Renegades | Jenn Tran on Carving a Different Path [Exclusive Images]
The star of The Bachelorette Season 21 shares her perspective as the show's first Asian Pacific lead
Welcome to Renegades, Gold House’s newsletter series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way. This week, we sat down with Jenn Tran, physician’s assistant student and star of The Bachelorette Season 21. As a previous contestant on The Bachelor Season 28, Jenn is approaching her leading roll on The Bachelorette with a newfound vulnerability and openness that honor her personal growth, her Asian Pacific heritage, and her search for a true partner.
What did you want to be when you were growing up, and how does that compare to what you do today?
Oh gosh, I wanted to be a wedding planner when I was growing up. And then I wanted to be a teacher, and then I wanted to be a doctor. That’s now kind of in the range of where I’m at now. But originally it was a wedding planner!
You’ve talked a bit about how sparse Asian representation was on TV and how it felt like Asians were often boxed into stereotypes. If you were just a teen watching this show and saw someone like yourself on the screen, what would that have meant to you?
I constantly think about it because when I was growing up, I didn’t really have any Asian American representation to look up to on TV. Because of that it was so hard for me to see myself as a main character or see myself achieving different things. I didn’t even know who I was, I had an identity crisis because if you don’t see yourself represented then it's like, where do I fit in and where can I go from here. To now kind of be the role model that I was looking for when I was a kid is really full circle for me and it's honestly so surreal. I hold this position with a lot of gratefulness to finally be at a place where the world is changing and we can have this. Obviously there is so much more change to be had and so much more representation to be had, but I’m just so grateful and I know that little Jenn is definitely proud!
As a multi-hyphenate managing the challenges of two different worlds - the worlds of medicine and reality TV - what message do you hope to convey to young Asian Americans pursuing multiple dreams?
Being in reality TV and pursuing medicine is definitely not the traditional trajectory at all, but I would love for young Asian Americans to really understand that you can carve your own path. Whatever you want to achieve, you can do. You don’t have to follow someone else’s mold, you don’t have to go a traditional route just because it's all you’ve ever seen. If you are passionate about something and if you feel like something is really calling your name - do it, just do it. We only have one shot, you only get one life to live! You might as well take advantage of it all, there are no rules. The only rules that are set are the rules that you set for yourself. So, continue to break those rules that you set for yourself so you can explore new versions of yourself.
What is one element of your experience on The Bachelor that you believe has prepared you for your upcoming season as the Bachelorette?
From the previous season, as a contestant I was really pushed to kind of open up and be vulnerable, talk about things I had never really talked about before. Specifically my childhood, and growing up without a role model of love. This time around being a lead, I knew that I really had to push myself to be vulnerable. I used to think it showed signs of weakness but really you have so much strength when you are vulnerable and it allows somebody else to really understand you and get more insight into why you are the way that you are, and that's important for a relationship too. So this time around I pushed myself to do that because I knew that I wanted someone to really understand me for all of me.
What are you most excited for viewers to see in your season of The Bachelorette?
I’m really excited for people to see my self growth journey. I really just feel like I’m a completely different person now then when I was when I started filming. There were just constantly new developments happening and so much self growth. It's so exciting that I’m going to get to watch it back and to have people relate to those moments in my story.
Who is a particular role model or mentor you have met that has inspired you to pursue a career in film/tv?
I would say my mom. She is someone who inspires me every day. I think about her journey, her life, and how she got to where she is today. She was in medicine in Vietnam and she was going to graduate medical school and then immigrated over here. When she got here, she never finished medical school and she had to kind of find her own path over here, figure things out for herself, explore other passions that she had. So she just shows so much strength and resilience every day. To hear about all the little things or the big things that she had to overcome in order to provide me and my brother with a better life, I try to channel that strength and resilience every day because of the sacrifices that she made.
Your journey has been a mix of cultural experiences and personal growth. How do you think your unique background will influence the way you connect with the contestants on The Bachelorette?
Throughout my time on the Bachelorette I really had to think long and hard about what conversations were crucial to my relationships, what conversations needed to be had in order for me to find a lasting partner. Those conversations often revolved around race and culture and religion. I often shied away from those conversations when I was younger in dating because I didn't know how to go about it and I just never saw anyone talking about it so I didn’t know how to talk about it, really. At this point in my life I’m so proud of my culture, my religion, and my race, and these are things that are important when it comes to a relationship. I had so many tough conversations revolving around that with these men, and I was so proud of myself and I’m so happy for other people to get to see those conversations as well because they’re really important.
What are two of your favorite ways to relax and unwind when you’re not studying or filming?
Definitely a bottle of wine and a really cheesy rom-com. I’m a sucker for a rom-com, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I will rewatch that all the time. I bought it on Amazon Prime because I know I rewatch it at least every other month. Or I just love to go to the gym, every time I go it just makes me feel better emotionally and mentally. I know that’s something I need in my life to really relieve stress.
Lightening Round
Morning routine: Brushing my teeth, skincare, sunscreen
Favorite fashion trend: Sabrina Carpenter. Everything that she puts on her body, I want.
Hidden talent: I can turn myself into a monkey. I guess I have to show you now…
Favorite snack: Hot Cheetos
Signature dance move: I'm not a dancer, I’m such a weird dancer. Lately I do this thing where I’m mixing it up, I’m like in a mixing bowl. It’s giving Hannah Montana.
