The Golden Bachelorette season 1 couple Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple reached a brand-new milestone amid rumors that their relationship is merely a showmance. Joan, who was first introduced as part of Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor, went on a deeply personal journey of her own throughout her time as the lead of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, which included her initial hesitancy to get engaged. Though she chose Chock over Guy Gansert, and accepted his proposal, Joan has been accused of being a clout chaser and came under fire for bending too much to Chock’s will.

The Golden Bachelorette's Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple updated their followers with a huge new relationship milestone for the holidays.

In a new Instagram post, Joan shared that she and Chock are excited to celebrate their first Christmas as an engaged couple, revealing the sweet ornament the pair received from a friend. “Our first golden Christmas,” Joan shared. “Special thank you to my friend @kateslaytonlettering for this beautiful custom ornament!” The photos, showing Chock and Joan placing the ornament on the tree together, sparked some comments from followers and fans about how posed the situation seemed. While Joan and Chock are excited to be moving into the next phase of their lives, the speculation surrounding them is louder than ever.

As Joan and Chock move into the busy holiday season, they seem hopeful that their relationship will be able to stand the test of Bachelor Nation, who's been intent on poking holes in their happiness. While Chock and Joan have received from friends, like the woman who created their custom Christmas ornament, it's likely been difficult to see their ers genuinely struggle with their newfound love. While their families have been keeping themselves out of the spotlight, the photos the couple posted also featured a display of Christmas stockings with all of their children's and grandchildren's names, showing .

What Joan & Chock’s First Christmas Together Means For Relationship

They’re Taking Their Engagement Seriously

Although Joan and Chock appear excited about their first big holiday season together, the couple has been faced with a huge amount of speculation surrounding the validity of their relationship. Chock, who proposed to Joan during the finale of The Golden Bachelorette without knowing if she’d be choosing him in the end, has been upfront about his desire to be in the public eye, leaving many wary of his motivations. While Joan and Chock both seem like more public people, Joan has appeared to bend her will to Chock’s desires more often than otherwise thus far in their relationship.

While Joan and Chock seem to be excited about their future, the pair have been working hard to stay in the present. With Joan’s time as The Golden Bachelorette behind them, the couple have been open about the current state of their relationship and are getting ready for a busy holiday season. The Golden Bachelorette viewers and other of Bachelor Nation, however, seem to be concerned about how genuine the couple’s connection actually is. With some speculating Joan and Chock’s relationship is more of a showmance than a romance, there’s some concern about how genuine their social posts are.

Joan & Chock's Golden Bachelortte Journey, Explained

The Couple Were Quick To Spark

While The Golden Bachelorette had one of the most highly-anticipated premieres in Bachelor Nation history, the series quickly found it was struggling to meet audiences' expectations. Throughout the season, Joan got to know quite a few guys who were top contenders, but it was Chock who truly seemed to steal her heart. Though the couple had a bit of a rocky start during the early episodes of the season, Chock and Joan's connection became the strongest of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. The pair got to know each other well, discussing their past tragedies and family histories during their dates.

Though Joan always appeared to have a soft spot when it came to Chock, it was clear that she did have feelings for other guys throughout her season, as well. Joan and Chock were quick to push back against the criticism they received during the show once The Golden Bachelorette came to an end and they could openly talk about their relationship. While they understood where the criticism came from, they shared that they were happy in their relationship. Despite the critical input, they wanted to show who they truly were in the real world with their newly acquired freedom.

The Bachelor Nation Backlash Against Chock & Joan Has Been Tough

Viewers Are Convinced Their Romance Is A Showmance

While the backlash against Chock and Joan has occurred throughout The Golden Bachelorette season 1, things have been more intense after the show's finale. Chock, whose intentions many were cautious about throughout the season, seemed like he had a lot of red flags that wouldn't be conducive to a long-term relationship. Seemingly non-committal, Chock didn't appear to be over his late fiancée, and many wondered if he had ed The Golden Bachelorette season 1 cast to chase clout and find fame like the original Golden Bachelor lead. Chock's behavior was scrutinized by viewers, but he answered Bachelor Nation's burning questions.

Chock explained after the season's end that he wasn't shown in a favorable light on The Golden Bachelorette, and that the edit of the series had made him seem like more of a red flag than he was. Joan was also invested in defending her new fiancé from critics in Bachelor Nation. Both were clear that they were happy in their relationship, and though Chock seemed to have some serious red flags in the edit of the season, they'd addressed any issues they felt could pop up in their relationship. The backlash has continued, but Joan & Chock seem unbothered.

Our Take On Joan & Chock’s First Christmas Together

The Couple Seem Excited To Celebrate

As Joan and Chock take on the busy season, they appear to be ready to handle the speculation and attention that’s coming their way. Even so, it’s clear that the pair don’t realize or have chosen not to acknowledge how much attention their relationship is getting, especially in a negative sense. Joan’s consistent bending to Chock’s will is concerning, but it’s possible the couple are navigating their way through their relationship in a healthy way regardless of what The Golden Bachelorette viewers believe. While Joan and Chock have a lot to learn about one another, they seem to be happy.

Source: Joan Vassos/Instagram