The Golden Bachelorette: Mark Anderson's First Christmas With His New Girlfriend Proves He's Not The Golden Bachelor (He's Taken)

The Golden Bachelorette's Mark Anderson was expected to be cast as The Golden Bachelor lead, but the Anderson family holiday photos may mean he's no longer on the market. 58-year-old Mark, a retired Army veteran from Louisiana, had an eventful couple of years that changed his life completely. It all started when his daughter, Kelsey Anderson, applied to be a contestant on Joey Graziadei's season of The Bachelor. Mark made his television debut when Kelsey and Joey came to Louisiana for Kelsey's hometown date, and the widowed father of five became an instant fan favorite.

After piquing the interest of Bachelor Nation fans, Mark was cast in The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Hopes were high for the attractive widower, but 61-year-old Joan Vassos was more interested in several other men, so she sent Mark home before hometown dates. His elimination was followed by much speculation about his future with the franchise. Many expected him to be cast as The Golden Bachelor. Mark silenced speculation when he started dating a television actress several months ago. Read on to find out if Mark is taken or not.

Mark's Bachelor Journey Changed Everything

"Something Missing"

Long before joining the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Mark was a lonely widower and father of five. Mark was married to Denise Andersion for 18 years, until she passed away in 2018. Like Mark, Denise was in the Army, and the two met while serving overseas. Mark and Denise had five children together, including Kelsey, and Mark is still very close to all of his children. He didn't date much after his beloved wife died, as he opted to focus on being a good father to his children who had just lost their mother.

When he was offered a spot on The Golden Bachelorette, Mark decided it was time to try to find love again. Despite high expectations, Mark and Joan just didn't have chemistry. After an awkward solo date, Joan told Mark that she cared for him, but there was something missing between them. She sent Mark home before that night's rose ceremony. Though he was disappointed by the elimination, Mark was grateful to the show for opening his mind to the possibility of finding love again. His elimination really made it seem like he was being primed to be The Golden Bachelor.

Mark & Barbara's First Public Appearance

Prince Charming May Have Found His Cinderella

As the old saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. Though Mark was disappointed to be eliminated from The Golden Bachelorette season 1, he wasn't down for long. During the Halloween season, a television actress named Barbara Alyn Woods posted an Instagram photo that shook Bachelor Nation to its core.

In the photo, Mark is dressed as Prince Charming and Barbara is dressed as Cinderella. Though neither of them directly addressed their relationship status, the couple's costume sent what many read as a clear message that they were together. Being in a relationship would make Mark ineligible for The Golden Bachelor season 2, but the relationship hasn't been officially confirmed.

Mark's Family Christmas Photos

Another Clue About Mark's Relationship Status

Mark and Barbara have yet to address their relationship status, but Kelsey recently posted several Anderson family holiday photos that may offer a big hint. In the photos, Mark, his children, and their significant others gather on a stairway in matching pajamas. It's impossible to miss the fact that Barbara is there with them, which is a clear hint that Mark and Barbara may be together. Since The Golden Bachelorette star appears to be taken, he's out of the running to be The Golden Bachelor.