This week, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City will finally make its series debut on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 10:00 pm/9c.
Now, the cast, which consists of Heather Gay, Jen Shah, Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Meredith Marks, and Whitney Rose, teases what Bravo viewers can expect about the upcoming first season.
How did you first get involved with the Housewives franchise?
Lisa Barlow: I do a lot of projects in Park City, I had a lot of connections. A production company affiliated with Bravo was looking at doing something unique in Park City. I was the first person they talked to. I guess there was a lot of pressure there. Depending on how the conversation went with me, determined what was coming to Park City and Salt Lake City. We had this amazing conversation that lasted for an hour and they said, 'We have to do something in Salt Lake.'
It's an ensemble cast, but it started basically with me and then Meredith. And it grew out from there. And I'm excited to see what this holds for our city.
What was it like filming a reality show with your friends?
LB: Meredith and I have been friends for almost a decade. It was so natural. All you have to do is be yourself and be organic... As much as you know someone, being in this setting, you get to know them on a totally different level and a totally different way. You don't have a lot of time to process while we're filming the show. Our reactions are real and raw, so you see your friends go through different experiences and scenarios and situations. Everyone has different personalities... It was a lot but it was amazing. We're all closer friends. [Jen] is just fun. I love the high energy and Jen is high energy. She brings it.
Do you think the show will appeal to a wide audience?
LB: The whole experience was amazing. All of the girls are great, everyone is so unique and different and there is something for everyone with all of us.
What about filming a reality TV was different than you expected?
LB: I didn't expect how many people would be in my house for a scene. I was expecting like two people with a camera. No, it's like a major production. It's an entourage. But, I love the whole process. It was amazing.
What about you was either not filmed or minorly touched on in the show that you wish people knew about you?
LB: I think you will get to see it, but not at the level that it is. I'm an extremely hands-on mother, but I'm a serial entrepreneur. I love building more than buying, and I love to buy. I think for me, the reason I did this show is I want women to feel like they can do anything. Like get outside of the box and if you have something you want to do, don't wait until tomorrow, get on it and do it right now. If you have passion, it will work out. Anything you're trying to do and anything you're trying to accomplish, it will happen. Don't give up because nothing worth having is easy.
I love being such a big part of our Salt Lake community... From our owning tequila brands... and an LGBTQIA standpoint... I wish one scene that was captured was when we sponsored an event for the LGBTQIA community with Equality Utah. The [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] has talked about it a lot, but what could be talked about more is how socially aware we are and how supportive we are of refugees and the LGBTQ community. That's major for me... No one should have to hide that. It should be treated very very normal.
How did you become a Bravo housewife?
Jen Shah: The production company reached out to me from L.A. and said they were looking for some people in Utah that owned businesses... They were putting together a reality TV show for Bravo.
Have you always had an entrepreneurial spirit?
JS: I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I worked in Fortune 500 corporate America for the first part of my career and then I knew it was time to go out on my own. I wanted to get out and do my own thing and take that leap.
You converted from Mormonism to Islam. How did Utah have an effect on that?
JS: It was actually, for me now and in the long run, it was positive. Because it was the right thing for me to do with my family. I wouldn't want to raise my boys any other way. My husband is such a great example of Islam. So that's really what drew me in. So it was a positive thing for me to convert but the process of questioning what the right thing was, that was difficult because that's what I knew my whole life: being Mormon. It's hard when that's all you know and it's hard to let go of that and to take that leap. But because it was my husband, I knew it was the right thing for me to do.
What about filming a reality TV was different than you expected?
JS: Filming reality TV, I thought it was reality meaning b****** are going to tell the truth and be real. And that is not what happens. PSA to everyone out there, that's not what happens. Contrary to what I thought. That was very interesting to me. I am very real. I am what you see on the screen. That's how I am at home and at work. I'm consistent. I thought that everyone else was going to be the same way that they always are, how I knew them. That wasn't the case and that was the hardest thing for me. That was surprising.
What do you want people to know about you?
JS: I really want people to look into the background and the culture of where I'm from. I don't know if that was showcased enough throughout. I'm Tongan, I'm Polynesian, we've got big personalities. We love hard, we fight hard. I'm very passionate. That's my culture and that's my upbringing.
Why were you selected for RHOSLC?
Heather Gay: Lisa Barlow recommended me and talked to me about it for a year or two. Then a casting agent called me. That was it.
What was different about filming a reality TV show than you expected?
HG: I didn't even know what to think. I grew up on "The Real World" and I didn't know what to think. It was much more fun than I thought it would be. I love the crew. I love the whole process of it. I thought there would be more manufactured drama. There's nothing. They literally document just putting us in a room. Like watching the ants in the ant trap. It's so real. It's gutting. It was so emotional and it really changes you. It's like a crucible, it forces you to game on. It's like "Survivor," "Project Runaway" and "Minute To Win It." It's all real and intense.
What about you was either not filmed or minorly touched on in the show that you wish people knew about you?
HG: I don't know. I think I showed every part of my life and so I don't know what parts will be interesting or make it to the final edit, but I think I want people to know that this is the real deal. It's #relatable. I say a lot of dumb things in the moment and don't mean it. I feel bad about everything and I cringe about everything. So, just give me a pass.
What was it like to have the crew around?
HG: It felt like a village. As a single mom, it sounds crazy, but to have all of these handlers come in... and we were just surrounded by men and producers... and they just took care of us. I felt like I had a village, so it felt great. It was an incredible experience.
Why did you decide to start a business in the beauty industry?
HG: I've been an entrepreneur from birth. I was an entrepreneur in college and when I was a housewife. I had a side gig where I would do social media and photography for a plastic surgeon in exchange for botox. When I got divorced, I got a settlement. He was struggling. He asked me to invest and I did. After three months I just saw that as a business person that it wasn't going to work. I bought him out. I was so disturbed by how the industry was running, I had to change it. My partner came in and we built a cosmetic spa that we would want to go to. Just got rid of all of the egos of the doctors, and all of the stigma and shame, and price hiking. We said, "This should be like Target. I put it in my cart and I buy it. I don't get locked into something or upsold." Personal maintenance is such a time suck. So we're trying to put women back where they want to be, and not just beautifying themselves all day long.
How did you become a Bravo housewife?
Whitney Rose: Actually Heather Gay is the one who roped me into it. Heather is my second-cousin and she had heard about the process and recommended me.
What was different about filming a reality TV show than you expected?
WR: I think all of it was a surprise. The amount of time that goes into it. How real and emotional and raw it really is. That was shocking to me.
Was there ever a moment where you thought 'I can't believe I just did that on camera'?
WR: There were many moments where I thought 'I can't believe I just said that or did that' or 'Oh no, too much liquid courage on that one!'
When did you start pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams?
WR: I was born into this world as an entrepreneur. I've always been driven and hardworking and had big goals. I've really learned that I can accomplish those things when I want them. I just have to be able to do the work and stay consistent.
What do you want people to know about you?
WR: Absolutely that I'm an entrepreneur and that I'm a businesswoman. I've developed my own skincare line, Iris + Beau, and we've been working on it for four years. Unfortunately, it's just not going to be featured in season one because I had some bigger things happening in my life at the time, specifically with my father. I just want the world to know that I'm a bada** boss babe.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 1 premieres on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 10pm/9c on Bravo!
Photo Credit: Bravo/NBCUniversal
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