JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<p>
    <a href="#">option1</a>
    <a href="#">option2</a>
    <a href="#">option3</a>
</p>

<select  id="select">
    
</select>

JavaScript

$.fn.populate = function() {
    var option1 = $('p a:eq(0)').text();
    var option2 = $('p a:eq(1)').text();
    var option3 = $('p a:eq(2)').text();
  $(this)
    .append('<option value="">' + option1 + '</option>')
    .append('<option value="">' + option2 + '</option>')
    .append('<option value="">' + option3 + '</option>')
}

$('#select').populate();