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The latest season of The Golden Bachelor is captivating audiences with its unique twist, as former NFL star Mel Owens takes center stage. As Mel narrows down his choices among the contestants, one former participant, Joan Vassos, is attentively watching each week to stay updated on the developments.
Fans of the show will recall Joan’s own poignant journey, marked by the tragic loss of her husband, which initially led her to participate in the reality series. Now, Joan is expressing her support for a particular contestant this season, drawn to her story and finding common ground in their shared experiences.
Recently, The Golden Bachelor featured an emotional moment when contestant Debbie Siebers opened up about her challenging dating history, bringing her to tears. Debbie has become a standout figure this season, known for her unique position of having never been married and not having children.
Joan Most Relates To Debbie Siebers’ Experience
In a recent episode of The Golden Bachelor, contestant Debbie Siebers seemed to get teary-eyed when talking about her unsuccessful dating past. Those who have been following the season so far will know that Debbie has stuck out because she’s never been married and does not have any children.
Seeing Debbie open up about her experience, Joan noted, made her heart really go out to the hopeful participant. In a conversation on Ben Higgins’ podcast, The Ben & Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast, she elaborated on what watching Debbie on the show brought up for her:
I saw Debbie getting really emotional, and I get that for her because she has never had this experience. For most people our age, by the time you’re in your sixties, you’ve been married. Maybe it didn’t work out, maybe you’re divorced, or maybe your husband has passed away, like mine did. But you have actually had the time to be married and you spent years and years and years with your person. And she’s never had that.
“It makes me really worried for her,” Joan added.
Debbie Donned A Wedding Dress For The Show
It would seem that part of the reason Debbie grew so emotional in the recent episode is because she was encouraged to try on wedding gowns. She did so as part of a photo shoot for People, which she did with Mel while on a group date. For Debbie’s role, she was asked to dress up as a “beach bride,” which is how she came to find herself in a white wedding dress.
During the episode, Debbie told the cameras that wearing the dress felt so realistic that she was almost expecting Mel to get down on one knee and propose to her. Watching how vulnerable Debbie was willing to be, Joan said, made her feel more protective of her than ever. Joan went on to explain to Ben how seeing the scene play out had made her feel emotionally:
I feel like, ‘Ohh, I’m going to kill [Mel] if he breaks her heart.’ I’m afraid. I’m really, really worried about her heart right now because I think she is maybe the most open of everybody. Of all the contestants, I think she is… I almost feel like she is most deserving. I want this so badly for her, to be in a couple and to be married.
For his part, Ben added that, in case it didn’t work out for Debbie and Mel, it might not mean that all was lost. His suggestion was that perhaps Debbie herself could go on, like Joan, to be the next Golden Bachelorette. “If it doesn’t work out for her and Mel, how beautiful would it be if she got her own chance and we could watch it? That’s the type of people I want to watch on the show!” he exclaimed.
Joan agreed that she would absolutely be down to watch a season with Debbie at the helm. That said, she hasn’t given up hope that her story could end happily with Mel before anything else. “I hope this works out for her, because I can see that she’s really invested in Mel and she really likes him, and I actually think they’re really cute together. But if it doesn’t, I love your idea,” she noted.

- Release Date
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September 28, 2023
- Network
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ABC













