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When Trista Rehn appeared on the very first run of ABC’s reality series, “The Bachelor” back in 2002, America fell in love with her. But The Bachelor himself, Alex Michel? Not so much. TRISTA REHN SUTTER podcast excerpt: "My family and friends were supportive of me doing 'The Bachelorette' (after losing on 'The Bachelor'). And even if they had been skeptics, I still would have gone through with it because I felt so strongly about the fact that I could really find somebody." That really hurt Trista, who genuinely thought Alex was the one for her. At the last moment, he chose a different girl. Who? I dunno; she’s not my guest today. America – and the producers of “The Bachelorette” – saw Trista cry genuine tears that night. Everyone (but Alex Michel) believed that the pediatric physical therapist from Miami Children’s Hospital by day and Miami Heat dancer by night was robbed. TRISTA REHN SUTTER: "The biggest thing I took away from my bad experience with Alex Michel was something that hurt me in the long run. Two days before the final 'Bachelor' rose ceremony with Alex, he told me that he was going to choose me. I took that to heart, and went into the final ceremony thinking I was going to get engaged -- and, of course, I got my heart broken. So when I did 'The Bachelorette,' I didn't give in to my feelings until the very final day. I didn't let Ryan know how I was feeling. He literally had no idea what was going to happen. I didn't give him any reciprocation of the feelings he was showing to me." That’s when the spinoff series, “The Bachelorette,” was born. And this time, Trista was the one doing the picking. When all was said and done, she went with a handsome firefighter whom she swears she fell in love with at first sight. A dozen years later, Trista and Ryan Sutter are still married, parents of two children, and hap-hap-happy! And the original Bachelorette just published a book, Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart. Trista Rehn Sutter • • • • • • • •