Jenn Tran, first Asian “Bachelorette”: “We are working towards change”
Jenn Tran, the first Asian Bachelorette in 21 seasons of the reality series, explains why this is historic.
The next “Bachelor” leading actress will be a familiar face to anyone who tunes in to Jenn Tran’s “Bachelorette” season.
Grant Ellis, a 30-year-old day trader from Houston, was announced as the lead of season 29 of “The Bachelor” after being eliminated at the rose ceremony on Monday’s episode of “The Bachelorette.”
Grant will be the second black man to host The Bachelor since the show first aired in 2002. In June 2020, Matt James was cast as the first black bachelor. Grant’s season is expected to air on ABC starting in January 2025.
The former college basketball player at Iona University in New York and Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut was described in his bio on “The Bachelorette” as a “mama’s boy who loves poetry and reading.” He also “enjoys watching the Lakers, bowling and singing his heart out at karaoke.”
Although Jenn described Grant as “exactly my type” – “He’s hot, he’s hot and he’s hot,” she said in a confessional during the season 21 premiere – she ultimately couldn’t imagine going home to meet his family.
He was eliminated along with Spencer Conley at Monday night’s rose ceremony. Earlier, Jenn’s first rose recipient, Sam M., was sent home after a controversial appearance on the show.
What we know about Grant from “The Bachelorette”
In episode 5 of “The Bachelorette,” Grant’s patience was rewarded with a long-awaited one-on-one date with Jenn.
After riding horses together and enjoying New Zealand’s views, Grant revealed that his father had been a drug addict his entire life – something he didn’t learn about until he was older. Before filming The Bachelorette, his father was fired from his job, and Grant was a tough man: “I don’t… care.”
“I’m more proud of my dad than I’ve ever been. He called me the next day and said, ‘I’m going to rehab,'” Grant told Jenn. “We talked and he said, ‘Listen, son. This is the first time you’ve seen the real me when I’m not drunk.’ So I can really relate to that. Now he’s been sober for almost two months.”
He later added: “My mission in life is to be the man my father was not.”
Going Deep with Jenn: She never saw herself as the main character. Now she is the first Asian “Bachelorette”
Grant was first introduced to Bachelor Nation with his beatboxing limo exit at Jenn’s Bachelorette premiere.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Grant. We’re going to make all these guys so jealous because at the end of this show we’re going to change your name to Mrs. Ellis,” he sang to Jenn as he greeted her.
In his induction package, Grant said he was from New Jersey and had been playing basketball since he was 8 years old. After playing for Iona University and Albertus Magnus College, he took his talent overseas, but an unspecified injury ended his career.
“But when life knocks you down, you have to be able to pivot. So I ended up in finance and it’s been a steep climb from there,” he said. “The only thing I’m missing right now is myself.”
