Many in West Michigan have seen a familiar face on ABC's "The Bachelor", which began its 19th season with a three-hour special Monday night.

Hudsonville High School graduate Kelsey Poe is on the show and is considered among the favorites.

Kelsey Poe, 28 years old, attended Hudsonville High School then moved to Texas. She has a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin and currently works as a guidance counselor in Austin. Her maiden name is Persons.

Host Chris Harrison put her in his top 5 last week admitting, "I'm a little biased because she's from Austin and I love Texas."

Entertainment Weekly likes her chances too calling her a "genuine option."

Poe was married to Sanderson Poe, a musician. They met when she was 19 years old and married when she was 23. He died in May 2013 of sudden heart failure.

Kelsey discussed their marriage on Facebook:

Widows inherit the role of being the beacon who attests to their deceased spouse’s happiness. That’s why I sometimes find myself idealizing my marriage to him, describing our relationship as perfect, when in reality it was just as healthily flawed as any other marriage.

On our wedding day, we vowed to love, cherish, and honor each other until ‘death do us part.’ But even after death, I still love, cherish, and honor him.

The only forgiveness I can offer myself when I feel happiness nowadays, is that the trauma and agony of Sanderson’s death and its impact on my life should be rewarded with happiness. If I were to say, ‘I’m so happy now’ it’s because I’ve overcome one of life’s hardest moments."

MORE ABOUT KELSEY:

  • She has a website, anomalyme.com, which is currently listed as under construction.
  • Her favorite movies? "Good Will Hunting", "What About Bob?" and "Mean Girls".
  • Her biggest date fear? Diarrhea.

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