Bachelorette Emily Maynard is ready to find love. The 26-year-old North Carolina native stars in the new season of ABC's hit dating show, The Bachelorette, and has put her heart on the line to finally find the man of her dreams.

I had a million reservations about being the Bachelorette, Maynard told Reality TV World. You know, they had asked me to do it previously and I said no to anyone who would listen. I told everybody I would never do it -- never in a million years.

Emily Maynard first became a primetime sensation when she appeared on Season 16 of ABC's 'The Bachelor. Maynard, a stunning 26-year-old from North Carolina, stole America's heart when she discussed her sorrowful past on The Bachelor. Maynard revealed that her high school sweetheart, racecar driver Ricky Hendrick, died in a tragic plane crash in 2004 just days before she found out she was pregnant with their daughter. Maynard gave birth to Josephine Riddick Ricki Hendrick on June 29, 2005.

But the love between Maynard and Womack did not last. The couple broke up shortly after Maynard accepted Womack's proposal and a $50,000 Neil Lane diamond engagement ring.

During a recent interview with his hometown ABC station, Womack said, I think I dodged a bullet with that relationship.

There is surely no love lost for Emily, either. The Southern Belle is ready to find her very own Prince Charming.

Time went on and, after coming off the breakup with Brad, the last thing on my mind was putting myself through all these again -- and even dating really, Maynard told Reality TV World. And then, we started talking about it a couple of months later and they were just so accommodating with Ricki and moving the entire production to Charlotte. I just thought that it is such a great opportunity that I could not pass up.

A group of eager Bachelors will vie for Maynard's heart in the new season of The Bachelorette. And Emily wants the world to know that, this season, she is anything but a shrinking violet.

Daughter Ricki, An Integral Factor

What is most laudable about Emily Maynard is that she is raising her six-year-old daughter, Ricki, as a single mother after the death of her fiancé. Maynard has hesitated bringing another man into her life, and into her home, until she is absolutely certain he can be a father figure for Ricki.

Maynard said on the season premiere of The Bachelorette that her ultimate goal is to meet somebody that I can marry and have children with and who could be that father figure in Ricki's life, which I want for her more than anything.

The beautiful blonde mother told Reality TV World that Ricki does not know much about what is going on. She has tried to shield her daughter from the complexities of being The Bachelorette.

She's only six years old, so I like to keep her a little bit sheltered from all of this. We don't talk about Bachelor or Bachelorette at all. I don't think she has ever heard me say those words, to be honest. She just loves any kind of chaos going on in the house and she loves it, Maynard told the website.

Ricki is an integral factor in Maynard's choice of Bachelor.

I mean even in my normal everyday life Ricki is at the forefront of my mind with dating, everything. And you know, it wouldn't matter how much I was into a guy or crazy about them. If he wasn't at a point in his life where he wanted to settle down and step into the role of being a stepdad and husband and all of that, I would have to, you know, say, 'No, thank you.'

Maynard does not seem too worried about how her chosen Bachelor will win over Ricki. Six-year-olds are, you know, pretty easy to figure out, she told Reality TV World. Ricki is just like any of the other ones. You know, you play a game with her 15 times, you give her a piece of candy and play hide and seek, and she is your best friend forever.

Hot Tub Jaunts Are Not on the Itinerary

Emily Maynard has promised to live in the moment on the new season of The Bachelorette and drop her guard to let love in. But, that does not mean she will be dropping her clothes.

I wouldn't get into a hot tub with a guy on the first date in my normal everyday life, Maynard told OMG! Yahoo! last week, So I sure as hell am not going to do it on 'The Bachelorette'!

Many want to know if Maynard, who was quite reserved during her time on The Bachelor with Brad Womack, will allow overnight dates.

I can tell you that, you know, overnight dates are over and that filming is done, but I can't tell where they were or even if they happened. I'm sorry, she told Reality TV World. Maynard did confirm that host Chris Harrison offered her the opportunity to have overnight dates. Whether or not Maynard accepted the opportunity will later be determined.

Maynard came to the new season of The Bachelorette a new woman.

I am really happy. I was happy before I went on the show, but I'm really happy now. Just having gone through it and just learning so much about myself. It really seems like I grew as a person in the past couple of months. And I really couldn't be happier, she told the website.

Boring She Is Not

People that know me know that I am feisty and I am sassy, and know that it takes a little bit for me to really feel comfortable, but once I do... Emily Maynard told Reality TV World. I have never been called boring before in my life. That's for sure.

Some criticized Maynard for her shyness during Season 15 of The Bachelor. She was instantly compared to more aggressive and outgoing contestants Chantal, Ashley and Michelle.

The 25 Bachelors who joined Season 8 of The Bachelorette went in to the dating competition having preconceived notions of who Emily is as a person.

I definitely think that all the guys came in having this one image of me in their head, but as time went on and they got to know me better. They all said the same thing like, 'You are nothing like we thought you were going to be. And I hope that's a good thing.' They all said it was a good thing whether they meant it or not. But anybody that knows me, you know, laughs at all that, Maynard told Reality TV World.

Maynard even likes some of the jokey, gimmicky stunts her Bachelors pulled on the first night.

I love Ryan's little note that he wrote. The one that said, 'I'm so nervous and you're so beautiful.' I thought that was really sweet and endearing, Maynard told the website. Jef rolling in on a skateboard I thought was so cool. There were a lot that I thought were just funny in the moment, and even the really cheesy ones were a great ice breaker I think, especially in that moment when you're so nervous. It was just -- even though it was for fun.

This season, she is in it for a good time.

To be honest, I didn't even feel like we were filming. It didn't feel like work or anything like that. It was just -- I was having the time of my life and I was just having so much fun.

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