Jenn Trann: On Identity, Courage, and Creating a Life with Purpose
Faux fur : Loveshackfancy, earrings: Jessica Santander
Interview by Jennifer MacLellan
Creative Direction by Vanessa Coppes
Photography by Enrique Olivieri
Hair and Makeup by Jessica Bonilla
Styling by The Style Duo
Shot at Loews, South Beach
For our January Reset Issue, we recognize a woman who has quickly become one of reality TV’s most compelling voices. Jenn Tran first captured national attention through The Bachelor franchise and later made history as the first Asian American Bachelorette, using her platform to share her Vietnamese heritage with pride and authenticity.
She continued her momentum on Dancing with the Stars, where stepping outside her comfort zone revealed both her courage and her vulnerability in front of millions.
Now based in Miami, Jenn is entering a new chapter that blends purpose with personal growth. As a physician assistant student, she brings a science-first approach to beauty and wellness, championing ingredients like NAD and retinal while helping her audience understand the “why” behind skincare.
Her reflections on identity, love, and boundaries show a young woman who is rebuilding her world with clarity and intention, prioritizing family, connection, and long-term fulfillment.
Jenn Tran is more than a reality TV breakout. She is a voice redefining confidence, representation, and what it means to reset with purpose.
You became one of reality TV’s most memorable new voices, from The Bachelor franchise to making history as the first Asian American Bachelorette. How did stepping into such a public role shape the way you see yourself and the impact you want to make on screen?
Stepping into such a public role has become a defining part of who I am. For a long time, I felt ashamed of being different, of not fitting neatly into spaces that weren’t built with people like me in mind.
But as I’ve grown into my twenties and done deep personal work, I’ve learned not just to accept my identity, but to celebrate it. Being able to share my Vietnamese heritage on a national platform is something I never could have imagined, and it has filled me with immense pride.
What’s been most powerful is realizing that authenticity creates connection. I used to feel like I didn’t belong anywhere, but by showing up fully as myself, I’ve found community, and I’ve learned how to create it wherever I go. On and off screen, I want to continue doing that — showing people that their differences are something to be proud of, and that there is strength and beauty in being unapologetically yourself. I do it for every little girl out there who has ever felt out of place.
Top + skirt: Alice & Olivia, faux fur: Lulus, boots: Lulus, earrings: Baublebar
The Bachelorette introduced viewers to your authenticity, and Dancing with the Stars highlighted your strength and discipline. What did each of these experiences teach you about confidence and performing under pressure?
I truly believe that if you don’t feel pressure, you’re not challenging yourself enough. Strength and resilience aren’t built in moments of comfort; they’re built when you’re terrified and choose to show up anyway. Dancing with the Stars pushed me into completely unfamiliar territory. I had zero dance experience, zero onstage experience, and no background in performing at all.
Every show day, I was shaking, nauseous, and genuinely scared shitless — but it ended up being one of the most joyful experiences of my life. That taught me that confidence doesn’t come from being fearless; it comes from doing hard things even when you’re afraid. Growth lives right on the other side of discomfort, and sometimes the things that scare you the most end up bringing you the most joy.
Your love life has played out in very public settings, and you have approached that with honesty and grace. As you look toward a new year, what have you learned about dating, boundaries, and what a reset in your personal life looks like for you now?
My standards have been raised immensely high. Through dealing with such a tumultuous love life and finding self-love publicly in the last year, I have been dancing and finding that spark again. I have realized how much I can love myself. And with that comes the understanding that I will not accept any love that is less than what I can give to myself.
I am so incredibly happy and have filled my life with so much love in my hobbies, my friends, and my family that at this point any partner would need to add to my life in order for me to take that risk of being in love again. Because it is a risk to be that vulnerable. And trust me, I love to be in love — it is one of the best feelings in the world — but I am also so in love with the world I have created for myself.
Dress: Self-adore, shoes: Betsey Johnson, bracelets + earrings: Jessica Santander
You are also pursuing a career in healthcare as a physician assistant. How has your medical training influenced the way you think about beauty, wellness, and how you care for yourself beyond the cameras?
My medical training has completely changed how I approach beauty and wellness. I’m constantly researching — not just the aesthetics of a product, but the science behind it. Beauty is an industry, and while the branding and marketing can be fun, I look beyond that. I
In medicine, we are trained to treat the whole person, not just isolated symptoms. I take that same approach with skincare and wellness. Even if I love a particular ingredient, I evaluate the brand as a whole — their ethics, their transparency, and whether their values align with mine. If they don’t, I won’t support them. For me, self-care is about intention, integrity, and evidence-based choices.
Your interest in skincare blends your clinical studies with your passion for self-care. What inspired you to explore the beauty space, and where do you feel you can bring something new and useful to the conversation?
The beauty space is incredibly fun and creative, but it can also be overwhelming and misleading. There are so many voices telling people what to buy, often without truly understanding what those products do or why they’re effective. With my science and healthcare background, I noticed a huge gap between marketing and education.
What excites me is being able to bridge that gap. I can explain not just what a product is, but whether it’s appropriate for your skin type, how to layer it correctly, and what results are realistic. I want people to feel empowered and informed rather than confused or pressured. Education is what makes beauty truly accessible, and that is where I feel I can offer something meaningful and useful.
Ingredients like NAD and retinal are becoming more visible in skincare. What excites you about these advancements, and how do you make the science behind them approachable for your audience?
What’s exciting about ingredients like NAD and retinal is that they represent a shift in skincare from surface-level fixes to true cellular health and repair. Instead of just focusing on exfoliation or temporary plumping, these ingredients work at the biological level to improve how skin functions and ages over time.
NAD is essential for cellular energy and DNA repair. As we age, our skin is exposed to stressors like UV radiation, pollution, and inflammation, which cause NAD levels to naturally decline. That decline affects the skin’s ability to repair itself, maintain elasticity, and protect against premature aging. By supporting NAD pathways, skincare can help optimize cellular repair, improve resilience, and strengthen the skin barrier.
The result is skin that looks healthier, more even-toned, and more resistant to environmental stress — not just temporarily, but long term. To me, NAD is the ingredient that makes me most excited about skincare.
NAD and retinal reflect where modern skincare is headed: preventative, regenerative, and science-driven. I focus on making them approachable by explaining not just what they are, but who they are for, how to use them safely, and what results are realistic. When people understand the “why” behind an ingredient, skincare becomes less about chasing trends and more about building long-term skin health.
I want my success to feel shared, meaningful, and rooted in the relationships that matter most.
Top + pants: Chiara Boni La Petite Robe, earrings: Jessica Santander
This issue focuses on the idea of a reset. As you move into a new season in your career and personal life, what are you prioritizing for 2026?
I’m prioritizing family. After a year of intense personal growth and professional milestones, I have found so much joy in giving back to the people who have been with me from day one. My family has supported me through every chapter, long before any cameras were around.
Now, I am intentionally creating space to spend more time with them and bring them into the experiences I have been so fortunate to have. That grounding has become incredibly important to me. As I move into 2026, I want my success to feel shared, meaningful, and rooted in the relationships that matter most.
What makes Jenn Tran compelling is not just where she has been, but who she is becoming. Her reset is grounded in self-love, family, and the confidence that comes from creating a life she truly wants to live. Wherever her path leads next, she is stepping into her future with purpose, gratitude, and a renewed sense of self.
Coverup dress: My Beachy Side
Follow along:
IG @jenntran
TikTok @jenntranx