New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
‘Bachelorette’ to feature contestant from Fairfield
A Connecticut man will be on the next season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”
The network posted a sneak peek lineup of the potential contestants for the show’s 21st season on Facebook, and one of them is a 29-year-old Fairfield resident named Jeremy Simon.
“It’s an interesting adventure for my son,” his father, Greg Simon, said. He couldn’t share any further information and Jeremy Simon wasn’t available to comment, since filming for the show has already begun.
“The Bachelorette” is a reality dating show and a spinoff of “The Bachelor.” A woman meets a group of men and chooses whom she wants to marry at the end of the season.
ABC announced during the finale of “The Bachelor” that Jenn Tran will the star of the show’s upcoming season. Tran dated Joey Graziadei during the most recent season of “The Bachelor” and was the fifth-tolast person to be sent home.
ABC wasted no time revealing the first names and faces of the potential contestants.
“EARLY LOOK ALERT. We’re giving you a sneak peek at the men who may be on this season of #TheBachelorette! Leave a (rose emoji) for who would get your first impression rose,” the network wrote on Facebook.
Jeremy’s photo had over 1,000 likes as of March 26.
He’s not the only Connecticut contestant to join the franchise. Marlena Haddad, a Connecticut native and UConn graduate, appeared on last season of “The Bachelor” and was eliminated the second week. Peggy Dercole, a dental hygienist from New Haven, competed on the first-ever season of “The Golden Bachelor,” which aired in 2023.
Other Connecticut contestants include Brookfield twin brothers Justin and Joey Young and UConn alum Matt Labagh, who competed on Season 19 of “The Bachelorette.”
“The Bachelorette” will premiere July 2024 on ABC.
Tran is the first Asian American woman to assume the role of “The Bachelorette.”
“Growing up, I’ve always wanted to see Asian representation on TV. And I feel like it was really sparse. Anytime Asians were in the media, it was to fill a supporting character role... to fulfill some sort of stereotype. And I always felt boxed in by that,” she told host Jesse Palmer during the finale.
“Now, to be here today sitting in this position, being like, ‘I am going to lead my own love story (and) I am going to be the main character in my story,’ I can’t help but think of how many people I’m inspiring..”
Tran is a 26-year-old from Florida who is studying to become a physician assistant, according to her ABC bio.
“The bilingual Vietnamese beauty currently resides in Miami and is ready to find love with a man who’s as reliable and thoughtful as she is,” her bio reads.”
“When she’s not studying, Tran loves reading, paddleboarding and traveling whenever she has the chance.”
She told Palmer she is looking for somebody with a big personality, who can engage in “cheeky banter.”