If you’ve spent any time on social media or tuned into ABC on a Monday night recently, you know the name Jenn Tran. She basically took over the reality TV world when she was announced as the lead for season 21 of The Bachelorette. But even with all that screen time, people are still constantly asking one thing: where is Jenn Tran from? It's a simple question with a layered answer. Honestly, depending on who you ask, you might hear "Miami," "New Jersey," or even "Vietnam." While all of those places play a role in her story, the truth is a bit more nuanced than a single pin on a map.
Where is Jenn Tran from originally?
Jenn was born and raised in Hillsdale, New Jersey. If you aren't familiar with it, Hillsdale is a quiet, suburban town in Bergen County. It’s the kind of place where you grow up playing sports and going to the local high school—which is exactly what she did. She graduated from Pascack Valley High School back in 2016.
During her time there, she wasn't just some background character. She was actually super active, playing both basketball and lacrosse. It’s kinda funny to imagine a future Bachelorette running around on a lacrosse field in Jersey, but that was her reality long before the red carpets and rose ceremonies.
A family journey from Vietnam
While Jersey is where she physically grew up, her cultural roots are deeply Vietnamese. Her parents were immigrants who moved from Vietnam to the United States to build a new life. Interestingly, her older brother, James, was actually born in Vietnam and came over with their parents. Jenn, however, was born here, making her a first-generation Vietnamese American.
She has been incredibly open about the struggles her family faced. Her parents arrived with almost nothing, and she’s often mentioned how much she admires their hustle. Her mom even sacrificed her own dreams of going to medical school just to make sure Jenn and James had everything they needed. That kind of pressure and love definitely shaped the person we see on TV today.
Where does Jenn Tran live now?
So, if she's from New Jersey, why do we always see her associated with palm trees and beach vibes?
Basically, Jenn is currently based in Miami, Florida.
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She moved down south for her graduate studies. Before she was handing out roses, she was hitting the books at Barry University. She's in an intense Physician Assistant (PA) program there. It’s a grueling path—one that she actually had to put on pause twice to film The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.
Living in Miami seems to suit her style. If you check her Instagram, she’s always paddleboarding, traveling, or hanging out by the water. But don't let the beach photos fool you; she’s still very much a student. In early 2025, she headed back to Miami to finish up her clinical rotations so she could finally graduate and start her career in medicine.
The Midwest connection
Before the Miami heat, Jenn spent some significant time in the Midwest. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in molecular biology in 2020.
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She wasn't just a science nerd, though. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and even served as the Red Dress Chairman, helping raise over $30,000 for women's heart health. She also spent two years at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Wisconsin. So, she’s lived a bit of a nomadic life for someone so young.
Why her background matters so much
When people ask where is Jenn Tran from, they are often looking for the context behind her history-making role. Jenn became the first-ever Asian American lead in the history of the Bachelor franchise. That is a massive deal for a show that has struggled with diversity for decades.
Growing up in a "very white suburban town" in New Jersey, Jenn admitted she didn't see many people who looked like her on television. It made her feel like she had to hide her culture sometimes. Seeing her speak Vietnamese with her mom on national television or seeing a table full of traditional Vietnamese food during a date was a huge moment for representation.
- Bicultural Identity: She identifies as fully Asian and fully American.
- Religion: She grew up in a Buddhist household.
- Bilingual: She is fluent in both English and Vietnamese.
Misconceptions about her "hometown"
There’s often a bit of confusion during the show because "hometown dates" don't always happen in the lead's actual hometown. For Jenn, her family is the center of her world, regardless of where they are currently living.
Some viewers thought she might be from Boston because she worked as a clinical care technician at Tufts Medical Center for a couple of years after college. While she definitely has a connection to the East Coast, she hasn't called it home in a while.
Then there's the "Miami vs. Jersey" debate. In the reality TV world, you're usually "from" wherever you currently live. But for Jenn, New Jersey is the foundation, and Miami is where she’s building her future.
Practical takeaways for fans
If you're following Jenn's journey or just curious about her background, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Don't assume current location is origin. Just because someone is based in Miami doesn't mean they didn't grow up in the snow in Jersey.
- Representation is a process. Jenn’s presence on screen is helping change the narrative for Asian Americans in media, but as she’s pointed out, there’s still a long way to go.
- Career comes first. Despite the fame, she’s been very clear that her goal is to become a Physician Assistant. She’s slated to graduate in 2025 and seems determined to balance the "influencer" life with a real-world medical career.
The next time you see her on screen, you'll know that "where she's from" isn't just a city—it's a mix of New Jersey grit, Vietnamese tradition, and a lot of hard work in the library.