Bachelorette 7 Media - No Discussion

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s78/the-bachelorette/interviews/a320241/the-bachelorette-qa-ashley-talks-brad-new-men.html

The Bachelorette' Q&A: Ashley talks Brad, new men

Ashley Hebert might have bid farewell to Brad Womack on the last season of The Bachelor when she failed to make his final two in South Africa, but now she's back and ready to find love again as the star of her own season of The Bachelorette! The 27-year-old dental student, who previously said that she is "very open minded" about what she likes in a man, will meet her 25 bachelors on next Monday's season premiere before enjoying a string of romantic dates at exotic locations around the world...

Are you happy and did you find love?
"All those questions are things you'll have to tune in to find out. I will say I'm happy with the way things turned out with me, but you'll have to tune in and see the rollercoaster."

What was it like being on the other side of things this time?
"Going into it, I knew I would have a whole other set of hard times but I didn't expect it to be as difficult as it was. I definitely learned a lot about myself. I guess I prefer to be on this side but it was not easy at times, that's for sure."

How were you feeling going into the first night?
"I was so much more nervous for this one… When I was on The Bachelor, I kind of feel like you have nothing to lose. You are going into it open minded and you are excited about the experience, but walking into this one, it's more serious and there are a lot more things I have to figure out and a lot more pressure. I'm definitely a lot more nervous for this one."

Did you go into this thinking about settling down and marriage if you met the man of your dreams?
"I'd reached a point in my life that I knew if I were to meet the right person I'd be ready but only if I met somebody who made me feel like I was ready. Going into this I definitely had the mindset. I had my career in place, felt good about where I'm at on a personal level, felt like I had a lot to offer and was in a good mindset about being in a committed relationship. So I felt prepared but only if I met the right guy."

What were your first impressions of the men on this season?
"I went into it having not low expectations but I didn't know what to expect. After the guys got out of the limo, I was blown away! At that point I didn't know them that well but physically, they were gorgeous to me! After getting to know them, I have some great guys. I personally think they are the best they've ever had!"

There were some characters on your season. How did the guys in the house compare to the women on your season?
"I don't want to give too much away but I will tell you they did a really good job of selecting all different types of guys with different personalities and different careers. That's all I will say. Tune in and you will die!"

What traits did you want to see in the guys?
"I'm looking for somebody I feel like I can trust; somebody loyal and a family man, and I said that going into it. I don't know, I guess I'm kind of being redundant here, but I just wanted somebody who makes me feel. I live my life on my gut and intuition and I've learned to trust that and it's led me to some really great places. I'm looking for somebody who makes me feel, you know?"

In hindsight, how do you think Brad compared to the guys on this season and do you think now he just wasn't the right guy for you?
"I think Brad is a great guy but we both needed different things in our life and especially after meeting all these men, I realized how Brad wasn't the best fit for me and I wasn't the best fit for Brad. I definitely see a lot of things in these men that I think are better suited for me and my personality and lifestyle. I definitely realize Brad wasn't the right guy for me. One of the big things about Brad is he was older and very settled in and I was looking for somebody to create a new life with together. The way I felt was that Brad was looking for somebody to fit into this life - not to say it's a bad thing but it wasn't what I was looking for."

Can you give us any teasers about the dates this season?
"One of my favorite group dates was in Thailand. We actually renovated an orphanage which was the most rewarding and exciting group date I went on; it's something I will remember for the rest of my life. Without pinpointing a date, we had a lot of cultural dates and I feel I learned a lot about different cultures, and to go through that with some of the guys who are traveling to these places for the first time too was educational and romantic at the same time."

Did you get any advice from former bachelorettes or bachelors?
"No, I didn't actually. I think I got advice from my past self! To make sure I left without any regrets. I know that's cliché but that's what I went into it thinking."

How did you fit filming into your school schedule?
"I did take time off from school. I'm probably just a few months behind with my requirements but I actually graduated technically two days ago! I'm going to be making up the time I lost this summer and then I'll have my diploma and be ready to go."

http://www.film.com/tv/bachelorette-ashley-hebert-i-wasnt-my-best-self-on-the-bachelor#fbid=EZubtiXVnkZ

Bachelorette Ashley Hebert: I Wasn’t My Best Self On The Bachelor

Pamela Sitt

May 18, 2011

Here we are, back on The Bachelorette train even though we kind of want to boycott anything remotely having to do with Brad Womack. Blah.

