Ashley Hebert
Craig Sjodin/ABC
"A misconception people have when they watched the show is that I'm insecure," Hebert tells PEOPLE. "I am so secure and confident and a lot of what happened between Brad and me brought out some weird side of me that doesn't define who I am."
Starting with the Monday's season premiere (9 p.m. ET) on ABC, viewers will see Hebert call the shots and travel around the world – her favorite destination was Thailand – to find Mr. Right.
"People will be surprised with what they see. I think it's a season people are going to get attached to and want to know what happens," says Hebert, who got through those dreaded rose ceremonies by "trusting what the guys tell me" and "using my gut to tell me what to do."
