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 $this = $(this);

    $('p a').each(function () {
        $this.append('<option value="">' + $(this).text() + '</option>');
    });
}

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