Why Anna Valdez From Chicago P.D. Looks So Familiar

Though she had a slew of guest appearances in shows like "Hawaii Five-0" and "Stitchers," Monica Barbaro's first major role didn't come until Season 2 of "UnREAL." The Lifetime series functioned as a dramatization and behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a reality television series like "The Bachelor." In the series, Barbaro appears as Yael, a fashion blogger who hopes to court football superstar Darius Beck (B. J. Britt), who is headlining as the suitor of "Everlasting."

The producers and creative talent behind "Everlasting" refer to Yael's character as "Hot Rachel" throughout the season as she appears to be a more successful, mature, and attractive version of Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby), one of the lead producers on the fictional reality series. Barbaro's Yael is eventually revealed to be an undercover journalist who seeks to expose the various nefarious and illegal activities committed by the producers of "Everlasting". Yael and the series' showrunner for that season eventually die in a car crash after it's rigged by the "actual" Rachel's bitter ex (Josh Kelly).

While Season 2 of "UnREAL" wasn't as universally praised as Season 1, the show's sophomore outing served as Barbaro's first major role, which eventually led her to join the ever-expanding "One Chicago" franchise.