'The Bachelorette' Jenn Tran said seeing her Vietnamese family on TV was emotional

For Jenn Tran, the first Asian American star of “The Bachelorette,” Monday’s premiere felt “surreal” and emotional when she saw glimpses of her mother and brother on screen.

For Jenn Tran, the first Asian American star of “The Bachelorette,” Monday’s premiere felt “surreal” and emotional when she saw glimpses of her mother and her brother on screen. 

“What really hit me was seeing my family on TV,” Tran, 26, said in an interview. “My Vietnamese culture is being present, and there’s Vietnamese food being mentioned. And then my mom speaks Vietnamese. … Things like that have always felt so close to me, but they’ve always only been in my home, so to have it on TV and normalized to have other people experience — I’m so excited for that.” 

Tran, who is studying to be a physician’s assistant, was announced as the franchise lead in March after she was one of the final six contestants on the 28th season of “The Bachelor,” in which 32 women vied for the heart of Joey Graziadei. 

This time around, 25 men — whose professions range from luxury event planner to retirement adviser — showed up for a shot at love with Tran. While most seasons begin at the Bachelorette mansion, the latest season kicked off at a different location, Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Southern California. She also announced a twist in the episode, telling the contestants they’d be heading to Australia. 

Tran’s family shows up briefly in the premiere, doling out some words of advice and wishing her luck in her quest to find a match. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jenn-tran-bachelorette-vietnamese-family-tv-rcna161124

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