New Bachelorette Ashley Hebert spoke to reporters Wednesday to promote her season, premiering Monday on ABC. Let’s start with the obvious question: Why would we want to tune in to a show starring a girl who frankly didn’t make the best impression on The Bachelor?

Some people were disappointed that you were chosen to be The Bachelorette.

Oh gosh. I think even from watching myself from last season I was thinking, who would want to date someone who was looking insecure in relationships? I really felt like I wasn’t my best self. I was worried that people would find out it was me and want to leave.

Why did you change your hair color?

I always get this question, it’s so funny. The day I got back from filming The Bachelor, I colored my hair back to my natural (brown) color. I guess in a way I went with the blonde to try something different. When I left (The Bachelor) I wanted to start feeling like myself again. I was probably blonde for four or five months.

Are you happy, did you find love, are you engaged?

I’ll say I’m happy with the way things turned out for me, You’ll have to tune in to see everything.

Were you happy with the guys they selected? What was your first impression?

After the guys walked out of the limo, I was blown away. Physically they were gorgeous to me. After getting to know them, I have some great guys.

How does Brad compare to the guys on your season?

I think Brad is a great guy but we both needed different things in our life. I realized Brad wasn’t the best fit for me. I see a lot of things in these men that are better suited for me and my lifestyle.

How does the drama among the bachelors in the house compare to the bachelorettes from your season?

Oh, gosh, I will tell you that they do a really good job of selecting all different types of guys. Interesting personalities…that’s all I’ll say.

You had a roller coaster ride on The Bachelor. Was there ever a moment (on The Bachelorette) when you wanted to quit and go home and be done?

There was definitely a roller-coaster. There wasn’t ever a moment when I wanted to give it all up. There were definitely moments when I thought, did I make the right decision? Am I strong enough to do this?

During your time on The Bachelor, you said you regretted how you closed yourself off. How were you different on The Bachelorette?

I went into it saying I don’t want to leave with any regrets. I’m going to put it all out there. I think I learned a lot from Brad’s season.

Can you give a specific example?

One of the big things with Brad is because he’s older he’s very settled in, and I was looking for somebody to create a new life together. Brad was looking for someone to fit into his life and that wasn’t what I was looking for.

What are the traits you’re looking for in a guy?

I’m looking for somebody I can trust, someone really loyal and a family man. I just want someone to make me feel. I live my life off of my gut and my intuition, and I’ve learned to trust that.

Did you have a frontrunner early on?

Without obviously saying too much I have to say there were points in time when I thought I had a frontrunner, but things change quickly. They go up and down and back and forth.

Do you break some hearts this time?

I feel like with every Bachelor or Bachelorette there are broken hearts. But it goes both ways. And you’ll have to tune in to see what I mean by that.

What did you learn about yourself from The Bachelorette?

I learned that I do not like to break up with people.

Do you think there are any guys from your season who will be good on The Bachelor next season?

I think any of them could be The Bachelor next season. They are great.

http://www.cominguprosesblog.com/2011/05/ashley-hebert-talks-about-being-the-bachelorette.html

05/18/2011

Ashley Hebert Talks About Being 'The Bachelorette'

Adorable Ashley Hebert took some time out of her day to talk about being the next "Bachelorette". She literally just finished taping her season, and isn't giving away very much at all!

She refused to say if she found love this season and said "Well, you'll have to watch to find out" almost more times than I could count! They really want to make this season suspenseful for us!

I asked her if she could tell us if she found love and if she was engaged and she said that she couldn't say about either of those things but, "I'm happy with the way things turned out for me." That could pretty much mean anything!

Next, I asked her if she happened to not pick anyone or didn't end up with someone in the end, if she would ever give it a second go-around like Brad Womack. Ashley said, "In all honesty, I’d have to say that once is probably enough, I have a whole new respect for Brad for going through it twice."

Ashley added that being "The Bachelorette" as opposed to just being one of many bachelorettes on Brad's season of "The Bachelor" was a lot of pressure. She said that she was much more nervous for this first cocktail mixer party than she was when she first met Brad. She says that she looked at this one much more seriously because she knew she had all of their feelings and basically, their futures in her hands.


