Melissa Rycroft is a former contestant on the ABC reality shows The Bachelor and Dancing With the Stars. Rycroft is also a former cheerleader for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. After Dancing Rycroft became a special correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America. In December of 2009, Rycroft married insurance salesman Tye Strickland in a ceremony in Mexico. The pair became engaged just months after Rycroft was "dumped" by Bachelor Jason Mesnick.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20326898,00.html In 2010, Rycroft was slated to co-host the new ABC reality series Bachelor Pad with Chris Harrison.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20405844,00.html

In July of 2010, Rycroft appeared on GMA to announce that she and Strickland were expecting their first child. Rycroft joked with GMA host Robin Roberts that she and Strickland "wanted to see how many life-changing events we could fit into one calendar year." There was no immediate information on a due date.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20405844,00.html

Rycroft appeared on the 13th season of The Bachelor, where she made it to the season finale, where she was chosen as the winner by bachelor and single dad Jason Mesnick. Mesnick proposed to Rycroft, who accepted. The day the finale aired, Mesnick went on The Jimmy Kimmel Show and announced that he and Malaney were once again in a relationship.Radar Online: Fickle Bachelor Faces Kimmel (March 3, 2009)

Weeks later, during a follow up ABC show about The Bachelor, Mesnick told Rycroft he wanted to split, because he was in love with runner-up Bachelor contestant Molly Malaney.http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/bachelor-jason-mesnick-picks-melissa-rycroft-then-molly-malaney-8542.php

On March 5, 2009, Rycroft talked about the incident on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She discussed her relationship with Mesnick during and after the show and the fallout from the dramatic post-finale reunion episode.http://www.celebuzz.com/melissa-rycroft-tells-ellen-bastard-s90911/

Melissa Rycroft's reality television career didn't end with The Bachelor. In March of 2009, she became a contestant on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Rycroft was a last-minute addition to the show, replacing injured Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell in the lineup.http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/03/08/source-bachelors-melissa-rycroft-to-join-dancing-with-the-stars/ Rycroft was paired with dancer Tony Dovolani.

Rycroft injured her ribs during week seven of DWTS but continued to dance. During week eight, Rycroft learned she had a hairline fracture on one of her ribs. Rycroft was given approval by her doctor to continue to dance, but at the end of the last rehearsal she was in too much pain to continue. The judges judged her on her last taped rehearsal and showed no mercy by giving her a total of 21.Daily Post: Melissa Rycroft injured, misses 'Dancing With the Stars' performance (April 28, 2009)

Rycroft went on to finish third in the DWTS competition. Former Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson took the trophy.http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/melissa-rycroft-pregnant-bachelor-dancing-stars-alum-announces/story?id=11267507