Last night, The Golden Bachelor aired its second episode, but something—or rather, someone—was missing. ICYMI, Marina Perera, a 60-year-old educator from Los Angeles who was competing in the spinoff competition, had mysteriously vanished.
There were supposed to be 16 women still vying for sweet Gerry Turner’s heart last night—but Marina’s disappearance brought the count down to 15. For more reasons than one, the number seemed odd!
Luckily, Jesse Palmer had Marina on speed dial in an ABC-released clip (he pulled her up on FaceTime in mere seconds!)—so the situation was somewhat explained.
Here’s what to know about the Golden Bachelor contestant, and why she had to leave the show:
Who is Marina?
Unfortunately, this contestant left the first Golden Bachelor season before Bachelor Nation really got the chance to know her!
Marina, 60, is an educator based in Los Angeles. She has three master’s degrees, two kids, and two pets. I’d say she brought a *lot* to the table this season, and she made a few cameos in episode 1 that seemed promising for her future with Gerry.
Alas! She would’ve been a very good match for the Grandzaddy—as she loves to stay active through spin classes and hiking. Plus, she’s been to over 34 countries. The couple could’ve traveled together too! Oh, what could’ve been.
Marina posted a very brief explanation on her Instagram, writing, “Leaving the show was difficult, choosing family was not!”
Marina got a rose on Night One.
Marina’s exit was particularly confusing because she did receive a rose on Night One! She made a memorable impression last week, too. She wore a traditional (and beautiful) Indian sari among a sea of typical eveningwear.
Plus, she even brought up her daughter—who told her to tell Gerry that he was “dope.” Gerry definitely seemed to dig the compliment (and Marina).
What happened to Marina?
She was totally MIA last night during episode 2—and it wasn’t until ABC later shared a clip on social media that the audience finally got an answer to the mysterious disappearance.
Basically, the Golden Bachelor contestant had an urgent family matter to attend to—and regretfully had to leave the show.
“I’m a single mom and I had to choose my family,” Marina explained to Gerry over FaceTime in an ABC clip. Why wasn’t this included in the episode?! Boomers on FaceTime could be its own show!
“I totally understand,” Gerry tells Marina. “Commitment to family overrides just about everything else, and I really respect you for doing what you’ve done.”
It’s yet another sweet moment that I cannot imagine ever being included on the normal Bachelor or Bachelorette. Straightforward communication is yet another reason Gerry’s season is so Golden!
Why did Marina leave?
Again, Marina explained that she left because of an urgent family matter. Based on her Instagram, it seems Marina’s children are a bit younger than other contestants on the show.
Her son graduated from college in May 2022, and it appears her daughter may still be enrolled. Plus, it seems Marina’s family is pretty spread out around the globe (based on her Instagram feed), so she may have had to go elsewhere to attend to her family’s needs.
This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Gerry was very understanding of Marina’s decision. “I 100 percent agree that you need to put your family needs before everything else,” he told her over FaceTime. Marina was also happy that Gerry was so understanding of her departure.
“I think I needed to hear that,” Marina told Gerry of his kind words.
Marina will certainly be missed, but see new episodes of The Golden Bachelor every Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC (or next-day on Hulu) to see who Gerry ends up with once and for all!
News Editorial Assistant
Olivia Evans (she/her) is an editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Her work has previously appeared in The Cut and Teen Vogue. She loves covering topics where culture and wellness intersect. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, and watching rom-coms.