Ashley was also thrilled with the crop of guys that she got this season and said that it actually made her realize that she and Brad were never a good match and that she found even more qualitites that she would like in a partner in these guys.

Tomorrow, I'll share the full transcript with you and we'll talk about some of her favorite dates!

http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/bachelorette-ashley-hebert-best-guys-ever-2011185

Bachelorette Ashley Hebert: Best Guys Ever!

It's raining men!

ABC's new Bachelorette Ashley Hebert had her heart broken by last season's Bachelor, Brad Womack. But now that the tables are turned, the 26-year-old dental student gets to choose from the 25 guys vying for her affection.

PHOTOS: Hot Bachelor bodies

How do they measure up to previous guys on The Bachelor? At a Wednesday press conference, Hebert gushed that they're "the best guys [the show] has ever had."

"Coming into it, I just wanted a good man who's loyal, a family man," she explains. "But through this experience, I realized more things that I wanted. I want someone who makes me feel."

PHOTOS: Bachelor stars' scandalous pasts!

Hebert's suitors include "a variety of men, different personalities, different jobs." She adds: "Physically, they were gorgeous!"

"I didn't expect it to be so difficult," Hebert said. "I really found that I don't like breaking up with someone. I have a physical reaction to breaking up with someone."

VIDEO: Inside Brad and Emily's rocky romance

So did Hebert find love the second time around? "I'm happy with the way things turned out for me," she hints. "Through the experience you learn so much about yourself, and what you want. You're going to have to tune in for the roller coaster ride!"

The Bachelorette premieres Monday, May 23 on ABC.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ashley-hebert-i-dont-have-any-regrets-about-upcoming-the-bachelorette-12299.php

Ashley Hebert: I don't have any regrets about upcoming 'The Bachelorette'

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/18/2011

After getting rejected by Brad Womack on last season's edition of The Bachelor, Ashley Hebert will begin her own televised search for love when the seventh edition of The Bachelorette, which wrapped filming last week, premieres Monday, May 23 at 9PM ET/PT on ABC

During a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Reality TV World talked to Ashley about her upcoming Bachelorette experience -- including how challenging it was for her to really put herself out there after she regretted being closed off emotionally on The Bachelor, how she felt the men who fought for her affection compared and contrasted to Brad and whether she still has any feelings for him, and why she got the makeover she publicly debuted on The Bachelor's The Women Tell All special.

Reality TV World: During your time on The Bachelor with Brad, you said you regretted how closed off you were and there were times where you just had trouble expressing how you felt. How would you say that's different from your behavior on The Bachelorette? Did you really try to put yourself out there this time around and if so, how challenging was that?

Ashley Hebert: Oh, it was not easy. I'll tell you that. But I went into it saying, "I don't want to leave with any regrets. If I do fall in love, I'm going to go... I'm just going to put it all out there for the risk of being hurt." I think I learned a lot from Brad's season, and I had no regrets. I don't have any regrets.

Reality TV World: Based on the commercials ABC has been airing, some of the men on your season seem really impressive. How do you feel in hindsight that Brad compares to them? Are you confidence now that Brad just wasn't the right guy for you or do you think you still might have some leftover feelings for him?

Ashley Hebert: I mean, I think Brad is a great guy, but I think we both needed different things in our life. Especially after meeting all of these men, I realize how Brad wasn't the best fit for me, and I wasn't the best fit for Brad.

I definitely see a lot of things in these men that I think are better suited for me and my personality and my lifestyle. So, yeah. I definitely realized that Brad probably wasn't the right guy for me.

Reality TV World: Would you be able to give a couple of examples of how they might be better suited for you?

Ashley Hebert: Yeah, definitely. So, one of the big things about Brad was that he was older and he was very settled in. I was looking for somebody to create a life with -- a new life together.

I think the way I felt was that, I don't know. I felt like Brad was looking for somebody to fit in his life and not to say that that's a bad thing, it just wasn't what I was looking for.

