The Bachelor

She's still alive as one of three finalists on this season of The Bachelor. But has Ashley Hebert already been tapped to star on The Bachelorette this summer?

According to Reality Steve's Twitter.

For those unfamiliar with Steve, he is the WikiLeaks of Bachelor spoilers. No one knows how this stuff gets out, but it ends up on his blog and he is good.

How on Earth was a contestant who isn't even eliminated yet named the star of the sequel? We have no idea, and we obviously can't confirm this now.

But odds are still pretty high that Ashley Hebert, the perky dental student and pride of small town Madawaska, Maine, will be the next Bachelorette.

If true, it's not shocking she didn't win The Bachelor. Brad has stronger connections with Chantal O'Brien (the rumored winner) and Emily Maynard.

What is surprising is that Emily, with stunning looks and a touching story that seemed destined to land her the starring role, is not The Bachelorette.

Just the same, Ash is no slouch herself. She's down-to-earth, smart, fun and cute as they come. What do you think of the move? Vote below ...

Would Ashley make a good Bachelorette?

Last night on The Bachelor, four lucky women brought Brad Womack home to meet their families across this nation. Three will accompany him to South Africa.

It was quite the two-hour episode, featuring a trip to the mortuary, an awkward date with Emily's daughter and plenty of slice-of-life moments for ol' Brad.

How did last night play out? Who's going on to the final destination and whose trip home turned out to be one-way? Here's THG's trademark +/- recap!

With no time in the mansion and no Michelle Money, that means no festering drama or cat fights this week. Plus 5. But also Minus 4, 'cause we miss you Michelle.

Minus 3 for the random, unexplained stop in New York.

Date #1 goes to Chantal O'Brien, who The Bachelor spoilers seem to think has a good chance of winning this thing. Plus 6, because you can absolutely see why.

If Brad Womack ever appears like he's natural or semi-normal, it's with Chantal. Plus 7. When they discuss moving in together, you know she has a leg up.

The Bachelor is usually all about the women doing all they can to avoid being sent home by the star. But the case of Emily Maynard, the tables are turned.

After weeks of Brad Womack wondering if he'd ever get to meet the single mom's little girl, the pair finally come face-to-face tonight. But how will it go?

While Maynard is cautiously optimistic, she's also realistic about things: "If Brad and Ricki don't mesh, it would be just like Brad and I not meshing."

Will this be the deal-breaker for Brad - or for Emily? Here's a sneak peek:

The Bachelor Hometown Date - Brad and Emily

Michelle Money, who was sent home after her amazing SI Swimsuit Issue mauling of Brad Womack on The Bachelor this week, has no hard feelings toward Brad.

Nor does she harbor any ill will toward Chantal O'Brien, her biggest rival.

That said, she's definitely pulling for Emily Maynard to win it all.

"[Brad] needs someone soft-spoken and feminine. She's just a Southern belle, ladylike and sweet. Emily will be the one who ends up with him," she says.

"If that's what she wants. It'll be more about her choosing him."

Emily Maynard, of course, has had her own struggles opening up.

As for Chantal? "I don't have anything against her," Money swears. "She's a beautiful, smart woman. It's unfortunate everyone only got to see the catty side."

"Chantal was hard to know. She keeps her distance from women. I ever saw her, I'd give her the biggest hug, [but] I still don't think she's right for Brad."

What do you think? Who's better for Brad?

Laurel Kagay said Brad Womack popped the question to her before going on The Bachelor. He said reports of a marriage proposal were just "embellishment."

So who's telling the truth?

One of her friends, furious at Brad's "lies" and his decision to paint Laurel as "some crazy who invented it all in her head," wants to set the record straight.

"If Brad Womack didn't propose to Laurel Kagay then I'm the Queen of England," Laurel's pal wrote in a series of scathing posts on her personal blog.

In one text message to his sweetheart, which Laurel Kagay shared with Us, Womack vowed: "You're my future, Roo. Nothing is going to change that.

"Laurel, I'm serious about this. Please marry me?"

The friend said Brad even took Laurel ring shopping at a Cartier boutique - and even asked her parents for their blessing to marry their daughter!

