The First Asian Bachelorette: My Opinion Piece

The Bachelor first aired during my college years when my roommates and I would gather on Monday nights, setting aside our books, getting out our snacks and a cocktail to watch in awe of these beautiful people searching for love on national television.  My first Bachelor crush was Kip.  He had these adorable pop-out ears and these twinkling eyes that gave him a boyish charm to a banging body and a charismatic personality.  I followed The Bachelor and soon, the fruition of The Bachelorette, for many years but always watching a cast of people who didn’t look like me…until this past 21st season of The Bachelorette, featuring the first Asian bachelorette - Jenn Tran.  Yes, this is my opinion essay on The Bachelorette’s first Asian woman as the star.  I would love to hear from some of you if you can resonate with what I have observed or anything else that has dawned on you as you watched this season.  

The trouble with this particular attempt at diversifying the show is that they didn’t do it fairly nor justly.  I was left with empty promises and a disappointment in Jenn Tran, herself.  First, why didn’t they start with an Asian bachelor instead of a bachelorette?  The history of not casting sexy Asian men is what’s wrong with the show overall.  It’s not that there aren’t sexy Asian men around or applying (I’m telling you as someone who has dated sexy Asian men - they are out there, ladies.  ;)  )...it’s because the show is denying this opportunity to Asian men. It’s perpetuating the stereotype that Asian men are undesirable.  I can see this opportunity up next on the Bachelor on the horizon…but is it just a little too late?

I was also hoping to see the backstory of Jenn and her family and culture on The Bachelorette, but there wasn’t much besides some film capture of Jenn and her mom speaking Vietnamese to each other.  This would have been a great opportunity to educate Americans on refugee history and Vietnamese culture!  Wow, utterly a missed opportunity to include Asians into the American cannon.  I get it, that they were trying to make Jenn an all-American girl - which she is, but that includes talking about her unique culture.  I believe being an all-American girl includes diversity…not prototypes of White America.  As a Hmong girl born in America to refugee parents…it's so important for me to find a suitor that would love all of me - in Jenn Tran's case, yes she played La Crosse in college but her parents probably came to America due to war, they probably struggled with poverty growing up, she probably struggled with racism and fitting in in her childhood, and she has a different diet than the typical American…these differences should've been highlighted, beautified (for lack of a better word), and considered for the bachelors on the show and showcased to America.

These are my two biggest woes from the show.  Ultimately, I think The Bachelorette didn’t do a good job of representing an Asian woman on the Bachelorette.  I wish Jenn would have pushed for more storytelling about herself.  I think it would have totally brought more dynamic and empathy to the show.  It is very disappointing that the producers missed that connection.  Once again, the media has missed out on some truths to the Asian identity and opportunities to spotlight and educate.  

I do hope the best for Jenn.  She was a very well-spoken, gorgeous, fun, and sweet girl who did so well on camera!  I actually love the way she talks.  It’s so cute and bubbly.  I don’t think she’ll have a problem finding a guy after this show…she’s just got to find an authentic guy who will treat her right.  

And isn’t that always…the challenge?

**If you liked what you read today, please buy me a coffee!  I would so appreciate it!  It’ll help me keep motivated and continue to write and pursue my entrepreneurial endeavors.  Thank you for reading!  XOXO - Eve