During her personal outing with Gerry Turner, a fitness instructor of 64 years donned a noticeable Star of David as a prominent accessory.
Hey Alma’s editors have acknowledged the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza, expressing their intention to provide support and resources to their community during this difficult time. In addition to their guide on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tips for reliable news sources, community events for grieving, and playlists of Jewish songs with messages of healing and hope, they also aim to offer moments of relief from the constant stream of negative news. With that in mind, one of their articles aims to provide some light-hearted content for Bachelor Nation fans. The author reflects on their journey following the show and discusses various Jewish contestants, such as Jason Alabaster, Gabby Windey, Ariel Frenkel, and comedian Robby Hoffman.
However, my excitement for these moments was always dampened by the toxic nature of the “Bachelor” franchise. The finale of Zach Shallcross’ season was particularly strange and disgusting, leading me to finally call it quits. I realized that the negative aspects of the show outweighed the positives.
But now, there is one reason pulling me back in: Leslie from “The Golden Bachelor.” If you haven’t been following, “The Golden Bachelor” is a variation of the regular “Bachelor” show, but with a mature twist. The star of the show is Gerry Turner, a charming 71-year-old man who tragically lost his wife, Toni, in 2017 after 43 years of marriage. Cue the tears.
Gerry is now on a quest to find love again, amongst a group of “Golden Bachelor” contestants whose ages range from 60 to 75. And that’s where Leslie comes in. You need to see her lively entrance from the limousine here. Leslie Fhima, a spirited 64-year-old fitness instructor from Minneapolis, has not been shy about displaying her Jewish heritage on national television. In multiple episodes, she proudly wore her Star of David necklace, including during her adventurous ATV-riding one-on-one date in the latest episode. Meanwhile, the other contestants engaged in a spirited game of “Never Have I Ever” that is definitely worth watching.
Though the conversation didn’t touch on her Jewish background during the aired episode, Gerry and Leslie developed a genuine and vulnerable connection. Gerry expressed how he felt that Leslie was opening up to him, sharing a piece of herself, and it created a warm and affectionate closeness between them. The date ended with Leslie accepting Gerry’s rose and sharing a steamy kiss in a hot tub.
Looking forward to the upcoming hometowns episode, I’m excited to learn more about Leslie and her family (fingers crossed she makes it there). But for now, let me provide a brief overview of what we already know about her. It’s quite clear from her career choice that Leslie is a fitness enthusiast. She was a professional figure skater, achieved the title of national aerobics champion at the young age of 25, and has conquered ten marathons. This exceptional woman shatters any stereotypes that Jews aren’t talented athletes. Additionally, Leslie is also a devoted mom!
Leslie is a proud mother of three wonderful children, Elijah, Chloe, and Zack. She also takes immense joy in being a loving “glama” to her adorable grandkids, Jackson, Sofia, and Yoseph. Adding to her delightful family is her cute mini Aussiedoodle companion named Billie. During the show, Leslie reveals to Gerry that she has been enjoying the single life for the past 22 years. However, wait for it, before officially embracing singlehood, Leslie had the remarkable experience of dating none other than the legendary Prince! Yes, you read that correctly. As per her son, Prince even dedicated the song “Sexy Dancer” to her, although the relationship didn’t last. Leslie’s celebrity connections don’t stop there; she also happens to personally know Yung Gravy and has had the incredible opportunity to attend concerts of the iconic Lady Gaga and the talented Post Malone. It goes without saying that Leslie is undeniably one cool and fascinating woman. With all that being said, we can’t help but hope for a future filled with happiness for both Gerry and Leslie!
