Who Won Joan Vassos' Season of 'The Golden Bachelorette'? The Ending, Explained

See who received her final rose—and where they stand today.

Photo: Disney/Ramona Rosales

Updated Nov 13, 2024

The very first Golden Bachelorette has found love! On the season finale, which aired on November 13, 2024, fans watched Joan Vassos accept a proposal from Chock Chapple in Bora Bora. A front-runner from the start, Chapple stole Vassos' heart when he returned to the series after briefly departing due to the unexpected death of his mother. From then on, Joan and Chock's connection was palpable. He met her children during the final episode, where he earned their seal of approval. Before the night was over, he professed his love—and although she didn't say it back, the feeling was mutual. The next morning, Vassos sent home the last remaining contestant, Guy Gansert, to pursue her romance with the 60-year-old Wichita native.

We Went to The Golden Wedding—Here's What It Was Like

Joan and Chock getting engaged on The Golden Bachelorette

On their last day in paradise, Chapple presented the Golden Bachelorette with a dazzling three-stone Neil Lane engagement ring. "I am so absolutely happy to be in your life, and that you're in mine. We've had a magical journey," he said during the engagement. Vassos agreed, saying she could picture a future with him from their very first date in Disneyland. "We are living proof that no matter what life throws at you, there is still hope, even at our age," she said before he dropped to one knee. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world, that's all I can say," Chapple told cameras after she accepted the proposal.

We Went to The Golden Wedding—Here's What It Was Like

Vassos became a fast fan-favorite on Gerry Turner's inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor in 2023, particularly when she self-eliminated to help her daughter through a medical crisis. We break down everything to know about the first Golden Bachelorette here, including the details about her brand new fiancé.

The Golden Bachelorette is Joan Vassos, a contestant who appeared on Gerry Turner's season of The Golden Bachelor.
Joan Vassos got engaged to Chock Chapple on the finale of her Golden Bachelorette season.
Joan Vassos is 61 years old and lives in Rockville, Maryland. She works as a private school administrator.

In this article:

Who Won Joan's Season of The Golden Bachelorette?
Who is the First Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos?
All About Joan's Golden Bachelorette Cast

Who Won Joan's Season of The Golden Bachelorette?

The Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos with her winner, Chock Chapple

Joan Vassos got engaged to Chock Chapple on her season finale. A 60-year-old insurance executive and business owner from Wichita, Kansas, Chapple joined the cast of The Golden Bachelorette after his daughter signed him up without his knowledge. Although he didn't receive her first impression rose, he had one of the first one-on-one dates at Disneyland. It was there, Vassos revealed during the proposal, that she began picturing a future with him.

The couple experienced a brief hiccup mid-season when Chapple briefly self-eliminated following the death of his mother. But after a short time away, he returned to the show because of his strong feelings for Vassos. Their connection continued to grow week-over-week, especially after she traveled to his hometown and met his family. The feeling was mutual among her children too, who gave Chapple their stamp of approval during the final episode. After professing his love for Vassos in Bora Bora, she eliminated her remaining contestant, Guy Gansert. The next day, Chapple proposed on the beach—and Vassos accepted, of course!

Joan giving Chock her final rose on the Golden Bachelorette

The fiancés caught up with Jesse Palmer on the After the Final Rose special, confirming they're happier than ever. "Everybody deserves to have love and give love. I hope our journey inspired you," Vassos told viewers. "Go out and take the leap of faith. Find love out here." Chapple echoed her thoughts, saying, "You've got to go out and find the one."

Who is the First Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos?

If you watched The Golden Bachelor, you're already quite familiar with Joan Vassos. Over 43 million people tuned into the latest Bachelor franchise series, which sparked intense fascination and interest among fans. While Vassos, 61, became an early front-runner, she left during the show's third week due to a family emergency. Here's everything to know about Joan Vassos.

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She's a Mom to Four and a Grandmother to Three

Golden bachelorette Joan Vassos with grandchildren

Joan Vassos is a proud mom to four adult children: Allison, Nicholas, Erica and Luke, all of whom she shared with her late husband. Vassos frequently spoke about motherhood on the show, which ultimately led to her early departure. After learning that her daughter was experiencing pregnancy complications, she decided to leave the show early so she could support her kids.

"My journey to find love took a detour this week as I traded the mansion for motherhood and headed home to be with my family," Vassos wrote on Instagram after the episode aired. "Family comes first, period. Once a mother, always a mother, I'll always choose my kids first. Thank you for all of your outpouring love and support, for not only me but also my daughter - everyone is now healthy and happy!"

Vassos is also a grandmother to two boys and one girl, who often appear on her Instagram feed.

She Lives in Maryland

Joan Vassos currently lives in Rockville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC, where she works as a private school administrator. According to her ABC bio, Vassos is "proud of herself for starting a new career in this chapter of life." But, as much as she loves her job, she notes that she's "happiest when she's at the beach with her family."

She's a Self-Proclaimed Foodie

One thing you must know about the next Golden Bachelorette is that she's a huge foodie—so we won't be surprised if some of her group dates revolve around her culinary passion. Per her show bio, Vassos says she loves cooking and considers "a big, juicy burger" to be her favorite meal.

She Was Previously Married for 32 Years

Joan Vassos was married to her husband, John Vassos, for 32 years. Tragically, he passed away on January 18, 2021, at the age of 59 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

She shared a touching tribute to her late spouse on the third anniversary of his death, writing, "For years I've tried to think of how to memorialize him, but nothing seems quite right... I'd have to name the tallest building in the world to do him justice. Every floor would stand for something kind he did for someone, the good deeds are too many to even attempt to mention."

She continued, "He was the husband that always made me feel safe and cherished. He was the parent that was always the fun one because that's all he knew how to do...lucky kids because fun in his book was generally epic. I could go on for hours, you all know that though. Honestly, I think that's how he would want to be remembered...by not forgetting him."

She's Still Close With "The Golden Girls"

Golden bachelorette Joan Vassos with golden bachelor contestants

If you've kept up with the cast of The Golden Bachelor, you'll know that Turner's group of women—who affectionately call themselves "The Golden Girls"—remained close after filming. Vassos has spent plenty of time with her castmates off-camera, and even attended the Golden Wedding with the crew in January. Vassos also competed with some of the women on Celebrity Family Feud, including Susan Noles, Kathy Swarts, Leslie Fhima, and Natascha Hardee.

All About Joan's Golden Bachelorette Cast

Joan Vassos' cast of suitors on The Golden Bachelorette included a retired university vice president, an emergency room doctor, an FDNY Chief, and a familiar face from Bachelor Nation! (Psst: It's the father of Kelsey Anderson, who got engaged to The Bachelor Joey Graziadei.) Here are the men who competed for her heart this season: