I've been rooting for Emily Maynard ever since her first season of "The Bachelor," when she made it all the way to the final Rose Ceremony and Brad proposed. And I was cheering for her during the "The Bachelorette" when she chose Jef. I'm one of those people who talked to the TV as if Emily could hear me. "Excellent choice, Em! He totally deserves a rose."

My "Bachelor" obsession used to be something I tried to hide, but now I'm completely unapologetic about my love of the series. And, in my opinion, Emily Maynard is the best thing to ever come from the "The Bachelor" franchise.

Maynard is a talented, busy young mom who manages to run her own website and whose new jewelry line, Emily Maynard for Towne & Reese, is filled with pretty (and super affordable) statement pieces.

As a fellow blonde named Emily with family from West Virginia, I felt a certain kinship with the southern belle and jumped at the chance to interview her when she was in town here in Los Angeles.

Maynard is just as sweet as key lime pie in person as she seemed on TV. She's down-to-earth, gorgeous, and didn't have a single hair out of place (more on her dry shampoo secrets later). And while I kind of felt like an awkward sister next to the blonde bombshell, I was obviously excited to meet my favorite reality TV star.

Here's what Emily's been up to since her season of "The Bachelorette," her surprising secrets to keeping her hair looking so perfect, and more ...