Jillian Harris named new ‘Bachelorette’

Jillian Harris, a popular contestant on the most recent edition of the U.S. dating show The Bachelor, is to star in The Bachelorette, ABC said Wednesday.

Harris is a 29-year-old restaurant interior designer who currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. A native of Peace River, Alberta, Canada, she graduated from British Columbia Institute of Technology with a degree in interior design. In her spare time, she volunteers in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program as a school tutor and mentor.

Harris was one of the final three contestants on The Bachelor, but was eliminated before Monday’s finale. The last episode featured two segments, taped six weeks apart, and showed Jason Mesnick first proposing to Melissa Rycroft, then breaking up with her and pledging his love to runner-up Molly Malaney, who agreed to give him a second chance.

The fifth season of The Bachelorette, in which several men will compete for Harris’ affections, is slated to premiere May 18.