The Bachelor and Bachelorette: The 17 Most Memorable Contestants

See the most memorable contestants from seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, ahead.

Kasey Kahl truly committed when he enlisted to fight for Ali Fedotowsky’s affections on season 6 of The Bachelorette. The then-27-year-old ad exec from California gave himself a slogan for the reality show, telling Fedotowsky he wanted to “guard and protect her heart.” In order to prove just how much he lived by that credo, Kahl went so far as to get a six-inch tattoo on his wrist of a rose and heart behind the protection of a shield. “I’m wearing my heart and my emotions literally on my sleeve,” he said at the time.

A woman with the ceremony-ready name of Erica Rose joined Bachelor Nation in 2006, competing for Lorenzo Borghese. The then-23-year-old Rose listed her official Bachelor season 9 title as “Socialite,” but soon became one of the most valuable players of the franchise, crown and all. After missing a rose in the show’s third week, she got another chance at love in 2011, signing on for a drama-filled second season of Bachelor Pad. While she didn’t end the show with a prize win or a new relationship, Rose didn’t stop trying, instead hitting the mansion once more for BP‘s third season in 2012.

So-called “Prince Farming” Chris Soules found himself with one hilariously offbeat admirer in The Bachelor‘s 19th season. Known at the time as Ashley S. (as she competed against the famed Ashley I.), Salter got camera time as she marveled over a pomegranate she mistook for an onion, breathlessly compared her location to Mesa Verde, and did her own, bizarre thing solo as the other women tried to woo Soules.

The 15th season of The Bachelor found its token villain in Michelle Money, a 30-year-old hairstylist from Salt Lake City. In classic “not here to make friends” moves, Money cozied up to Brad Womack on his second chance at love, distancing herself from the other women who “didn’t see what is right in front of them.”

Courtney Robertson took a page out of Money’s book in the following season of The Bachelor. Competing for winemaker Ben Flajnik, Robertson didn’t bond with the other contestants and put them off with her blind confidence in her relationship with Flajnik. Much to the shock of many viewers, she was right in the end, as he proposed to her in the final episode. While the relationship didn’t last, Robertson continued her time in the spotlight with a tell-all book, I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends, complete with details on one talked-about ocean tryst.

Justin Rego, AKA The Bachelorette season 6’s “R-Rated,” quickly became the enemy of Bachelor Nation when he seemingly broke Ali Fedotowsky’s heart. The Canadian wrestler was taken out of the running when a woman contacted Fedotowsky and said she was Rego’s girlfriend back home. While he denied the charges, Rego was still held accountable in the season’s “Men Tell All” special, which devoted time to the villain’s alleged transgressions.

Rozlyn Papa redefined drama in The Bachelor‘s 14th season. The 28-year-old makeup artist was disqualified in the show’s second week when questions were raised as to her feelings for Bachelor Jake Pavelka. Papa was accused of having an “inappropriate relationship” with one of the male producers, and was soon kicked out of the mansion.

Before season 17 Bachelor Sean Lowe settled down with his now-wife Catherine Giudici, he was being wooed by Las Vegas consultant Tierra LiCausi. Stepping into the villain shoes, LiCausi had a dramatic run on the show, complete with visits from paramedics, spats with fellow contestants, and strategic attention-getting stunts. “Man, I was such a fool. I really do feel like I was duped” Lowe later told Chris Harrison. “Tierra never should have come on this show.”

Stylist Desiree Hartsock went through a tumultuous run as the Bachelorette, seeing two contestants leave during the show’s ninth season. While Bryden Vukasin left early on, Brooks Forester made it all the way to the final three before deciding he did not want to be with Hartsock. Then seen as the frontrunner, Forester shocked viewers when he told Hartsock he wasn’t in love with her and was leaving before the final rose ceremony.

The Bachelor‘s 19th season was particularly stacked with interesting contestants, including guidance counselor Kelsey Poe. A widow, Poe raised eyebrows when she spoke of her husband’s death as an “amazing” story. In one of the show’s most dramatic two-on-one dates, Poe found herself competing against Ashley I. soon after having a panic attack. The two enemies were stuck with one another in the dessert, and both were eventually sent packing.

Nick Viall just couldn’t get enough. The software salesman first hit Bachelor Nation in 2014, competing for the heart of Andi Dorfman in The Bachelorette‘s 10th season. While he made it to the final two, Dorfman let Viall go before choosing Josh Murray. Viall was hardly pleased with the result and made that clear to Dorfman. As a result, when he popped back up the following season to compete for Kaitlyn Bristowe’s heart, Dorfman tweeted to Bristowe during the episode, “One word…. RUN! Okay two… RUN FAST!” Bristowe did not heed the warning, instead keeping Viall until the final two as well, but choosing Shawn Booth in the end.

Stacey Elza got a little crazy on The Bachelor‘s 12th season, making for some classic dramatic television. The Chicagoan grad student never made it past the first week but left a lasting impression after partaking in a bit too much of the show’s open bar. She famously put a pair of panties in Bachelor Matt Grant’s pocket but was let go during the first rose ceremony.

Madison Garton made quite the first impression in The Bachelor‘s 15th season thanks to a pair of fangs. The model revealed the vampiric look to Brad Womack in the first episode, but left the show soon after. She took herself out of the running in the third week after questioning her feelings for Womack.

Jillian Harris looked for love in The Bachelorette‘s fifth season, and instead, found Wes Hayden. The musician seemingly did not come on the show for the “right reasons,” and was accused of not only having a girlfriend back home but also seeking publicity for his music through the show.

Bentley Williams got an early leg up in The Bachelorette‘s seventh season when he caught Ashley Hebert’s eye among the many other contestants. He didn’t quite return the interest, however, as he quit in the show’s third week, admitting that he wasn’t attracted to Hebert.

Model Trish Schneider competed for Jesse Palmer’s heart in The Bachelor‘s fifth season. She first found scandal with her colorful past and choice to wear a shirt that said, “Gold Digger — Like a hooker… just smarter,” but took it to the next level when she did not leave without a fight. After being eliminated, Schneider returned to the show to tell Palmer he made a mistake letting her go.

Olivia Caridi had some serious competition for the title of season 20’s most talked-about contestant in Lace Morris. With three more weeks on the show under her belt, however, Caridi pulled ahead, enticing viewers with her open-mouth gapes, interest in talking about “smart things,” and dramatic end when she was left alone on a deserted beach in week six.