Chelsea Roy received Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s coveted First Impression Rose during The Bachelor premiere, and now he's opening up about why he made that fairly unpopular decision.

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"She boldly pulled me first and was the only woman to pull me twice. When she came and pulled me a second time, she went in for a kiss. I know it took a lot of courage and ultimately, I want the women to take risks," Arie wrote in his People blog.

"I want a partner who is fiercely independent, who is her own person, and who knows what she wants. Chelsea was still such a mystery to me and I could not wait to learn more. This is why I gave her the First Impression Rose."

Chelsea, a 29-year-old real estate executive assistant from South Portland, ME, definitely made waves on the first night of filming The Bachelor's 22nd season.

Not only did Chelsea steal extra time with Arie and interrupt his conversations with other women, but she also made catty comments about other bachelorettes. For instance, the stunning Maquel Cooper was one of the last women to arrive at the mansion, and Chelsea quipped that she should probably get used to being in last place. 

"The reaction wasn't so positive," Arie told E! News of his decision to reward Chelsea for her aggressive behavior.

"But you have to think, too, for me, that first night was really nerve-wracking, and I didn't really know who was there for me. So for [Chelsea] to take that initiative and to see me twice and to really make it known that she was interested, really sort of gave me confidence and really showed me that she was there for me."

The pro racing driver turned real estate agent added, "And that was why I really wanted to give her that rose, because she took that initiative."

And although many fans are disappointed in Arie's choice, he doesn't seem to care -- and if he could go back and do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing.

"In that moment, there's so much more than what's, I think, shown on camera, so you know, it's more about a feeling," Arie explained. "Yeah, looking back on it, yeah, I think she was a little bit controversial, but you'll see a different side of her."

Bekah Martinez appeared to be a contender for the First Impression Rose as well, with her unique look and smart conversation. But according to previews for the rest of the season, she may also rub her fellow bachelorettes the wrong way.

Arie told E! News that Bekah is "beautiful" but "polarizing," and during that first night of taping, her presence made him so nervous that his mind went blank and he found himself at a loss for words.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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