It’s a known fact that the Real Housewives franchises are short on diversity. Save for Real Housewives of Atlanta and Real Housewives of Potomac, the casting women of color is severely lacking. And while it’s progress, it took 10 whole seasons of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills before the first black woman, Garcelle Beauvais, was given a diamond.
The lack of diversity and inequality on Bravo was further highlighted this year during the Vanderpump Rules racism controversy. As a refresher, original cast members Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired for falsely accusing their only black castmate, Faith Stowers, of theft. In addition, two other newbies were let go for their past racist behavior online. All of this is to say that Bravo really needs to diversify. And it sounds like they are continuing to move in that direction.
The Real Housewives of New York might be getting a new housewife holding an apple next season. Ok! Magazine reported that a source close to the franchise is saying that Alicia Quarles, a Black woman, will be joining the cast. Alicia is best known for her work as a host on E! News and as a correspondent for Daily Mail TV. Aside from her professional accomplishments, Alicia is also a fixture on the Manhattan social and fashion scene.
While it’s not confirmed that she will be joining season 13 of the franchise, the source says that she quietly signed on within the last few weeks. Said the source, “Alicia deserves to be on the show because of who she is. But there is no doubt that recent events across the country provided a reckoning for television producers, and the Housewives have not been immune to that.”
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Alicia joined E! News from The Associated Press where she was the Global Entertainment and Lifestyles Editor, overseeing a staff of more than 60 people. She also graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California, so Alicia is one smart cookie.
While a Bravo rep confirms Alicia has met with casting, they are not giving out any more details. The rep said, “she has absolutely not been cast.” Another source shares, “Alicia has just simply met with the casting agency for RHONY as have numerous other women who have been recommended by the current New York Housewives. That is as far as the discussion with Alicia has gone.”
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Given her background in television, fashion and the Big Apple social scene, I think Alicia would make an excellent addition. Who better to go toe to toe with the ladies of RHONY?
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ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ALICIA? DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD BE A GOOD ADDITION TO RHONY? DO YOU THINK BRAVO NEEDS MORE DIVERSITY ON THEIR SHOWS?
[Photo Credit: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for DailyMail.com]