Reality TV World: During The Bachelor's After the Final Rose special, viewers saw your new drastically-different look for the first time. I know you said you wanted a change and your hair color was basically returning to your roots, but was there any particular reason behind the change? Was it symbolic of a new direction in your life or anything like that?

Ashley Hebert: I always get this question. It's so funny. Actually, the day I got back from filming The Bachelor, I colored my hair back to my natural [color] and that's what you saw. It had been that way for a few months, so it was new to everyone else, but not so much to me and my friends.

But you know, I guess in a way, I went with the blonde to try something different and then I just felt like at the end of the day, it's about going back to who you are. When I left, I wanted to start feeling like myself again, and I think maybe you're right. I think symbolically, that's why I went back to the brown. I feel more like myself.

Reality TV World: How long had you been blonde for?

Ashley Hebert: Not very long. I was probably blonde for -- it was a progressive thing, you know? It started off with highlights and then it got a little bit more blonde -- probably like four or five months.

Reality TV World: You've mentioned what some of your favorite locations and dates were during the show, but what happened to be your least favorite?

Ashley Hebert: My least favorite? Oh gosh. I don't know. Okay. I know this is going to -- I know you might think I'm not telling the truth, but I really, really loved every place that I went to. I haven't traveled that much, so every location was new and exciting to me. I honestly can say that I loved every location.

Also in the call, Ashley told reporters what she thought it was like to be on the other side of the equation and make all the choices, whether she ever considered quitting the show, what her plans are for the near future regarding a career in dentistry, and why she worried at first that the men wouldn't like her.

What was it like being on the other side of things this time around? Was it more difficult then you had expected to be the one making the choices?

Ashley Hebert: Oh gosh, I mean, yeah. Going into it, I knew that I'd have a whole other set of kind of hard times, but I didn't expect it to be as difficult as it was. But I definitely learned a lot about myself, so I guess I'd prefer to be on this side, but it was not easy at times, that's for sure.

Are you happy? Did you find love? Are you engaged?

Ashley Hebert: Well, all those things are questions you'll have to tune in to find out, but I'll say that I'm happy with the way things turned out for me. But yeah, you'll have to tune in and see everything -- the rollercoaster.

If you didn't end up picking someone, would you be willing to do the show again like Brad or is once enough?

Ashley Hebert: Oh gosh, in all honesty, I'd have to say once is probably enough. (Laughs) I really really have a whole new respect for Brad for going through it twice.

How were your feelings going into the initial cocktail reception for your season different from your feelings going into the initial cocktail reception of Brad's season?

Ashley Hebert: Oh gosh. I was so much more nervous for this one. (Laughs)

Were they nerves because you were excited or scared?

Ashley Hebert: Well, I mean when I was on The Bachelor, you kind of feel like you have nothing to lose. You're going in open-minded and you're excited about the experience, but you know, walking into this one, it's more serious and there's a lot more things I have to figure out. There's a lot more pressure, so I'm definitely a lot more nervous for this one.

You said the experience was a rollercoaster ride, so was there ever a time you just wanted to quit and be done with the show?

Ashley Hebert: Oh gosh. I'll tell you that it was definitely a rollercoaster and not all bad. You know, some of it had to do with just being away from home and being away from friends. There wasn't ever a moment where I wanted to give it all up, because I knew how great of an experience it was.

I thought that hopefully I would look back and be really happy that I went through it, but there were definitely hard moments where I thought, "Did I make the right decision? Am I strong enough to do this?" But overall, I think I knew I wanted to push through.

Did you experience any jealousy amongst the men like you witnessed during your season on The Bachelor when many of the women would get upset he was dating and showing affection for numerous girls at once?

Ashley Hebert: Well, to be honest, I feel like a lot of the time, the guys spend more time with each other than they do with me, obviously living together. So, I didn't see that much. There were definitely moments where I saw that, but not nearly as much as I thought I would see it -- or not nearly as much as it happens with the women. (Laughs) It's wrong!

In terms of the drama, how do the men in the house compare to the women during your season?

Ashley Hebert: Oh gosh. I will tell you this. I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you that they did a really good job of selecting all different types of guys with different personalities with interesting careers -- interesting personalities -- that's all I'll say. I mean tune in, and you're going to die. (Laughs)

Were you happy with the guys they selected for you? What were your first impressions of them?

