The fan-favorite alum shares her excitement and support as her father embarks on his journey to find love on the new season starring Joan Vassos.
Bachelor Nation alum Kelsey Anderson couldn’t hide her excitement when she learned that her father, Mark Anderson, had been cast on the premiere season of The Golden Bachelorette, starring Joan Vassos. The 26-year-old reality star took to Instagram on Tuesday, August 13, to share her reaction with her followers, posting her father’s casting photo along with two star-struck emojis.
“Welllllll, would you look at that,” Kelsey captioned the photo, showing just how proud she is of her 57-year-old dad. In another Instagram Story slide, Kelsey referred to Mark as “the sweetest” while sharing a clip of him expressing his heartfelt thoughts on love. “To be in love, it feels very warm, like, you just feel it,” Mark says in the clip. “Everything just, like, travels out of your heart — fills your body, makes you warm, makes you fuzzy — and it brings a lot of joy and happiness to life.”
Mark first captured the hearts of Bachelor fans during the hometown dates on Kelsey’s season with Bachelor Joey Graziadei. Viewers quickly dubbed him “Kelsey’s Hot Dad” after witnessing the emotional connection he shared with his daughter and hearing about the family’s story. Mark had been the primary caregiver for his late wife, Denise, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and passed away in 2018.
During Kelsey’s hometown date, Mark opened up about his late wife and how he wished for his daughter to experience the same profound love he had shared with Denise. “I want you to feel that feeling I had with your mom,” Mark told Kelsey. “Because it’s the best feeling in the world.” The touching moment brought Kelsey to tears as she admitted she was in love with Joey, and the father-daughter duo shared a heartfelt hug, with Mark whispering, “I love you.”
Kelsey has been a vocal supporter of her father’s journey to find love again. In a June episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast, she shared that she fully supported her dad’s decision to date and even encouraged him to pursue new relationships. “I want my dad to get out there; I want my dad to date,” Kelsey said on the podcast. “I think that my mom really would want him to. My mom, before she passed, always said, ‘I want you to find somebody else. I want you to find another love.’ Before she even was sick she would always say this. She just knew that she was going to pass before him.”
As Mark prepares to join the cast of The Golden Bachelorette, it’s clear that he has the full backing of his daughter and the entire Bachelor Nation. Fans are eagerly anticipating the new season and watching Mark’s journey as he searches for love once again. With the love and support of his family, especially Kelsey, Mark’s time on the show promises to be an emotional and heartwarming experience.
