Season 22 of The Bachelor is here, and bless the reality TV puppeteers for bringing us Chelsea Roy, the clear front-runner for this season’s most talked about contestant. The 29-year-old single mom from Portland, Maine racked up a bunch of firsts in the premiere: first to appear in an introductory segment, first to kiss Arie with tongue, and first woman to get a rose. While we’re at it, let’s add first woman to have a target on her back.

With quotes like, “This is the only time I will ever be your first, because I hope to be your last,” and “I’m going to take it to the next step…this mama means business,” Roy offered up some serious Olivia Caridi vibes. Perhaps the best line of the night came when she said, “I’m not competitive by nature, but when I see something that I want, I go after it.” Don’t fool yourself, Chelsea: I have no doubt that competitive is your middle name.

But is she really what her edit makes her out to be? We met up with Roy to learn as much as one can in 20 minutes. For one, she’s in real estate but says she’s also done modeling on the side “to fulfill my creative needs.” Interior design is another passion for the self-proclaimed homemaker, who tells us she “loves the aspect of putting others into homes.” She’s also a mom to three-year-old Sammy, who “doesn’t stop moving or talking, which keeps me super busy.” As she says in her opening package, “I want another man in my life that treats me right and can show Sammy what it is to be a father…to be a male figure.” TBD if Arie is that man.

So what else did we learn about Roy? Aside from her love of shoes—she brought 20 pairs—she can’t wait to travel the world (ideally with Arie) and complete her family. But is she really the “villain” episode one is making her out to be? Read on to form your own opinion.

PHOTO: Jessica Radloff

Who submitted you for The Bachelor?

Chelsea Roy: It’s been years in the making. After the separation from Sammy’s dad, my girlfriends kept harassing me that I need to go on The Bachelor. I never listened to them, and I’ve never really watched the show before, except with girlfriends having a glass of wine at their house. They’ll have it on in the background. I can’t sit still through shows, so I’ll end up talking the whole time. But I know enough about The Bachelor and I felt like after two years of being single, I’m confident now and I definitely am ready to find love. What better way to do it than to really represent yourself [in front of a national audience] and hope that it works out in the end?

What do you think makes you the ideal partner for Arie?

Chelsea: I guess wisdom. There’s a lot to learn in life, and I kind of feel like I was kind of sprung forward a little bit, so I’ve always been more or less an old soul. With that comes street smarts, and with that comes the caring side. I’m very observant. I’m quick to think, and I am also a people pleaser in that I just want everyone to be happy. I think that is what also makes me a hopeless romantic. So I haven’t given up on it yet, and I think that’s why I’m taking this big, giant leap into a relationship [on TV]. I’m ready for it, and I’m ready to complete a family, add to a family, and be more of a family. That’s what’s important to me.

How much research did you do once you found out Arie was going to be the Bachelor?

Chelsea: Absolute basics. I trust that ABC would not choose someone that is not responsible or a good guy, to say the least. So I did the quick research, like how old is he, where is he from, what does he do. I was pleased to find out that he was also in real estate. I like that he’s [36] and a little bit older and mature, and that’s something that I do look for, especially when you have a kid. You don’t want someone that is still stuck in their 20s and more interested in going out and being in the party scene. We can do that [too]; I share custody with Sammy’s father, so there is a lot of down time. I want to go on adventures, and I see that Arie is a traveler, so I’m so excited about that, because that is absolutely what I love to do.

PHOTO: ABC/Paul Hebert

What are some non-negotiables for you in a relationship?

Chelsea: Loyalty. I definitely need loyalty. I need someone that has their mind made up and is fully invested in a relationship, and that wants it, and wants to grow from it. And I need a confident man—someone that is secure in who he is and is ready to leap forward with someone else. Someone who is also is ready to become one with someone else.

Since your friends are the ones that had you sign up for The Bachelor, did they give you any advice about what not to do?

Chelsea: They said, “Chelsea, just be yourself. You are going to win him over.” That felt good to hear because where I am now, today, is probably the most happy I’ve ever been and the most confident I’ve ever been. I’m ready to just give him all of Chelsea.

Want to see what the contestants, including Chelsea, packed? Watch our video below:

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