Kelsey Anderson would ‘fully support’ her dad, Mark Anderson, as the next Golden Bachelor

Kelsey Anderson has expressed her full support for her father, Mark Anderson, potentially becoming the next lead on The Golden Bachelor. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Kelsey, 26, revealed she would “100 percent” back her dad if he decided to take on the role. “If that’s what he wants to do, I would fully support him,” she shared. “I think my dad has grown so much through this journey.”

Mark Anderson as the Golden Bachelorette:

Mark Anderson, 57, recently appeared on season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette, where he competed for the affections of Joan Vassos. Though he shared a one-on-one date with Joan, 61, he was ultimately sent home before the hometown episode as Joan developed stronger connections with other suitors. Despite the outcome, Kelsey noted her dad’s emotional growth from the experience and expressed her pride. “I’m really proud of him,” she said. 

Kelsey, who herself appeared on Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor and got engaged to the tennis pro during the season finale, acknowledged the bonding moment between her and her dad over their shared experience on reality TV. “It’s cute for us to all have something else to bond over,” she commented, highlighting how both she and her dad have embraced their roles in the Bachelor Nation spotlight.

Mark’s time on The Golden Bachelorette was not only a personal journey but also a healing one. Kelsey revealed that the relationships her dad formed with the other contestants helped him cope with grief after the loss of her mother, Denise, who died in 2018 following a battle with breast cancer. “He made 21 best friends,” Kelsey said, noting that her father found support from men with similar stories.

While watching her dad on TV was mostly enjoyable for Kelsey, she admitted she found it a bit awkward to see him kissing Joan. “I didn’t want to see him kissing somebody,” she joked. However, she acknowledged that her dad likely felt the same way watching her romantic journey on The Bachelor.

Kelsey’s fiancé, Joey Graziadei, is equally supportive of Mark’s potential next chapter as The Golden Bachelor. Speaking to Access Hollywood, Graziadei expressed his encouragement, saying, “He deserves nothing but the best… we will both be rooting for him.” With the support of Kelsey, Joey, and fans of Bachelor Nation, Mark Anderson’s journey may just be getting started.