If you spent your Sunday nights in 2007 glued to VH1, you remember the chaos. The hairspray. The Smirnoff Ice. The sheer, unadulterated madness of twenty-something women fighting over a man in a bandana. Bret Michaels was the prize, but let's be honest: we weren't watching for Bret. We were watching for the Rock of Love contestants.
The show was a fever dream. It felt like a time capsule of a specific, gritty era of reality TV that just doesn’t exist anymore. Today’s influencers are too polished. Back then? They were real, they were messy, and they were ready to get a tattoo of a guy's name after three days. But once the tour bus parked for good, the real world hit hard. Some of these women became real estate moguls, while others basically vanished from the face of the earth.
The Winners: Where Did They Go?
Winning Rock of Love was sort of a poisoned chalice. You "won" Bret, but you usually lost him before the reunion special even aired. Take Jes Rickleff from Season 1. She was the cool, pink-haired "punk" girl who seemed way too grounded for the show.
Honestly, she probably was.
Jes famously broke up with Bret during the reunion, basically telling him the lifestyle wasn't for her. Since then? She’s a ghost. She’s one of the few reality stars who actually stayed away. Rumors float around Reddit about her life in Chicago or her marriage, but she doesn't do the "influencer" thing. She chose privacy, which is arguably the most "rock and roll" move of all.
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Then there’s Ambre Lake from Season 2. Unlike Jes, Ambre was older, more "mature," and a total pro. She’s kept her foot in the industry door, working as a producer and actress. You might’ve even spotted her in Sweet Home Alabama way back in the day. She still pops up on podcasts occasionally to talk about the "old days" of VH1.
And Season 3? Taya Parker. She was the Penthouse Pet who some fans thought was a production plant. Whether she was or wasn't, Taya used that win to fuel a massive career in modeling and acting. She’s still out there, active on social media, and doing the convention circuit. She’s a mom now, too. Life moves fast.
The Villains We Loved to Hate
You can't talk about Rock of Love contestants without mentioning Lacey Sculls (then Lacey Conner). She was the blueprint for the reality TV villain. She knew exactly what she was doing. She’d stir the pot, insult everyone's hair, and then calmly sip a drink while the house exploded.
What’s she doing now? She’s actually the keeper of the flame. Lacey hosts the Talk of Love podcast, where she interviews almost every former cast member from the "Of Love" era. If you want the real tea on what happened behind the scenes, that's where it is. She’s also a massive animal rights advocate. It turns out the "villain" has a pretty big heart for dogs.
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The Fan Favorites
- Heather Chadwell: The runner-up who got Bret’s name tattooed on her neck. She’s a legend. Heather is now a high-end realtor in Newport Beach. She’s open about her journey, including her sobriety, which she celebrated eight years of in early 2025.
- Cindy "Rodeo" Steedle: The cowgirl with the heart of gold. She’s also killed it in the real estate game. She works for The Agency—the same firm from Buying Beverly Hills.
- Frenchy (Angelique Morgan): Still Frenchy. Still iconic. She’s carved out a niche for herself in the adult industry and reality TV overseas, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother UK.
The Tragedy of Megan Wants a Millionaire
We have to talk about the dark side. Megan Hauserman was arguably the biggest breakout star. She was funny, smart, and played the "dumb blonde" character to perfection. It earned her a spin-off, Megan Wants a Millionaire.
Then, the unthinkable happened. One of the contestants on her show, Ryan Jenkins, was involved in a horrific murder-suicide. VH1 scrubbed the show. They basically tried to pretend the whole era didn't happen for a while. Megan retreated from the spotlight. Today, she lives a quiet life in Florida as a wife and mother. It’s a somber reminder that behind the "trashy" entertainment, these were real lives being impacted by the machine.
Why We’re Still Obsessed in 2026
It’s been nearly twenty years since the first season. Why are we still Googling these names?
Maybe it’s nostalgia for a time before everything was filtered. These women weren't worried about their "personal brand." They were just... there. They were fighting over a guy who wore a wig and leggings. It was absurd. It was beautiful.
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If you're looking for a trip down memory lane, most of these seasons are streaming on Hulu or Paramount+. Just don't expect a happy ending for the couples. Expect chaos.
Next Steps for the Super-Fan:
If you want to keep up with the cast today, your best bet is Instagram or TikTok. Most of the "main characters" like Heather, Lacey, and Taya are very active.
- Check out Lacey’s Talk of Love on YouTube for the most in-depth interviews.
- Follow Heather Chadwell for a look at the Newport Beach luxury life.
- Don't bother looking for Jes Rickleff—she's truly gone off the grid, and we should probably respect that.
The era of big hair and bigger drama might be over, but the legends of the 2000s live on in the archives of VH1.