Why The Golden Bachelorette is the Romance Story We Need

As a woman in her 60s, I’ve seen many phases of life—from the dizzying highs of youth, career, and family to the quieter, more reflective days of now. Society, however, has often tried to place people my age into the shadows, as if we’ve passed our prime.

We’re given a few token roles on television or in the media, often as a wise-cracking grandmother or the woman who’s given up on romance entirely. But with the arrival of The Golden Bachelorette, something truly refreshing has happened. Finally, the spotlight shines on women of my generation (Joan Vassos) in a way that affirms our vitality, our passions, and yes—our ongoing desire for love and connection.

Television dating shows are not my cup of tea. I believe that most of the time they are fixed and they also have been notoriously youth-focused, featuring a parade of women in their 20s and 30s, where the biggest problem is deciding between two equally handsome suitors.

However, this time when I saw an older woman with laugh lines (very few indeed but this is another story), with a life and real depth—on screen vying for love, I couldn’t help but root for her.  A woman in her 60s or 70s leading the charge for love? Yes, please!

It’s a concept that not only challenges stereotypes about ageing but also opens up a beautiful conversation about what it means to live a full life. For too long, romance has been marketed as something for the young—love stories end at the altar as if that’s where life stops. But those of us with a few decades under our belts know that love (and desire) doesn’t have an expiration date.

The Golden Bachelorette: Redefining Romance for Women Over 60

In fact, I’d argue that love in our later years is even richer. We’ve learned what we can live with and what we can’t (I decided to break up my long marriage). We’ve learned that romance isn’t about grand gestures (though those are still nice!) but about deep companionship and respect. And, in many ways, dating in this stage of life can be freer.

Gone are the pressures of youth—no worries about biological clocks or societal expectations about marriage and children. Instead, it’s simply about finding someone who shares your values, your passions, and your vision for the future, however much time that may be.

The Golden Bachelorette would give women like me a voice. A chance to show that even after a grey divorce we are not done yet. We’re not sitting around knitting, waiting for our twilight years to quietly fade away. We’re vibrant, funny, and full of life. We still dream, we still crave connection, and yes, we still want to be seen as beautiful and desirable. Seeing a woman over 60 being pursued, admired, and respected on national television would be groundbreaking—not just for us but for younger generations who need to see that ageing is not something to fear but to embrace.

Showcasing Realities Alongside Romance

However, I do have a wish for The Golden Bachelorette. I hope it goes beyond just the romance and glitz of the typical dating show. I want to see the realities of ageing too. I want the conversations about health, about losing a partner, about fears of loneliness. I want authenticity.

Women in their golden years are used to being real because we’ve lived through enough to know that there’s no use in pretending. I want to see a woman who’s survived breast cancer, who’s cared for ageing parents, who’s reinvented herself after divorce or widowhood. These are the stories that resonate with us and that inspire us. They remind us that life, in all its messiness and beauty, doesn’t stop at 60—it just takes on new forms.

The Golden Bachelorette could be a platform for rewriting the script on ageing and love. It’s about time we stopped viewing older women as invisible or past their prime and started recognizing the fierce, complex, and fascinating individuals they are. To see a woman over 60 rediscovering romance on her own terms would send a powerful message: that love is for all ages and that life, in its fullest, never stops unfolding.

So, to those casting the next Bachelorette, I say: Bring her on. Let her be bold (but also vulnerable), let her show the world what it means to age with grace, humour, and endless curiosity. Because, at the end of the day, we’re all just looking for connection—no matter how many candles are on the cake.