Emily Maynard has reportedly accepted ABC's offer and signed on to be the next star of The Bachelorette.
ADVERTISEMENT
The former fifteenth season The Bachelor bachelorette -- who got engaged to Brad Womack during the March 2011 broadcast of the show's season finale but split with him several months later -- will be looking for love during The Bachelorette's eighth season, which will begin filming in March, Us Weekly reported.
"She's looking for a man -- not a little boy," a source told Us.
While The Bachelorette normally kicks off in a Los Angeles mansion, the show is reportedly moving production to her hometown of Charlotte, NC to accommodate the 25-year-old single mom, who confirmed her split from Womack in June 2011 and wishes to be remain close to her young daughter Ricki.
"The guys will be flying to her. We're switching things up a bit," another source told the magazine.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to People sources, former seventh-season The Bachelorette bachelor Bentley Williams -- the two-faced bachelor who feigned affection for Ashley Hebert when they were together but repeatedly bashed her in private before eventually deciding to leave the show and break her heart -- is hoping to compete as one of Maynard's suitors, as he previously admitted to cameras during his stint on the show that he wanted Maynard to be The Bachelorette star and didn't have any sincere interest in Hebert.
Reports that Maynard may serve as the star of The Bachelorette's eighth edition have circulated since shortly after she and Womack confirmed their split last year, however host Chris Harrison had initially dismissed them as premature and speculative.
"Rumors of Emily being the Bachelorette are greatly exaggerated," Harrison told Access Hollywood Live in July.
"It's obviously been bantered about. We're not idiots, we talked about it, of course, but it hadn't even been broached to her. It is way too soon. They just broke up and they've barely even broken up."
Last month, Life & Style reported that ABC had formally offered Maynard the position.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It's basically a done deal. She hasn't signed the contract yet, but she's fully on board," a source told Life & Style. "Emily is America's sweetheart. Fans are going to be thrilled! Everyone loved her."
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski