JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select class="dropMenu">
  <option value="1">First</option>
  <option value="2">Second</option>
  <option value="3">Third</option>
  <option value="4">fourth</option>
</select>

JavaScript

var arr = [
  {val : 1, text: 'One'},
  {val : 2, text: 'Two'},
  {val : 3, text: 'Three'},
  {val : 4, text: 'Four'}
];

var sel = $('<select class="dropMenu">').appendTo('body');
$(arr).each(function() {
 sel.append($("<option>").attr('value',this.val).text(this.text));
});
$('.dropMenu option:nth-child(1)').attr('disabled', 'disabled').attr('selected', 'selected');