Who is Shandi Finnessey from ‘Ready for Love’?

This week on Ready for Love, bachelor Ernesto Arguello shared his first kiss of the season in The Garden with amazing lady Shandi Finnessey. And boy was it hot!We’re just hoping Shandi is there for the “right reasons,” because she has the perfect resume for someone that might actually just be on the show for personal promotional reasons. But, we hope not!

Why do I say that? Well, this isn’t her first reality show rodeo.

In 2007, she was on Dancing with the Stars with partner Brian Fortuna. Since you allegedly have to be a “star” to be on Dancing with the Stars, I’m assuming she got the gig because she was not only crowned Miss USA in 2004, she was also first runner up for Miss Universe 2004! Wow! That is quite an amazing accomplishment. (Fellow Ready for Love contestant Alba Reyes was second runner-up for Miss Universe 2004, btw.)

According to Shandi’s official Website, she graduated from Lindenwood University with a BS in Psychology. What’s really interesting is that she apparently “conducted research on androgyny that proved significant and was published in the SEPA Journal” while in school. Amazing! We love that she has brains and beauty!

And, she even wrote and published a children’s book called The Furrtails! From her Website:

Dedicated to helping children and people with disabilities, Shandi works to promote inclusion of individuals with mental challenges. One of her proudest achievements was publishing a children’s book on this very subject titled “The Furrtails,” which can be found through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Infinity Publishing awarded the distinguished AWMAD for Authors Who Make a Difference to her children’s book. She is currently working on her second children’s book titled “Suzanna the Banana.”

Born in 1978, Shandi is also the oldest of the ladies vying for 33-year-old Ernesto. And, from what we’ve seen so far, it looks like she has what it takes to steal Ernesto’s heart.