This Real Housewives Star Asked To Be The First Golden Bachelorette

The first-ever The Golden Bachelorette saw Joan Vassos find love for the second time after she accepted a proposal from contestant Chock Chapple. It was a whirlwind journey for Joan, whose season saw a lot of ups and downs, including two contestants with previous restraining orders, a shocking self-elimination during Fantasy Suites, and surprisingly, 24 "golden" contestants finding ever-lasting friendships with each other.

However, before Joan was announced as the first lead in the Bachelor spinoff, following Gerry Turner's failed marriage while as the first-ever The Golden Bachelor, one reality TV star attempted to persuade the show's producers to allow her to be the one to hand out the gold roses.

Can fans guess which Bravo star really wanted to be the first Golden Bachelorette?

The Real Housewives Of Orange County's Shannon Beador Wanted To Be The First Golden Bachelorette

When it comes to choosing who is to be the next lead in the Bachelor franchise, it's typical for producers to go with someone who was a fan-favorite from the previous seasons. Viewers watched as Joey Graziadei got a second chance at love as The Bachelor in Season 28 after having his heart broken in Charity Lawson's season.

Jenn Tran, who was a contestant on Joey's season, was named Season 21's The Bachelorette, but fans all know how devastating her season ended. And, during contestant Grant Ellis' exit from Jenn's season, he was officially announced as Seson 29's lead.

It was a given that a contestant from Gerry Turner's first-ever The Golden Bachelor season would be named the first-ever Golden Bachelorette. Joan Vassos was beloved by viewers when she was a contestant on Gerry's season. Unfortunately, she had to self-eliminate herself to take care of her children back home. It made perfect sense to cast her for the first season.

However, Real Housewive of Orange County's Shannon Beador believed there may have been a chance that the show's producers would switch things up. She admitted that she approached producers to ask if she could possibly be the Golden Bachelorette, seeing as she checked off all the boxes: she was single, and she was somewhat "golden," being 60-years-old.

During an appearance on Nick Viall's The Viall Files podcast, Shannon divulged that she had "put it out there" to be on the reality TV dating show.

"We have some producers who work for the Bachelor franchise. And I said, 'What about me being the Golden Bachelorette?'"

Shannon continued, "And then I said, 'I know you're going to use somebody from the past, so whatever.' You know, we just kind of put it out there.'" Despite the first season going to Joan, the idea of Shannon looking for love on a reality TV show led to an idea for her to be cast in another series.

Instead, Shannon Is Set To Star In Peacock's Love Hotel With Other Real Housewives

During Shannon's conversation on The Viall Files podcast, she did share that she was going to star in Peacock's newest reality dating show, Love Hotel. Speaking to Nick, the reality star stated that Andy Cohen brought the idea to Shannon, and she was excited about the opportunity.

"Andy called me and said, 'We have an interesting idea.' And they asked me to join the show the Love Hotel. So, I kind of am a Golden Bachelorette on the Love Hotel. I was the oldest.'"

In her interview, Shannon hinted that she had "met a lot of new people" on the show, but did not give away any information regarding if she had met a potential suitor. "I don't know that I'm even ready for a relationship right now. I want to have fun," she shared. Shannon also revealed that she did make long-lasting friends with the other women on the show.

According to People, filming of Peacock's newest reality series, Love Hotel, began in September and took place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Besides Shannon, three other Real Housewives will also be on a journey to find love—RHONY alum Luann de Lesseps, and RHOP's Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby.

The Peacock series is expected to premiere next year.

Shannon's Ex Is Now Engaged To RHOC's Alexis Bellino

The ups and downs of Shannon's relationships have played out on RHOC. In Seasons 12 and 13, fans saw the reality star separate from her husband of 17 years, David Beador. The following seasons saw the mom of three enter into a new relationship with boyfriend John Janssen, with whom she dated for over three years. John ultimately ended things with Shannon in September 2023, not long after her arrest for a DUI.

Things have only gotten ugly between Shannon and John, especially after his whirlwind romance with Shannon's RHOC castmate Alexis Bellino. The pair dated for a mere nine months before he proposed to the star in August. In a Season 18 episode of RHOC, John and Alexis have further ignited a feud with his ex after stating that he is in possession of footage of the night of Shannon's DUI, including the reality star allegedly almost running over John's daughter.

Shannon joined RHOC in Season 9 and has become the third-longest running Orange County cast member, following Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge.

To make matters worse, John has also threatened legal action and sued Shannon, claiming that she had allegedly borrowed $75,000.

"I get really worked up about John," Alexis said in an episode. "Because the man is nothing but kind, generous, loving, caring. Unfortunately, Shannon has ruined John reputation throughout the community."

Fans have taken sides on the matter, with most siding with Shannon as she went through a very tough season from filming with her ex's fiancé and Tamra Judge's mistreatment. For her part, Shannon is trying to move past her DUI and live a healthier life.