Meet Jenn Tran, the first Asian American ‘Bachelorette’

Jenn Tran’s journey on The Bachelorette involves a lot of conquering new heights. Known for her fearless approach to challenges—whether skydiving or jumping off buildings—Tran, 26,  exemplifies a spirit of adventure and resilience. As the first Asian American lead, 21 seasons into the franchise’s legacy, Tran has navigated both her Vietnamese heritage and the pressures of reality TV with grace.

Initially gaining attention as a top contender on Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor, Tran’s quest for a “ferocious love” is a reflection of her commitment to authenticity and personal growth. This season takes her and her guys to stunning locales in Australia and New Zealand, offering a fresh backdrop for her journey of self-discovery. From her early struggles with embracing her role to her evolving confidence in her identity, Tran’s story is as much about overcoming personal challenges as it is about finding love.

Tran spoke with JoySauce ahead of the season’s fifth episode to chat about her journey in love and loving herself along the way.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Daniel Anderson: Jen, I want to start by asking, many of the dates this season involve heights, like helicopters, jumping off buildings, and skydiving. Was this part of a larger theme to conquer fears, or was it an idea from the producers?

Jenn Tran: You didn’t know this was Fear Factor? I had said before that I'm someone who's very high-adrenaline and adventurous. During the meetings about being The Bachelorette, they asked what types of dates I would like. I definitely like high-adrenaline dates. I did say that I would skydive even though I was very, very scared to do so. I do have a fear of heights, but helicopters were fine—I’ve always wanted to go on one. Jumping off the building was very interesting. I don’t know that I’d ever do it again, but it was definitely something I worked on with the producers.

DA: With so many guys and relationships to manage, how do you keep track of everything? Do you keep a journal or take notes to help manage all the conversations?

JT: I definitely have a journal that I write in when I have the time. But I also have a pretty good memory, so it’s a combination of journaling and remembering the conversations myself.

DA: I’ve enjoyed listening to the conversations between you and the guys, especially on one-on-one dates, and seeing you open up and be more vulnerable. Has this journey been healing for you in terms of what you’re looking for in love? You’ve mentioned toxic past relationships and not having the best relationship with your dad, but it seems like some of these conversations have been very helpful for you.

JT: It has been healing. I feel like I just had 25 therapists all season long. I think it's really great that this environment is set up so that you're both kind of just in a vulnerable position. It's easy for both parties to open up. It's different from everyday life because sometimes when you're dating someone, you shy away from those conversations. But when you're put in this environment, I don't know, I think I had it in myself that I wanted to be vulnerable. It's been very healing for me to be able to talk through some things and feel like I can without other people judging me.

DA: In episode three, you confronted the cast about being there for the right reasons, which I loved. You seemed so empowered in that moment. Were you confident from the start, or did it take a while to feel comfortable in your role as the lead?

JT: I didn’t know what the role entailed or know how to be the best Bachelorette, I was just trying to be myself as much as possible. I definitely grew more comfortable in my own skin as the season went on, but at the start, I started off pretty much just trying to be myself.

DA: Did you feel initial pressure being the first Asian/Asian American Bachelorette?

JT: Of course. I think I dealt with more internal pressure than anything to make both the Asian and American communities happy. I wanted both parties to be happy. At the end of the day, I am a mix of both cultures. I am Asian American for a reason. And to what extent I am mixed, it's gonna be different for every Asian American. For me, I knew that I just had to make myself happy. It was going to be impossible to make everybody else happy.

DA: How have your expectations for yourself evolved now that you're participating in press events and engaging with the community, like at Asian American Girl Club? Has seeing the impact you make on-screen changed or deepened your role?

JT: Absolutely. Every time I get any messages of support from anybody of Asian descent, it makes me so happy to know that I am making people feel less alone. These events that I've been going to, it's been really nice to have a supportive environment of Asian American people. I didn't really have that growing up because I was in a very white suburban town. So to now meet people who are in this industry, who support me so much, and who are Asian and have that similar upbringing, it's been really nice to have a community of like-minded people backing me and to feel that support.

DA: What has the reaction been from your friends and family now that the episodes are out?

JT: Everyone has been really supportive—my friends and family are so proud of me. I think what they're most proud of is seeing my vulnerable moments on TV, as I'm not usually like that in everyday life. Often, my friends and family don’t know exactly what I’m going through or the challenges I’ve faced. They’ve been incredibly supportive and happy to see me share that side of myself.

DA: And what was the initial reaction from your family when you became The Bachelorette?

JT: My mom is very traditionally Vietnamese, and she doesn’t really trust reality TV. She questioned, “Is this really what you want to be doing?” It was important to have open communication with her and sit down to explain why I think this is important for me and why it’s the right move at this time. She understood but still had reservations. It kind of goes against Vietnamese culture to display affection and intimacy on TV, so this was something I struggled with going into the role. I knew that I wouldn’t make everyone happy because it goes against Vietnamese culture in a way.

DA: In the first episode, we see you speaking Vietnamese with your mom and there is a lot of Viet food on the table, which was really great. Was she initially comfortable being on camera and sharing that side of herself with the rest of the world?

JT: When I first told her about The Bachelorette, her initial reaction was that she knew she would be on camera. She said, "I'm not doing that; you’re going to have to hire a fake mom. I’m not going on camera." But at the end of the day, she supports and loves me, so she agreed to do it. She definitely felt a sense of wanting to assimilate to American culture because this is an American reality TV show. She would ask, “Should I be speaking English? Should I be cooking sandwiches and American food?” I would tell her, “Mom, we would never do that in real life. I would not like to lie to anybody on TV—we're going to be doing us. You should be speaking Vietnamese because that's what we do at home. You should be cooking Vietnamese dishes, because that's what would happen if I came over to your house.” I really pushed for that to be showcased because I want this to be as authentically me as possible.

DA: Do you have any advice for other Asian Americans who might be struggling to find their voice or dealing with impostor syndrome and other issues? How can they navigate these struggles and learn to accept and love themselves for who they are, similar to what you’ve experienced on your Bachelorette journey?

JT: I would definitely say it takes time. I can understand that. Growing up, I definitely shied away from it all and felt honestly embarrassed to embrace my Vietnamese culture. But through really supportive friends and family, I was able to find that confidence and regain my self esteem. I learned that I can't live my whole life hiding a part of who I am because you're going to feel stuck in a box. I would say to find that confidence and embrace everything that makes you different because that's what makes you unique. That's what's going to make you stand out.  That's what's going to make you feel most as yourself as possible. I would say to always be true to who you are, whatever that means, and get outside of the box.

DA: One last fun question for you. I saw you hosted a screening of Deadpool and Wolverine, do you have any television or film deal breakers when it comes to your partner?

JT: I go through a Marvel movie marathon probably once every three months. If my partner isn't interested in joining me, I think that would be really disappointing. What would they do while I’m on the couch for a weekend watching all the Marvel movies? That could be a bit of a deal breaker or a beige flag for me.

DA: I would love to see you cameo in a Marvel movie.

JT: Don’t even. That’s my dream.

DA: Avengers? Multiverse, anything is possible.

Check out the full interview below.