The Reason Jenn Tran Didn’t Initially See Herself as ‘The Bachelorette’ Lead

Jenn Tran spent months filming 'The Bachelorette.' As the series premiere draws closer, she is getting vulnerable about her feelings. Tran says she never saw herself as the lead in such a competition.

As Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor drew to a close in March, fans took to social media to discuss which of his hopefuls would become the lead in the next season of The Bachelorette. A few names were tossed around, but Jenn Tran was mentioned by multiple fans across multiple social media platforms. While fans were ready to see Tran find love, she wasn’t entirely convinced she would make a good lead. Tran’s season will premiere in less than two weeks. Ahead of her debut as the bachelorette, she revealed why she thought of herself as an unlikely star.

Jenn Tran says she never saw herself as the bachelorette

During a chat with Us Weekly, Tran discussed her upcoming season of The Bachelorette. She insists that this season will be very different from previous seasons but could not elaborate on exactly why. Tran did reveal that she needed to be convinced she could pull off the lead role in the dating competition.

In her interview, Tran revealed that she doesn’t see herself as confident, articulate, and, when necessary, vulnerable. Those were qualities she believed past bachelorettes embodied. She admitted that she was reluctant to take on the job as a lead on the dating show because she didn’t think she was like bachelorettes who had come before her. Tran said her season of the dating competition is as much about self-discovery as it is about finding love. However, how that will translate onto the screen is anyone’s guess. What we already know is that Tran’s casting is historic for the franchise. She is the first Asian-American lead in the competition’s history.

Is Jenn Tran paid for her time on ‘The Bachelorette’?

Tran is on a journey to find love and improve her confidence, but some fans wonder if that comes with a paycheck. Before appearing on The Bachelor, Tran studied to be a physician’s assistant. While she didn’t make a dime as a contestant, she will cash a check for her time as the bachelorette.

During the franchise’s early years, leads only made about $10,000 for their time. The popularity of the series changed that. According to Cosmopolitan, leads on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette earn between $100,000 and $250,000 for the season, depending on negotiations. Filming takes around two months.

Jenn Tran’s season of The Bachelorette premieres on July 8 and should run through August. The Golden Bachelorette, featuring Joan Vassos, is set to premiere in September. Vassos is filming her season now.