Jenn Tran made her debut as the star of The Bachelorette on Monday and became the first Asian-American in the lead role in the history of the Bachelor franchise.
The 26-year-old physician assistant from Hillsdale, New Jersey, during the season 21 premiere episode singled out contractor Sam McKinney, 27, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the coveted First Impression rose.
Jenn disappointed a room full of suitors while looking for Sam and left a smaller group feeling envious after she pulled Sam away from them.
Sam asked how she was feeling and Jenn admitted that she was nervous.
‘I don’t know. I feel like there has been something there, and I can’t stop thinking about you all night. And I don’t always, you know, like, pick the right men, but there is something in my gut that’s just telling me that, you know, there’s something here, and I’m really excited about it,’ Jenn shared.
Jenn Tran made her debut as the star of The Bachelorette on Monday and became the first Asian-American in the lead role in the history of the Bachelor franchise
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‘And I’m really excited to get to know you a lot more. And I can’t stop thinking about you, so I’m excited about it. Um, so, Sam will you accept this rose?,’ she added.
‘Absolutely,’ Sam said as he accepted the bellwether flower that typically signals an extended stay during the season.
Jenn in a confessional said that Sam had an ‘energy’ that she was digging.
‘This is it. This is the moment that I’ve kind of been waiting for all night, and I just feel like I want to kiss him. And so I’m gonna do it,’ Jenn said in a confessional.
Jenn was shown initiating contact as they engaged in an intense kissing session on the couch and Sam asked if she could get used to it.
‘Yeah, I can,’ Jenn said.
The two-hour ABC episode opened ominously with Jenn in a white gown on a beach telling someone, ‘I can’t let you propose to me.’
Jenn was then shown putting what appeared to be the final rose on a small table and walking away.
Jenn was shown initiating contact as they engaged in an intense kissing session on the couch and Sam asked if she could get used to it
The 26-year-old physician assistant from Hillsdale, New Jersey , during the season 21 premiere episode singled out contractor Sam McKinney, 27, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the coveted First Impression rose
Jenn posed with fans who admired her as the first Asian-American lead in Bachelor franchise history
The premiere episode showed Jenn’s mother sharing her hopes
Jenn listened intently as her mother shared her hopes for her journey on the show
‘Are you okay with whatever’s gonna happen here?,’ show host Jesse Palmer, 45, asked Jenn.
Jenn nodded yes and then a clip showed her walking down a hallway, knocking on a door and then bursting in.
The show then cut to Jenn in Boston introducing herself.
‘I can’t even believe that this is real. I acknowledge that going on The Bachelorette to find love is not the traditional way to find love, but I’m not really a traditional girl in the first place,’ Jenn said in a confessional.
She reflected on competing on season 28 of The Bachelor starring Joey Graziadei, 29, and said she was heartbroken but her family was supportive and lifted her spirits.
‘Family means so much to me. My mom immigrated over here from Vietnam to give me a better future. I love her so much, and I know how deeply she loves me,’ Jenn said.
Jenn’s mother expressed her desire for her daughter to find true love with someone who won’t make her cry.
‘To hear my mom say that means so much to me. I want to be able to make my family proud, and I’m going to do that. I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m so ready to find love, and I can’t wait to start my journey as the Bachelorette,’ Jenn said.
The two-hour ABC episode opened ominously with Jenn in a white gown on a beach telling someone, ‘I can’t let you propose to me’
Jenn was then shown putting what appeared to be the final rose on a small table and walking away
‘Are you okay with whatever’s gonna happen here?,’ show host Jesse Palmer, 45, asked Jenn
The Bachelorette season premiere suggested trouble in paradise
She also said that she wanted to make everyone proud as the first Asian-American Bachelorette.
‘You know, I want to be able to make everybody proud and make, you know, my heritage proud. I think what it really comes down to is that I just have to be myself and do the best that I can do,’ Jenn said. ‘I know what I have to offer. I know who I am, and I know I am gonna find my person.’
Jenn then met up with host Jesse at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, California, where limos soon dropped off 25 men seeking her affection.
She told Jesse that she was looking for someone funny, kind and smart who is open to falling in love.
The guys showed up and tried to make memorable first impressions by bringing balloons, puppies and hot peppers to meet Jenn.
Jenn at the end handed out roses during her first rose ceremony after giving the First Impression rose to general contractor Sam.
She eliminated Brendan Barnum, Brett Harris, Caleb ‘Moze’ Smith, Dakota Nobles, Kevin McDevitt, Matt Arnold and Ricky Martinez.
Samaun “Sam” Nejad, 25, an entrepreneur from Carlsbad, California, got the last rose.
‘Are you okay?,’ Jenn asked as Sam N. appeared to get emotional.
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he told her.
Hakeem Moulton, 29, brought balloons
Jenn in a confessional said it was hard to send seven men home.
She then told the remaining men that they were headed to Melbourne, .
They all cheered to and also to Jenn.
The Bachelorette will return next week on ABC.