By Rachel Menendez

August 8 sees The Bachelor Pad back on TV with a new spin to it. The latest installment is The Bachelor Pad sees 18 former participants in The Bachelor or The Bachelorette come together under the one roof. This time they will be competing for half a million dollars and a second shot at love.

Hosted by Chris Harrison (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette), Bachelor Pad returns MONDAY, AUGUST 8 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) with its most controversial cast to date – 18 of the unforgettable characters from the Bachelor franchise, including the ones we love and those we love to hate.

All 18 participants will gather back at the mansion to live together and compete for the prize money and possibly a second chance at love. Cast members include: the infamous wrestler, Justin “Rated R” Rego, Gia Allemand, who’s fresh from a breakup with Wes, and Kasey Kahl, who once professed his love for former Bachelorette Ali by getting a tattoo on his wrist. They’ll be joining Jake Pavelka, a former “Bachelor,” and his jilted ex-fiancee, Vienna Girardi.

With so many elements at play to raise the stakes – Vienna and Kasey are currently dating, there is recent bad blood between Gia and Vienna, a friendship has developed between Jake and Gia, and so much more – Season 2 is set to bring fireworks, drama, romance and endless possibilities.

Each week the contestants will square off in head-to-head challenges to compete for immunity and the opportunity to go on a date with contestants of their choice. The winner of each challenge will then grant immunity to one of his or her dates via the presentation of a rose.

At the close of each episode the contestants vote among themselves – with the guys voting off one of the women and vice versa.

The 18 men and women joining the show are as follows:

The Women

GIA ALLEMAND (The Bachelor Season 14, Jake Pavelka)

After falling for Wes (Jillian’s season) on last season’s Bachelor Pad, Gia returns to the pad to face Vienna, who’s rumored to have come between her and Wes. She’ll be thankful to have an ally in Jake, with whom she’s formed a friendship.

Occupation: Model Age: 26  Residence: New York, NY

HOLLY DURST (The Bachelor Season 12, Matt Grant)

Holly was engaged to fellow Bachelor Pad Season 2 contestant Michael Stagliano, then broke off the engagement, only to realize she’d made a mistake. Just days after the breakup, she ran back to Michael, but it was too late; he could no longer trust her. Now living in the pad together, Holly’s ready for a rebound.

Occupation: Children’s book author Age: 28  Residence: Hollywood, CA

VIENNA GIRARDI (The Bachelor Season 14, Jake Pavelka)

Now dating Kasey (Ali’s season), Vienna has since moved on from her messy break-up with Jake and their infamous post-breakup TV face-off. Not only will she have to face Jake again in the pad, but she must also confront Gia (Jake’s season) about their recent history.

Occupation: Unemployed  Age: 25  Residence: Los Angeles

JACKIE GORDON (The Bachelor Season 15, Brad Womack)

Jackie is the girl next door not afraid to speak her mind. She’s ready for love and will get along well with the guys, but she’ll watch her back when it comes to Michelle Money, whom she doesn’t trust.

Occupation: Assistant Teacher  Age: 27  Residence: New York, NY

MICHELLE MONEY (The Bachelor Season 15, Brad Womack)

Michelle may be known as the manipulative seductress from Brad’s season, but the men won’t mind sharing the pad with her.

Occupation: Hairstylist  Age: 30  Residence: Salt Lake City, UT

ELLA NOLAN (The Bachelor Season 14, Jake Pavelka)

Single mom Ella is still quite upset with Jake for sending her home during a two-on-one date. Engaged to be wed, she comes to the pad having called off her wedding.

Occupation: Hairstylist  Age: 31  Residence: Nashville, TN

ERICA ROSE (The Bachelor Season 9, Lorenzo Borghese)

Erica’s outspokenness proved to be a turn-off for Lorenzo, but whether she’s in it for love or money, Erica will do anything! With friends Vienna and Kasey by her side, she might just get what she wants.

Occupation: Student  Age: 28  Residence: Houston, TX

MELISSA SCHREIBER (The Bachelor Season 15, Brad Womack)

Referred to as “the cougar” by her fellow castmates from season 15, Melissa is also known for her heated argument with Raichel (Brad’s season).

Occupation: Waitress  Age: 32  Residence: Boca Raton, FL

ALLI TRAVIS (The Bachelor Season 15, Brad Womack)

After telling Brad she had trouble picturing herself marrying her previous boyfriend, Brad reflected on his relationship with Alli and told her he felt the same way about her. Shortly thereafter, she was dismissed.

Occupation: Buyer  Age: 25  Residence: Columbus, OH

The Men

GRAHAM BUNN (The Bachelorette Season 4, DeAnna Pappas)

Graham is known as the hot heartbreaker from DeAnna’s season who didn’t reciprocate her feelings for him.

Occupation: Entrepreneur  Age: 32  Residence: New York, NY

KIRK DEWINDT (The Bachelorette Season 6, Ali Fedotowski)

Kirk’s dad, a taxidermist, gave Ali a tour of his basement to show off his work. Shortly thereafter, Kirk was dismissed. He joins the pad with friend and ally Kasey (Ali’s season).

Occupation: Personal trainer  Age: 27  Residence: Minneapolis, MN

KASEY KAHL (The Bachelorette Season 6, Ali Fedotowski)

Kasey is known for getting a tattoo on his wrist to signify to Ali how he’ll “guard and protect” her heart. These days his affection belongs to fellow contestant and girlfriend Vienna (Jake’s season). There may be eight other guys he’ll have to contend with, but only one guy he must best – Jake.

Occupation: Entrepreneur/philanthropist  Age: 27  Residence: Clovis, CA

JAKE PAVELKA (The Bachelor Season 14)

Jake returns to the site of his infamous post-breakup face-off with Vienna, seeing her for the first time since their heated exchange. This time, Vienna’s new man, Kasey (Ali’s season), will be by her side.

Occupation: Pilot  Age: 33  Residence: Los Angeles, CA

JUSTIN “RATED-R” REGO (The Bachelorette Season 6, Ali Fedotowski)

Justin walked off Ali’s season when she confronted him about the voice messages he’d left for his girlfriend back home.

Occupation: In sales  Age: 27  Residence: Toronto, Canada

MICHAEL STAGLIANO (The Bachelorette Season 5, Jillian Harris)

The wounds from his break-up with ex-fiancee and fellow “Bachelor Pad” contestant Holly Durst are still fresh. Michael must not only contend with 17 other contestants, but he also faces the prospects of Holly dating other guys.

Occupation: Entrepreneur  Age: 27  Residence: Sherman Oaks, CA

MYSTERY MAN #1 (The Bachelorette Season 7, Ashley Hebert)

MYSTERY MAN #2 (The Bachelorette Season 7, Ashley Hebert)

MYSTERY MAN #3 (The Bachelorette Season 7, Ashley Hebert)

All predictions point to it being a heated and histrionic season of The Bachelor Pad.

Contact the Author: RachelMenendez@MoviesIDidntGet.com