Maksim Chmerkovskiy turned down The Bachelor in the U.S., but has assumed the leading role in the version of the hit show in his native Ukraine.

The Dancing With the Stars hunk is the star of the inaugural edition of the romance reality series beginning March 17 on the Ukraine's STB network.

Why did he turn it down here - as did Chris Lambton, which ultimately gave us Brad Womack for a second time - but agree to it in Eastern Europe?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy: The Bachelor!

"There has never been a show such as this in Ukraine," he wrote on his blog. "That makes me think that a first season would be the most 'real.'"

"I thought about everything VERY long. I know it's hard to find somebody you can connect to on a TV project like this, but nothing is impossible."

"I can't reveal anything, but I am very pleasantly surprised so far."

In Michelle Money's defense, she seems a lot less crazy on Ellen today than on The Bachelor. But she still admits she has a screw loose or several.

The Bachelor's latest castoff sat down with the host today to talk about how she was portrayed, who she thinks Brad proposes to and much more.

Amusingly, Ellen gets her to admit she's crazy ... if only just "a little."

"You do a show like this, you know there's editing," Ellen said. "You maybe say "Hey, that's not who I was." Do you look at that and go "That's not who I was?"

Her response: "Yeah, for the most part. It's definitely part of who I am. I'm assertive and a go-getter but there are many sides of me that weren't shown."

The "assertive go-getter" part was definitely on display during her Swimsuit Issue mauling of Brad Womack, which ultimately led him to cut her loose.

But despite this week's Bachelor episode being her last, Michelle says there are no hard feelings, and wishes Brad the best with his true love, who is ...

Three of the girls on The Bachelor posed for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue last night. As we discussed in our Bachelor recap, this was both hot and awkward.

Ashley Hebert and Chantal O'Brien certainly looked the part of SI models, but when it came time for Michelle Money's turn, she unleashed her crazy side yet again.

The bad news? Her near-topless mounting of Brad Womack drove Chantal to tears and made viewers queasy. The good news? It ultimately ran her out of town.

Here's the SI swimsuit issue shoot in its sexy, uncomfortable entirety:

The Bachelor: Swimsuit Issue Group Date

While Irina Shayk took the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover, Ashley and Chantal killed it during their shoots and gave any of the supermodels a run for their ...

Sorry. As for Michelle, the unstable, sexually aggressive schtick had a good run, but officially ran its course after this. Even Brad came to his senses eventually.

Who do you want to win The Bachelor?

Last night on The Bachelor saw four women punch their tickets to hometown dates, while we wanted to punch Brad Womack for his inability to emote. At all.

In fairness, he did open up to Emily a bit, and it did take some inner strength to "break protocol" for the women ... but seriously, lighten up, Jake. Er, Brad.

How did last night play out? Who's going on hometown dates and saying the word hometown 47 times in the process? Here's THG's trademark +/- recap!

The first of three one-on-one dates went to Emily Maynard. It started slowly, but Brad did open up and tell her that she's getting a rose at the ceremony. Plus 10.

Give him credit for breaking that rule (no roses were to be doled out on dates). But Minus 6 for calling her daughter Rickie the biggest "thing" in her life. Thing?

Shawntel Newton just flies under the radar. Odd, since she's a mortician. There's just nothing about her to dislike ... or to make you think she has a chance. Even.

Back to his rule-breaking ways, Brad gives Britt the ax in mid-date, sending her off the yacht on a dinghy! Then she has to pack in front of the other girls! Plus 7.

Michelle: "I do NOT want to go on a date with you guys." Whack job. Minus 3.

Brad Womack has played the role of a commitment-phone turned "changed man" well on this season of The Bachelor, his second in the starring capacity.

But if the Texan does get down on one knee and propose to Chantal O'Brien, Emily Maynard, Ashley Hebert or Michelle Money, it won't be the first time.

At least according to Laurel Kagay, his on-off girlfriend of eight years. She tells Us that Brad asked to marry her several times - including last summer!

After spending the summer trying to woo her back, making comments to the effect of "I will marry you right now," he left to star on the ABC show a second time.

THG NOTE: If Laurel Kagay looks familiar, it's because she also dated Wes Hayden, and was his rumored "girl back home" while he was on The Bachelorette.