The Bachelor 28's Joey Graziadei got engaged to Kelsey Anderson at the end of the season, and her protective father, Mark Anderson, may have something to say about it. Joey, a 28-year-old tennis pro from Hawaii, met 26-year-old Kelsey on night one of his season of The Bachelor. She was one of 32 single women who had traveled to The Bachelor mansion in Los Angeles with hopes of winning Joey's heart. Joey was already famous at that point, as he had been the runner-up on Charity Lawson's season of The Bachelorette.
Unlike Joey, Kelsey was far from a public figure before joining the cast of The Bachelor season 28. The junior project manager took a break from her career to appear on the show. During hometown dates, Kelsey took Joey to meet her father, Mark. The 58-year-old retired Army veteran was an instant fan favorite who would later join the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, to compete for Joan Vassos' heart. Mark is very protective of his youngest daughter, and it would behoove Joey to keep that in mind.
Joey & Kelsey's Relationship Timeline
A Whirlwind Romance
Joey hit it off with Kelsey right away on The Bachelor season 28, from the moment Kelsey stepped out of the limousine on night one. They even shared a steamy kiss during that night's cocktail party, though, to be fair, Joey kissed multiple women on night one. Still, his connection with Kesley grew throughout the season. After multiple dates, rose ceremonies, a thrilling scooter ride in Europe, and a hometown visit, where Joey met Kelsey's father, Kelsey won Joey's final rose and the two got engaged.
As The Bachelor season 28 neared its conclusion, Kelsey sent a note to Joey's hotel room which read, "We need to talk." Joey freaked out. Throughout the season, and maybe his life, Joey's greatest fear was that he'd fall for a woman who didn't want him back. The whole thing gave him flashbacks to Charity's season, and he began to doubt the whole process.
Luckily, it turned out Kelsey wasn't trying to leave, she just missed him.
During the finale, Joey's runner-up, 25-year-old Daisy Kent, could feel something wasn't right. Her woman's intuition told her she wasn't going to be the one to win Joey's heart because he was in love with Kelsey. After going to Kelsey's room to inform her of what she'd realized, the two women drove to the final rose ceremony together. Daisy ended it with Joey before he could end it with her, but she was right; Joey wanted to propose to Kelsey. It was an unprecedented Bachelor Nation moment.
When Joey Met Mark
Hometown Visit
After a season of dates and drama, it was time for The Bachelor season 28 hometown dates. When it was Kelsey's turn to show Joey around Louisiana, where, in addition to showing Joey around New Orleans, she took Joey home to meet her family. She was especially eager for Joey to meet her father, Mark, whom she was very close to.
Joey and Mark's very first meeting was captured on camera.
In a touching moment, Mark gifts Joey and Kelsey a photo album filled with pictures of Mark and Kelsey's mother, Denise Anderson. Mark and Denise were married for 18 years and had five children together before she passed away from cancer in 2018. The photo album offered a glimpse into Mark and Denise's love story, and he wished the same for his daughter. During the visit, Mark took Joey aside and made it clear that he was a loving and protective father.
Kelsey Wasn't Always Close To Her Father
Things Changed After Her Mother Died
Kelsey talked about her father all the time on The Bachelor season 28. During one of her first one-on-one dates with Joey, she confessed that she wasn't always close with her father. While she was growing up, her father was away working a lot, so she was closer to her mother. After her mother passed, Kelsey grew closer to her father, and now she relies heavily on his love, judgment, and quiet strength.
Mark Is Protective Of His Daughter
And Kelsey Is Protective Of Mark Too
Though Mark's appearance on The Bachelor season 28 was brief, he left quite an impression, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Bachelor Nation was abuzz with excitement after learning Mark would be one of the contestants on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. When ABC confirmed Mark would be on The Golden Bachelorette, an excited Kelsey reacted on TikTok. In the clip, a thrilled Kelsey celebrates the casting announcement to the tune of "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield.
"MARK IS ON THE GOLDEN BACHELORETTE !!!! I am so excited and happy for him !!!"
Despite all the excitement over Mark competing for Joan's heart during the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette, he didn't swoop in and steal Joan's heart as expected. Joan and Mark never really seemed to connect, and Joan reluctantly sends Mark home before her season's hometown dates. Mark was devastated by the elimination, and he'd need the love of his children, including Kelsey, to get him through the heartbreak.
There is some speculation that Mark is being considered to replace Gerry Turner as The Golden Bachelor.
Having appeared on both The Bachelor season 28 and The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Mark is practically a member of Bachelor Nation royalty. Many are rooting for him to be cast as The Golden Bachelor, but it's unclear if that's what Mark wants. Whether or not Mark ends up being the Bachelor spin-off's next male lead, his protective daughter, Kelsey, will be there every step of the way.
