Birmingham Hairdresser Shares Her Pick for 'The Bachelor' Sean Lowe

A Birmingham hairdresser says she certainly has a favorite bachelorette on the love 'em and leave 'em ABC hit, "The Bachelor".

Monday at 8 p.m., we'll find out whether Catherine Giudici or Lindsay Yenter wins Dallas native Sean Lowe's heart during the reality show’s season finale.

“Definitely Catherine is my favorite. She’s my top pick,” said Ashley Palenkas, 28, a hairdresser in Birmingham and bartender in downtown Royal Oak.

Palenkas was among 26 contestants hoping to lure the affections of Lowe this season. She was cut on the first episode after her provocative dancing and obsession with "Fifty Shades of Grey" didn't seem to impress Lowe.

Didn't know the bachelor is born-again virgin

“Since I was cut on the first show, I didn’t really get to spend a lot of time off-camera with Sean and the other girls,” Palenkas said.

The contestants are not allowed to meet each other until they step out of the limousine on the first show, Palenkas said. She was familiar with Lowe because he was a finalist on last season's "The Bachelorette”, however, she had no idea he was a self-proclaimed born-again virgin—that’s someone who’s been sexually active, but has had a change of heart and makes a commitment to swear off sex until marriage.

“I pre-planned the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ to grab attention,” she said. “I figured how could Sean forget the girl that did that. It was kind of an ‘oops’ now that I know he’s a born-again virgin. I would have done something different if I had known. I was destined to fail.”

Contestants let loose at 'The Women Tell All'

Palenkas recently reunited with the other contestants for “The Women Tell All” episode.

“It was the most fun thing out of the whole experience, hands down,” Palenkas said. “The filming was a long time ago—last September. We had all been watching each other on TV, so it was all hugs when we saw each other.” 

The after party was the first time the contestants were ever all together without cameras, according to Palenkas. 

“We could all be ourselves." Most people are themselves on the show, but some are not, Palenkas said.

“Without cameras rolling everyone was really letting loose. Obviously, I don’t have a hard time letting loose,” she said unapologetically. 

Recognized around town

Since leaving the show, Palenkas sid she notices people staring at her, whispering and giggling. While she tends the bar in Royal oak, she gets a lot of, “Were you the girl on ‘The Bachelor’?” And, that’s fine with her.

“I never thought I would be chosen to be on the show,” she said. “Once I was picked, I was skeptical because no one on ‘The Bachelor’ ever goes on to get married.” 

Since the show, Palenkas has gone on to find love and is currently in a relationship.