Ashley Hebert: I went into it kind of having, not low expectations, but kind of -- I didn't know what to expect. But after the guys walked out of the limo, I was blown away.At that point, I didn't know them that well, but physically, they were gorgeous to me and after getting to know them, I mean, I have some great guys. I personally think the best that they've ever had. (Laughs)

Were you looking for something in particular in the guys or did you find that what you were looking for changed as the show progressed?

Ashley Hebert: I think what I realized that is I went into it saying I wanted just a good man, and somebody who's loyal and a family man. I think, as time went on, there were more things that I saw in the guys that I wanted.

But most importantly, what I realized was that I wanted somebody that made me feel good and made me feel like a woman -- made me feel like I was able to be vulnerable. So, yeah, as time went on, I definitely started to realize more about what I wanted.

What was the decision process like for you when you were given the opportunity to be the next Bachelorette?

Ashley Hebert: Okay, so I'll tell you what I went through. When I was first approached about it, I thought, "No question in my mind. Absolutely. I would do it if everything worked out."

And then I started to question, "Am I strong enough for this? Am I at a good place in my life for this? I'm going to have to take more time off from school." I just weighed the pros and cons and then at the end of the day, I realized that I wanted to do it. The pros outweighed the cons.

What are some of the qualities you're looking for in these guys?

Ashley Hebert: I'm looking for someone that I really feel like I can trust, somebody that's really loyal and a family man. I said that going into it, and I don't know. I guess I'm being kind of redundant here, but I just want somebody that makes me feel.

I live my life off of my gut and intuition, and I've really learned to trust that. I think it's led me to some really great places. So, I'm just looking for somebody that makes me feel, you know? Yeah. That's kind of where my head is at.

Did you take time off from school or how did you fit in into your schedule? Also, do you plan on finishing school?

Ashley Hebert: I did take time off from school. I'm probably just 15 months behind with my requirements, but I actually graduated technically two days ago. (Laughs) But yeah, I'm going to be making up the time that I lost this summer. Then, I'll have my diploma and be ready to go.

How will the man you picked fit into that?

Ashley Hebert: That's something you'll just have to wait and see.

Did you make money from the show that you could use to pay off your bills from dental school?

Ashley Hebert: People are always wondering that! I think that is kind of a personal question, but I can tell you that I will not be able to pay off dental school. (Laughs)

You mentioned you graduated, so do you have any specific plans for the near future regarding your career?

Ashley Hebert: Yeah, at this point, I really have no plans. The United States is my oyster. So, I'm going to start taking the steps to figure out what I want to do and where I want to be. But I'm still very open-minded about everything. So, we'll see where life takes me!

ABC's press release said you were worried in the beginning that the men wouldn't like you. Why did you feel like that?

Ashley Hebert: Oh, gosh. So, I think even from watching myself last season, I was thinking, "Who would want to date somebody that is looking insecure in relationships and unsure," and I just really feel like I wasn't my best self.

So, knowing who I am, I have confidence in me as The Bachelorette, but I didn't think that somebody watching would know that, so I was worried that some people would find out it was me and then want to leave.

Once you met all the men, did that fear go away?

Ashley Hebert: Oh, absolutely. The men were great and are great. Yeah, they made me feel everything that a woman wants to feel, especially somebody that's going into it with a little bit of insecurity about everything that happened on The Bachelor.

Could you tell us about your favorite dates or locations, obviously without mentioning with whom you went on them with?

Ashley Hebert: Some of my favorites? Gosh, I had so many favorites. I would have to say one of my favorite group dates was we were in Thailand and we actually renovated a children's orphanage, and that was the most rewarding and probably the most exciting group dates that I went on.

It's something that I'll remember for the rest of my life, and then I'll say overall -- without pinpointing a specific date -- we had a lot of cultural dates. We went to marketplaces, and I feel that I learned a lot about different cultures.

I feel like to go through that with some of the guys, and they're traveling to some of these places for the first time as well, it was very educational and romantic at the same time.

Do you have any really interesting characters like Madison Garton from The Bachelor that you could set up for us?

Ashley Hebert: Uh, yes. I'll tell you that we do have somebody that is similar to, kind of Madison, I guess. Without giving away too much about him, he wanted to -- basically, he did something that made me get to know him on a deeper level, not so much the physical. You'll have to wait and see for that.

