It’s that time again: The new Bachelorette is here. We said, the new Bachelorette is here!
Okay, so it might not be that exciting for some of you (this is, after all, the 128th season or so), but for the rest of us who aren’t as cynical as all get out, this clearly means the beginning of so much good stuff.
(LIST: See the best moments in reality-TV history)
We can just imagine it now: the man-fights, the tears, the repeated statements of “I never knew it would be this hard,” over choked-out sobs. Followed, of course, by true love and a fairy-tale proposal (ideally, anyway).
Now before Monday night’s premiere, here are four quick things you need to know about this season’s Bachelorette, 26-year-old Ashley Hebert:
1) She’s been through this before. Hebert was a contestant on last season’s The Bachelor, where she vied for the attention of serial-Bachelor Brad Womack. While she made it pretty far into the competition (number three!), her reticence about her feelings for Womack ultimately did her in. Well, that and the fact that he was already clearly in love with Emily Maynard from day one, but enough about that. It’s Ashley’s turn now!
2) She was one of the saner ones on The Bachelor. Okay, okay, so being one of the most sane participants on a reality show shouldn’t really be a feat — but hear us out. She was one of the least catty ladies on the show, making friends with almost everyone in the house. She was also (usually) fun and sweet on her dates. Though she had some mini-meltdowns over her relationship with Womack and her jealousy, we forgive her because, hey, that’s just good television.
3) She’s a smarty pants. According to her online bio, Hebert graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maine with a BS in biology and will graduate in May from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine with a 3.96 GPA.
4) She hails from Madawaska, Maine. Hebert grew up in the small town near the Canadian border. She also loves poutine, a French-Canadian specialty, which she shared with Womack when he visited her hometown in one of the final episodes of their relationship. Why is this important? Because poutine is delicious, that’s why.
(PHOTOS: Inside a reality TV expo)
Now that you’ve been briefed on The Bachelorette’s leading lady, all you need to do is tune in to meet the 25 eligible bachelors she’ll be meeting.
And check back Tuesdays for NewsFeed’s recaps of all the Bachelor-y debauchery.