March 20, 2024 • bachelor insider
EXCLUSIVE: Jenn Tran Shares What Being a Role Model to Asian Girls Means to Her: ‘Heals the Inner Child’
Opening up.
Bachelor Nation fans fell in love with Jenn Tran as she vied for Joey Graziadei’s final rose on Season 28 of “The Bachelor.”
While things didn’t work out between Jenn and Joey, she shared with BachelorNation.com exclusively that this experience gave her hope in dating again.
Jenn sat down with us after “Women Tell All" for a candid conversation about the season, her future, and what it means to her to be the representation she wished she had while growing up.
Check out our full interview with Jenn below!
Bachelor Nation: Thank you so much for chatting with us, Jenn! What has this experience been like getting to watch the show back?
Jenn Tran: Watching it back has been wild. I was definitely not aware of all the drama that was going on. I was aware of it to some extent, but seeing things play out on screen made me realize what was really happening. Watching the season back also makes me emotional getting to see me and Joey’s connection and seeing the way things were left. It all sparks some emotion in me.
BN: Aww, yes I’m sure! Do you feel like you got the closure you needed with Joey tonight or did you already have it from the past few months?
JT: I feel like over the last few months, I was able to process our relationship and breakup myself. I was able to figure out what I really needed. I was looking for answers and hadn’t had another conversation about why things weren’t working out, but I realized that all along the answers were kind of within myself. I understand that we just aren’t each other’s person and at the end of the day that makes me one step closer to finding whoever is my person.
BN: That’s a beautiful way to look at it! After watching it back, is there anything you would’ve done differently in your relationship or do you feel confident in how things went?
JT: I am really confident in how everything played out. I put my heart on the line 100% and I was 100% myself. I really opened myself up to the process and to Joey. There is nothing that I would change or do differently if I could do it again.
BN: That’s amazing. Do you think this experience will change how you date in the future?
JT: Definitely. Before coming into Bachelor Nation, I was really closed off with my emotions and didn’t really show people who I was. I was scared and didn’t open up as easily. Coming here gave me an opportunity to be more vulnerable and be more myself and let people really see me for who I am. Joey took that and accepted me so openly. Going forward, I definitely want to put myself out there a little bit more so people can really see me for me, whether that’s in romantic relationships or friendships. I have a lot to share with the world and this whole experience has made me more open to sharing with people.
BN: That is incredible. And what has it been like to get positive feedback from both the AAPI community and medical community throughout the season?
JT: It has been so overwhelming and it has warmed my heart getting to connect with so many people. It has been especially incredible seeing the medical community support me. It is so crazy! Not a lot of people know about PAs and people were so happy to have some representation for PAs and I’m so happy to be able to do it. I still get comments all the time asking what a PA is and what I do, so I’m excited to bring awareness to my profession. I also love being able to show that we can be smart and find love and be multifaceted. I have also gotten a lot of amazing feedback about me opening up about my family and the Asian representation. It is a little surreal to be that kind of role model. Growing up, I always wanted to see people like me on TV and be able to relate to somebody like me. So to have little girls who look like me messaging me saying they are just so happy to see somebody they can relate to definitely brings it full circle. It heals the inner child in me. I am really excited to be able to represent and to do it in the best way I can.
BN: So happy to hear all of that. And lastly, do you have a favorite part of this whole experience?
JT: My favorite part of this whole journey was being able to open myself up to love again and falling for Joey. I honestly didn’t think that I could fall for someone again. It has really brought me back some hope for the future in finding someone.
BN: Thank you so much for chatting with us, Jenn! Talk to you again soon.