The Real Housewives franchise is expanding once again.
Bravo announced on Wednesday, May 7, that The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is officially in the works and coming to a small screen soon.
“Set against the shores of the Ocean State, The Real Housewives franchise expands into the world of a tight-knit circle of Rhode Islanders who have deep community roots and families that go back generations,” the show’s synopsis stated. “With aspirational lives, thriving businesses and tangled family dynamics, these decade-long friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past … or each other.”
While the cast has yet to be revealed, Rhode Island has certainly seen its fair share of residents become Hollywood stars.
The View cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Olivia Culpo and Will & Grace actress Debra Messing are just some of the many celebs who grew up in the Ocean State.
In celebration of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Us Weekly is discovering a few familiar faces who once called Rhode Island home.
While they may have moved out of the area, these stars would absolutely make great reality TV stars — if they ever want to explore in the future.
Olivia Culpo
Olivia Culpo Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM
While the model has her hands full as she prepares to welcome her first child with NFL player Christian McCaffrey, Culpo was previously inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. She also earned the title of Miss Rhode Island in 2012.
For major milestones like her engagement party, Culpo tries to celebrate in Rhode Island with her family and close friends.
“Rhode Island is family,” she wrote via Instagram in July 2023. “When I started planning my engagement party, I knew every vendor would either be a high school friend or someone I knew through a brother, sister, or cousin. I knew they would go above and beyond and they really did 🥹.”
Bravo’s longest running Real Housewives show remains juicy as ever. After a dramatic season 18 filled with lawsuits, paparazzi allegations and an unforgettable cast trip to London, the ladies of The Real Housewives of Orange County are gearing up for season 19. One cast member ready to film once again is Shannon Beador. “I look […]
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
The mother of three, who cohosted The View from 2003 to 2013, knows how to hold her own in a disagreement and isn’t afraid to share her beliefs on faith, politics and “Hot Topics.”
Plus, who can forget that Hasselbeck — who grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island — first appeared on season 2 of Survivor in 2001?
Shanna Moakler
Shanna Moakler Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Crazy Horse 3
Long before moving to New York, Los Angeles and now Texas, Moakler was a Providence, Rhode Island, kid who was named Miss Teen Rhode Island in 1992.
Whether coparenting her kids with Travis Barker and Oscar de La Hoya or dating Greg Vaughan, Moakler’s reality deserves a camera crew.
Debra Messing
Before earning roles in unforgettable projects like Will & Grace and The Wedding Date, Messing grew up in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
In May 2019, the actress was able to go back to her hometown and shared why the city is so special.
“We ate at the waterfront restaurant for whom I waitressed 30 years ago. Then we drove around the town — pointing out what hadn’t changed,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “The movie theater. The post office. The high school. Job Lot. I pointed to the gas station where all the cute senior boys worked over the weekend.”
Meredith Vieira
Meredith Vieira Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
From daytime TV to reality TV? Thanks to her years of working on 60 Minutes, The View and NBC’s Today show, Vieira has plenty of experience asking tough questions while also being her authentic self for viewers.
Andy Cohen, you know who to call!
Several actresses have been featured on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills over the years — but who turned down the opportunity to hold a diamond? Child stars Kyle Richards and Kim Richards were among the first actresses to appear on RHOBH. Lisa Vanderpump, another OG, also had several British acting credits under her belt […]
Viola Davis
Every city in The Real Housewives franchise has a dream cast member — think Gloria Estefan in Miami or Chrissy Teigen in Beverly Hills. For Rhode Island, we can’t imagine anyone would be mad at Davis joining the show.
Yes, she’s an Oscar winner living a drama-free life in Los Angeles. But if the Central Falls native ever wants to switch things up, there’s a new show in town.