Did you go into the show thinking that if you met the man of your dreams, you would be ready to settle down and get married or was it more of a casual experience for you than that?

Ashley Hebert: Okay, so, going into this, I reached the point in my life where if I knew I were to meet the right person, I would be ready -- if I were to meet somebody that made me feel like I was ready. But going into this, I definitely had the mindset that I know I have my career in place.

I feel really good with where I'm at on a personal level, I feel like I have a lot to offer, and I have a great mindset about soon being in a committed relationship. So, going into it, I felt like I was prepared on the outside but only if I were to meet the right guy.

Are you going to at some point pursue your dental career or was going on the show a way for you, like many other people who have been on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, to maybe dive into a career in entertainment?

Ashley Hebert: Oh, gosh. I don't think I would be a good entertainer. I'll tell you that, but no. I'm actually looking to go straight into dentistry. I will be getting my degree very shortly and I don't have any plans on doing anything entertainment [related].

On the past two seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Ally Fedotowsky and Brad both said they fell for the people they chose early in the season. Did you have a frontrunner early on and did that change along the way?

Ashley Hebert: How do I answer this? Without saying too much, I have to say that there were points in time where I thought that I had a frontrunner and things change quickly. I'll tell you that. They go up and down and back and forth. Yeah, that's all that I'm going to say.

Did you break some hearts? Are there some emotional episodes coming our way?

Ashley Hebert: Yeah, I mean, I feel like with every Bachelor or Bachelorette, there are broken hearts. It's no different, and I'll tell you that it goes both ways, and you'll have to tune in to see what I mean by that.

Did you learn anything from being on the show or did you grow at all?

Ashley Hebert: Oh definitely. I can't even tell you, and it's hard to explain if you haven't been through it, but you learn so much about yourself and I think that you take -- whether you're with somebody or not in the end -- you really take steps to getting there or realizing what you want in a relationship and how to be in a really committed relationship.

When it came to the dates where you traveled, did they take into account places you really wanted to go to or see, or did they surprise you with the trips?

Ashley Hebert: I believe they just surprised me. If they had taken anything into consideration, I didn't know. (Laughs) I love being surprised. That's something that I realized about myself too. So, just take me anywhere and I'll be happy.

http://www.accesshollywood.com/the-final-45-may-18-2011_video_1328312

http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/review--the-bachelorette-523-2011185





Review | The Bachelorette

Air Date: Monday 5/23

Another Bachelor reject trades up! This time, it's Ashley Hebert, the Philadelphia dental student who says she was "devastated" when Brad Womack dumped her. Though Hebert came off whiny at times during her Bachelor run, she shows an appealing pluck assessing her 25 hunky suitors. Her playful interactions with the wild cards (like the dude who insists on wearing a mask as "a statement") should help make this go-round unpredictable and fun. (ABC, 9 p.m.)

-- JOHN GRIFFITHS

http://tvgrapevine.com/index.php/abc/291-the-bachelorette-2011/10751-the-bachelorette-ashley-hebert-interviewed

The Bachelorette: Ashley Hebert Interviewed

Ashley Hebert, the dental student from Philly is taking on the new role as The Bachelorette, which airs Monday on ABC, immediately following Dancing With The Stars. As always, we can be promised lots of drama, tears and of course dramatic rose ceremonies.

But don't expect her to pursue a career in entertainment. In a press conference, she revealed that she is only a few classes shy of getting her diploma from dental school (she technically graduated only days ago, so congratulations!) and that is where her true love and focus is.

As for what to expect this season, Ashley says she left with no regrets and we will have to wait and see what happens and who she chooses to receive the final rose---and her heart. She cannot reveal much, but she says that her perspective on what she wanted in a man changed as time went on, although she still wants a good, loyal family man. She also is very happy with the way things turned out, despite the experience being more difficult than she anticipated.

The hardest thing? Breaking up, since it impacts her both physically and emotionally.

To find out more about Ashley and the men who are trying to win her heart, be sure to tune into the Bachelor Monday at 9pm only on ABC.

