Naperville native wins Michael's heart

Cool. Hot. Smart. Funny.

That's how Poison lead singer Bret Michaels summed up Jes Rickleff on Sunday, when he chose the Naperville native as the winner of in VH1 reality show "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels."

After vying against 24 other women during 12 episodes, Rickleff won the singer's heart during the season finale by refusing to share him with the other contestant, Heather.

The prize? To become Michaels' girlfriend.

After the show aired, Rickleff said her victory turned a bit sour when she saw the show's editing; she was particularly upset with a scene where the camera blurred the lower half of her body to make it appear nude. Rickleff insists she was wearing a bikini.

"Of course I'm thrilled to win, but I'm not a happy camper about that right now," Rickleff said. "I tried to portray myself with morals throughout the show, and I guess they tried to mess with me a bit at the end."

But her friends and family, who gathered at her parents' Naperville home for the finale, still feel proud of their girl.

"She's the first one from Naperville to win a show," said her father, Jim Rickleff. "Everyone here knew Jesse would win ... even though we didn't tell them."

Jes is still coy about whether she's still dating Michaels, since she can't reveal details before the reunion show airs next Sunday.

"I can say there's a little twist to the reunion show," Rickleff said.

But this month, she'll have little time for romance, as she hosts parties at nightclubs around the country, including Level in Chicago on Oct. 16 and Bar Chicago on Oct. 18.

And does Dad approve of Jes' possible new beau?

"I think Bret has some quality," Jim Rickleff said. "He's a self-made person. I have a great respect for him and consider him a friend now after meeting him numerous times.

"That said, I leave fate to he and Jesse."