Jillian Harris — who finished in third place on the recent controversial installment of The Bachelor — will headline the new season of The Bachelorette, ABC announced Tuesday night.
"I am so excited," said Harris, 29, an interior designer from Canada.
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She jokingly thanked Jason Mesnick for giving her the chance to have 25 men compete for her affections.
"It's a very unorthodox way to find love, but we are living in a world where people are doing things differently," she said. "It's a great opportunity for me," she added. "I fell in love once before and I know this is a great venue for me to fall in love again." "Seeing what Jason went through makes you realize there's no guarantees in life," she went on. "I only hope I make the right choice the first time."
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Harris also made one promise about the new season: "I don't need my dad to see any more hot tub scenes."
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison said Harris "really captured America's heart and the groundswell of support for her to become the new Bachelorette was overwhelming."
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The show debuts May 18.
