Gone but not forgotten. The Bachelor: Countdown to Juan Pablo special on Sunday, Jan. 5, was chock full of funny clips to get fans excited about the new season of The Bachelor, which premieres Monday, Jan. 6. But it also included a lengthy, moving tribute to the late Gia Allemand, who committed suicide last August and was a contestant on Jake Pavelka's season of the ABC series back in 2010.
Bachelor host Chris Harrison began the touching segment by introducing some old footage of Allemand talking about life and love. "I just hope people remember my kind heart," she said in the clip. "I have a kind heart for people. That's what I hope people remember me for."
The popular Bachelor Pad alum also revealed her desire to someday have a family. "I want two kids, and I want to adopt a baby girl from China," she shared.
Later in the tribute, Allemand's mom, Donna Micheletti, spoke out about the tragedy of her daughter's death at age 29. "Gia took her own life, and it is heart-wrenching, and I wouldn't want to see any other parent go through this," Micheletti said, visibly emotional. "There is plenty of help for everyone. I just miss her."
She added: "Gia was always full of such life, and she'd walk into a room and you'd feel her presence. She'd light up that room like sunshine."
Season 18 of The Bachelor premieres Monday, Jan. 6, on ABC.