On the final day of BravoCon, during the Ask Andy panel, Real Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen announced the official cast of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, the latest installment in Bravo’s mega-series. Cohen also confirmed that the new season of “The Real Housewives of New York City” has been cast and will begin filming soon. Cohen didn’t reveal who will be appearing in season 16, but we’re sure BravoCon attendees Erin Richie, Cy de Silva, and Jessel Tank will be among them. Bryn Whitfield and Uba Hassan, whose toxic battles poisoned an already weak 15th season, have already announced their departures (this was a foreseen conclusion).
Cohen also expressed confidence that “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” currently on hiatus, will eventually return.
On The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, former Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise contestant Ashley Iaconetti is one of the show’s full-time cast members, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Dolores Catania (who is also one of the winners of Season 3 of Traitor) is a “friend” of the cast, as rumored since they were both spotted on set. (Official bios for all cast members are included below.)
Iaconetti’s casting marks the first time a Bachelor Nation star has appeared on The Real Housewives. Influencer Iaconetti co-hosts the “Almost Famous” podcast with former Bachelor Ben Higgins. She appeared on Chris Soules’ season of The Bachelor in 2015 and later married her Bachelor in Paradise castmate Jared Haibon. (They have two children.)
And she’s new to Rhode Island, the show’s trailer emphasizes. It begins with Iaconetti’s voice acting as our guide. “In Rhode Island, everyone knows everyone,” she says, looking over drone shots of crashing waves and huge mansions. “People here don’t look down on other states, but they find it strange that other states exist.”
As for Catania, she is introduced to the show in relation to her friend Liz, who she looks like. With “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” currently on hiatus, Catania has moved on to more fertile pastures, and the cast bio reads, “Rhode Island captured Dolores’ heart years ago and she’s wanted to return ever since. With close friend Liz McGraw living there and a shared business project on the horizon, a sunny, beach-filled summer is a natural fit for this Jersey girl.”
Here’s the official logline: “They may live in the smallest state in the country, but their drama? Outsized. As ‘The Real Housewives’ celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, Bravo expands on its storied series with ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,’ spotlighting a group of fresh, charismatic women whose lives intersect on the storied New England coastline.”
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” will premiere next year.
alicia carmody
A Rhode Islander through and through, Alicia isn’t shy about her roots. Wait until you hear it say “cracker.” Eight years after her engagement to fiancé Billy Kitsilis, the Runaway Bride still isn’t ready to take the plunge, even with her daughter Serena. When Alicia isn’t dodging wedding bells, she helps run Billy’s restaurant, Pizza Mamma, proving she can handle the heat both inside and outside the kitchen.
Rosie Dimare
A former local TV news anchor, Rosie now shines as the host of her own lifestyle program and a popular DJ. She recently celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with her husband, Rich DiMare, who is famous for his Frank Sinatra style singing. Rosie calls North Kingstown home, and the couple lives with their dog, Clementine.
Ashley Iaconetti
After finding love on Bachelor in Paradise with her now-husband, Warwick, Rhode Island native Jared Haibon, Ashley has traded the rose ceremony for real life and is now the proud mother of two boys, Dawson and Hayden. While Jared runs his beloved coffee shop, Ashley has built a successful career as a social media mogul while adjusting to her new life in her husband’s home state.
liz mcgraw
Liz is Rhode Island royalty, the girl everyone wants to know, and Rhode Island’s very own Queen of Cannabis. Along with her husband, Jerry, she owns and operates the Slater Center, Rhode Island’s largest and most successful cannabis dispensary. But Liz is more than just a business mogul, she’s also a devoted stepmother to Miranda, Brianna, and Skyla, balancing family, entrepreneurship, and her signature flair for style.
Lula Neeme Pontarelli
Rulla commands a financial empire as a certified financial planner and wealth manager for some of the East Coast’s most prestigious families. Lula is married to Brian, a prominent podiatrist in Rhode Island, and they juggle life with two young children, Luca and Laila.
kelsey swanson
A former Miss Rhode Island, Kelsey consistently ranks as one of the state’s top makeup artists. Kelsey has been in a 10-year relationship with one of Rhode Island’s most notable figures and has been enjoying the luxury of spending time with her full social calendar.
Jo-Ellen Tiberi
A self-proclaimed town gossip, Jo-Ellen knows everyone in Cranston and knows everything there is to know. One of the top aesthetic practice development managers in the country, she juggles a busy career and family life with her high school sweetheart, husband Gary, and their three children: Gian, Jolie, and Gia.
