Now that the current season of The Bachelor has come to a close, ABC has announced that they’re ready to kick off another season of The Bachelorette. Ashley Hebert will be the center of attention when the new season kicks off on Monday, May 23rd. The reality series will be taking back its regular Monday night timeslot once Dancing with the Stars has wrapped for the season.
In addition, the alphabet network has renewed The Bachelor for season 16 and that will debut in early 2012.
Here’s the press release from ABC:
ASHLEY HEBERT GETS A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE WHEN SHE BECOMES “THE BACHELORETTE,” PREMIERING MONDAY, MAY 23 ON ABC
Ashley Hebert couldn’t admit she was in love with Brad Womack – and it might have cost her the final rose – but that’s all in the past. The energetic and vivacious Hebert, who is ready to start a new life with a soul mate she might soon meet, will get a second opportunity to find love when she stars in the seventh edition of “The Bachelorette,” which will premiere MONDAY, MAY 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. The identity of the new Bachelorette was revealed tonight on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”Please note: “The Bachelorette” will move to its regularly scheduled timeslot, Mondays from 8:00-10:01 p.m., ET on May 30.
Ashley, 26, who currently resides in Philadelphia, where she is finishing her degree in dentistry, went from being one of the favorites to capture Brad’s heart on the just completed 15th edition of ABC’s hit romance reality series, “The Bachelor,” to narrowly missing her goal of finding a future husband. Ashley and Brad clicked on their enchanting first date at a private carnival, discovering an electric connection and sharing a magical first kiss. After showing Brad her charming hometown and his meeting her family, the rollercoaster ride took them to South Africa, where, in a stunning turnaround, their relationship fell apart. It seemed the couple wanted different things out of life. Ashley was frustrated she couldn’t communicate her feelings to Brad, and he gallantly decided to let her go before the rose ceremony, knowing he would not offer her a rose. Ashley was surprised and heartbroken that her perfect fairytale came to an abrupt end. It would take her time to find the silver lining to this bad situation and move forward.
That time has come and now Hebert, stronger and more confident than ever, is prepared to find a balance between her career and personal life and find the love of her life. She fell in love once on “The Bachelor,” so she truly believes that it will happen again – and this time she will be ready and open to express her feelings to the right guy.
A native of Madawaska, Maine, Ashley is the youngest of three siblings. An academic scholar, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maine with a BS in biology. A love of dance fueled many of Ashley’s successes. She was Maine’s 2002 Junior Miss and went on to compete in America’s Junior Miss, where she received a scholarship for the fitness portion of the competition. She was the captain of the dance team in college and also worked in an after-school program teaching dance. Since the fall of 2007, Ashley has attended University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and will graduate in May with a 3.96 GPA and the degree of DMD, Doctor of Dental Medicine. She still teaches dance: ballet, jazz and hip hop.
Ashley loves her family, including her nieces, nephew and her dog, Boo. Her most romantic date would consist of a night staying in with her guy, a bottle of wine, music and a roaring fireplace. Which one of the bachelors will she meet on the series to share that perfect scenario with her? Ashley can’t wait to find out.
Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelorette” is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.
What do you think? Do you enjoy these reality series? Glad they’re coming back?
Image courtesy ABC.
