Emily Maynard on Next Season's 'Bachelorette?'

Last season's "The Bachelor" participant Emily Maynard has been rumored to be ABC's 2012 "Bachelorette."

The 25-year-old single mother won the show last season, but later turned down "Bachelor" Brad Womack's proposal on the television series, leaving many viewers certain her stunt with the ABC franchise was over.

US Weekly and People magazines are confirming that Maynard has agreed to be ABC's new star on the upcoming season of "The Bachelorette."

The event planner only agreed to a deal with the network after executives consented to bringing production of the show to her hometown of Charlotte, N.C., so that she could be near her daughter, People reported. Filming would begin in March.

Maynard was a beloved cast member on the series after audience members heard about the death of her fiancee, NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick. Hendrick was killed in a plane crash in 2004, right before the then 18-year-old Maynard learned she was pregnant with their daughter, Ricki.

While on "The Bachelor," Maynard was highly concerned about setting a positive example for her young daughter. She was only interested in talking on the reality dating show, and refused to join Womack on an overnight date.

After winning the show, Maynard and her daughter were going to move to Womack's home in Austin, Texas. The reality television star changed her mind, though.

Upon the announcement of the broken engagement following the wrap-up of "The Bachelor," Maynard explained, "Just because we love each other doesn't mean we're right for each other."

While appearing on the July 2011 "Bachelor" special, she continued, "As a single mom, I don't have the luxury of saying 'We'll figure it out when we get there.' I need that reassurance that he'd want to be with me six weeks down the road much less six years."

Since her split with last season's "Bachelor" star, Maynard was rumored to have been dating the Carolina Panther's tight end Jeremy Shockey.

A source close to Maynard told US Weekly that the North Carolina native is looking for love.

"She's looking for a man," said the insider. "Not a little boy."

ABC has not yet confirmed the deal for "The Bachelorette," which returns to ABC at a date to be determined later this year.

Meanwhile, "The Bachelor" starring Ben Flajnik airs Mondays on ABC at 8 p.m. EST.