The Golden Bachelor star Theresa Nist may not have had the most successful post-show relationship, she may be able to use her experiences on the series to help The Golden Bachelorette ’s Joan Vassos. While Theresa and Joan were in the same boat on The Golden Bachelor season 1 at the beginning of the season, their paths had diverged entirely by the end. With both women interested in getting to know The Golden Bachelor lead Gerry Turner, the pair were excited to be in the running for his affections. Theresa and Gerry connected quickly, while Joan wound up leaving the series.
Though Joan left The Golden Bachelor early to help with her family in a moment of crisis, Theresa stayed on the show for its duration and developed a genuine connection with Gerry. After accepting his proposal during The Golden Bachelor season finale, the pair announced they’d be getting married in just a month. Joan was present at the couple’s live TV wedding special and supported the Golden couple, even when the pair announced their divorce just three months after the wedding. After Joan was named The Golden Bachelorette, many looked to Gerry for advice, but Theresa’s would likely be better.
Theresa’s Golden Journey Had A Difficult End
Her Happily Ever After Didn’t Last
Although Theresa and Gerry’s relationship was sweet on screen, the transition into real life after the fairytale of The Golden Bachelor was tough on the pair. During their time on the series, Gerry and Theresa developed a deep connection that they hoped would carry them through difficult times as they moved forward. Happy to be together, the pair chose to quickly get married after the season’s end, only having known each other for about six months total by the time their wedding arrived. Even with the quick turnaround, both Gerry and Theresa seemed positive about the future of their relationship.
After The Golden Wedding special, many were ready to see Gerry and Theresa ease into their real lives together and settle out of the spotlight, but it quickly became clear that something was wrong. While Gerry was living in Indiana, in the lakefront home he’d purchased with his late wife for their retirement, Theresa was still living in New Jersey surrounded by her growing family. Both Golden Bachelor stars were convinced they needed to stay in their homes, and it likely became too much for their new marriage to handle. Unable to find reconciliation, Gerry and Theresa chose to divorce.
Theresa Has Grown After The Golden Bachelor
She’s Shifted Her Priorities
After her divorce from Gerry became public knowledge, Theresa chose to take a step away from her public persona and heal. While she wasn’t offline for long, it appeared that Theresa understood allowing herself to put things back together was beneficial to her audience, as once she returned to social media, she garnered favor and support from Bachelor Nation. Having grown to know herself even more after her split from Gerry, Theresa has been happy after The Golden Bachelor and open about her experiences when they seem relevant. Theresa’s been upfront about how her life has changed this past year.
Joan’s Time On The Golden Bachelor Ended Early
She Didn’t Have The Same Experience
Although Joan has been named the first-ever Golden Bachelorette, the title is interesting for her to hold after she left The Golden Bachelor just a few weeks into the experience. Joan shared with Gerry that she was interested in him, but needed to leave to support her family, which he was kind about. Sadly, she didn’t get to have a long-term experience on the show and likely missed a bit of the intensity having left the Golden Bachelor process. Now, with her turn as the lead of The Golden Bachelorette on the horizon, Joan could likely use some insider help.
Joan Could Find Help In Theresa For Her Journey As Golden Bachelorette
She Could Use Some Reinforcements
While Theresa’s time on The Golden Bachelor didn’t yield long-term results, she should be an advisor to Joan during her time as The Golden Bachelorette. Theresa may not seem like the most obvious choice to counsel Joan about her journey, as she was on the opposite side of things on The Golden Bachelor, but her expertise is like no other. While she wasn’t the one deciding between the contestants, she went through the entire season and understands the intricacies from a contestant's point of view. Joan could have an understanding of what her guys are going through with Theresa assisting.
While Joan and Theresa may not have been close during their time on The Golden Bachelor, it’s clear that they both have love for the franchise and hope to stay part of it as the seasons continue. With Joan becoming The Golden Bachelorette, Theresa could be a trusted advisor to help her make difficult decisions and navigate her way through the realities of being the lead of the season. Even though Theresa’s experiences have been different, it’s clear that The Golden Bachelor star could be helpful to her former co-star.