'The Bachelorette': Ashley Hebert's Heartbreaking Loss Revealed

Emily Maynard from The Bachelor is not the only one to have suffered a loss before appearing on one of the ABC dating reality series. Ashley Hebert, from the upcoming season of The Bachelorette, also suffered a heartbreaking loss. That loss has now been revealed in a recent report.

Hollywood Life revealed on Wednesday that just weeks before she started her journey on The Bachelor featuring Brad Womack, she had her first love die. She had been broken up with him, but she found out about his death just before the series began filming the season. A friend said the following: "She was really beside herself. She kept wondering how things could have gone differently. She was asking herself questions, thinking that if she'd stayed with Joe, he wouldn't have ended up in California, and maybe wouldn't have developed the condition."

Ashley chose to keep this loss to herself during the season, but the information has now come out. During the season, Emily Maynard's own story of loss was shown on the series, and it was a focus, but Ashley decided to keep this personal and private information to herself.

Is she now ready to move on and find love with a new man? Will the death of her ex impact her time on the series? During The Bachelor, Ashley was quite emotional. Some might even call her dramatic, but this new information does shed new light on this behavior, and it does explain it. Will she be able to keep her emotions in check on the season of The Bachelorette? Viewers will have to tune in and watch once the season premieres on Monday night.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20495722,00.html

Ashley Hebert: It's Not Easy Being The Bachelorette

Ashley Hebert played it safe on the 15th season of The Bachelor – and lost the chance to win Brad Womack's heart.

Now the University of Pennsylvania dental school graduate is back to star in the new season of The Bachelorette. While speaking with reporters Wednesday, the Maine native repeatedly referred to the experience as a "rollercoaster" – and played it coy when asked whether or not she found love. Just days after wrapping her season, the Bachelorette looks back at her journey.


How did you decide to become the next Bachelorette?

When I was first approached about it, I thought – no question in my mind – absolutely I would do it if everything worked out. Then I started to question, "Am I strong enough for this? Am I at a good place in my life for this? I'm going to have to take more time off school." I just weighed the pros and cons. Then at the end of the day, I realized that I wanted to do it and the pros outweighed the cons.

What was it like being on the other side of things?

Going into it, I knew that I'd have a whole other set of hard times, but I didn't expect it to be as difficult as it was ... I guess I prefer to be on this side, but it was not easy at times – that's for sure! ... When I was on The Bachelor, I felt like I kind of had nothing to lose. You're going into it open minded and you're excited about the experience. Walking into this one, it's more serious and there's a lot more things I have to figure out. There's a lot more pressure.

What was your first impression of the men who were selected for you?

I didn't know what to expect, but after the guys walked out of the limo, I was blown away. At that point, I didn't know them that well, but physically, they were gorgeous to me. And then after getting to know them, [I realized] I have some great guys – I personally think the best that they've ever had.

How would you compare the men on your season to Brad, and do you feel comfortable now saying Brad was not the right man for you?

Brad is a great guy, but I think we both needed different things in our lives. After meeting all of these men, I realized how Brad wasn't the best fit for me – and I wasn't the best fit for Brad. I definitely see a lot of things in these men that I think are better suited for me and my personality and my lifestyle ... One of the big things about Brad is he was older and he's very settled in [his life]. I was looking for somebody to create a life with, a new life together.

What qualities were you looking for in particular with the men on your season?

I went into it saying I wanted just a good man and somebody who's loyal and a family man. I think as time went on, there were more things that I saw in the guys that I wanted. But most importantly, what I realized is I wanted somebody that made me feel good and made me feel like a woman, made me feel like I was able to be vulnerable.

Did you go into this thinking that if you met the right man, you'd be ready to get married?

I knew that if I were to meet the right person, I would be ready – but only if I were to meet somebody who made me feel like I was ready. Going into this, I definitely had the mindset that I know I have my career in place [and] I feel really good with where I'm at on a personal level.

Ali Fedotowsky and Brad both said they fell for their chosen ones pretty early on in the process. Did you have a frontrunner from the beginning?

There were points in time where I thought that I had a frontrunner and, you know, things change quickly … They go up and down and back and forth.

RELATED: 5 Things to Know About New Bachelorette Ashley Hebert

Web extra: ABC's Bachelorette previews new season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iP8vIMbCF4