many talents.
Not only was she a TV and radio personality, she was also a teacher.
And her stunt definitely worked because the leading man gave Faiththe coveted First Impression Rose.
In the end, Faith had to go home aftergetting so close to the finish line.
Faith was also a fan-favorite pick to star inThe Golden BacheloretteSeason 1after her unexpected exit.
But Joan took the spot instead.
2Theresa Nist
Financial Services Professional
Theresa made a bold impressionon Gerry in the series premiere.
Theresa then teased that she hadshown up in her birthday suitand continued to strip out of her robe.
At this point, Gerrys face said it all!
He was shocked and amazed at the same time.
But when Theresa revealeda nude bodysuit underneaththe robe, he laughed out loud.
This set the tone for the couples dynamic over the rest of the season.
Theresaconfided in Gerry about losing her husbandof 42 years.
In turn, Gerry talked to Theresa about the loss of his wife, Toni Turnerin 2017.
However, when you look back, you see that theirdynamic remained consistentthroughout the season.
And that consistency is what led to their televised wedding.
In fact, Im convinced that if it wasnt forGerrys last-minute switch-up,Leslie would have won the show.
Gerry tried to figure out who this really old lady was, even by his standards.
But in a swift move, Leslieremoved her wig and nightgownto reveal her blonde locks and sexy black dress.
Talk about a memorable first impression.
Over the course of the season,Gerry had the strongest chemistry with Leslie.
Things heated up between themduring the Fantasy Suiteswhen Gerry practically told Leslie thatshe was the one for him.
Keep Reading:The 10 Meanest Contestants on The Bachelor, Ranked
