Text by Ines Mittal Gros
Images by Berit Anna Rojer
In October 2010, no one knew the chaos that would ensue when the first season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was released, if you do not know what that is, it is a reality show about the fanciest, richest, most dramatic women in Beverly Hills. The stars of season 1 (of whom only one is left now in season 13) are Taylor Armstrong, Camille Grammer, Adrienne Maloof, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump.
So, let’s look at the women (and their most iconic taglines) who made this show really happen.
- KYLE RICHARDS -
This Town Is A Game Of Chess, But No One’s Taking This Queen Down.
First up, Kyle is a child actress from various movies and shows, the most relevant ones being Halloween and The Little House on the Prairie. I am sure you have heard of both of these. She has been in the show since the very beginning and to this day she has contributed to everyone’s drama but her own. Her need for the spotlight and being the fan favourite - which she is not (or at least not my favourite) - is shown through her obnoxious siding with her new everchanging best friend on the show. She is a mom to 4 daughters whom she loves and one husband with whom she is allegedly separated.
- DORIT KEMSLEY -
I believe in an excess of everything, except moderation.
Next up, is Dorit Kemsley, also lovingly called Doritos; she is known for being a fashion designer with her latest design store called ‘Beverly Beach’ which has its own issues. Beyond that, Dorit is known for wearing the most extravagant, brand-name clothing, which to some (me) can be seen as tacky and trying to make her own life better or even sometimes worse than others for attention and sympathy. She is married to a husband who says her PTSD is annoying and has 2 kids whom she very much loves.
- LISA VANDERPUMP -
Throw me to the wolves and I shall return, leading the pack.
Here comes my favourite Housewife, an entrepreneurial queen with four restaurants and Vanderpump dogs in Beverly Hills. The British housewife with more money than she needs, is an active ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, rallies against animal abuse and has a thing for digs against her former best friends Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley. She is a mother to not only the gays but 2 swans, 3 horses, 10 dogs and 2 actual humans whom she loves very much. She too has a loving husband with whom the relationship is still alive and they have each other’s backs through thick and thin.
- LISA RINNA -
My lips were made for talkin’ and that’s just what they’ll do.
Next up, the other Lisa, often called Rinna or ‘OWN IT!’ Queen, she is a hard-at-work actress in soap shows and QBC, which really shows through this series. She is the funniest and most brutal housewife. She held everyone accountable to incredible standards to the point that she herself could not hold up to them. She is a mother to two model daughters and married to the best real house-husband. They are still happily married.
- YOLANDA HADID -
Character isn’t what you have, it’s who you are.
The dutchie who loves lemons a bit too much. From being the drama to being the most mature (and immature) through the show, it can be seen how much she is willing to do to stay in the show. Through her Lyme disease and her nude photoshoot for her now ex-husband David Foster, she is shown in the show as a good mother, good hostess, and amazing instigator of drama. She is a mother to 3 beautiful kids who she loves very much, and has 2 ex-husbands.
- ERIKA GIRARDI (JAYNE) -
The strongest substance on Earth isn’t diamonds. It’s me.
Erika Jayne, or as she was introduced, Girardi, is the perfect personification of the duality of (wo)man. She is the perfect wife during the day, and during the night, or through the show she is the ice queen. Famously known for not wanting to be called a liar, but constantly lying on the show. Be it about being a tattle tale or simply making up stuff about the other cast members. She is the mother of two: a human boy and her dog, Tiago. She is also the ex- wife of a lawyer who embezzled funds intended for the orphans and widows of a plane crash.
- KIM RICHARDS -
Everybody loves a comeback story, especially starring me.
Miss. Sobriety herself aka. Kim Richards is the one housewife everyone has hate and, at the same time, a soft spot for. She is known for various instances, one of which has been stated below. Not only that but, she is known as a child actress in movies such as Escape to Witch Mountain and being Paris Hilton’s aunt (a point she makes constantly). Kim is a mother of five—four human children and one dog named Kingsley, notorious for his lack of training.
RHOBH is not merely a spectacle of extravagance; it’s a microcosm of human relationships, replete with behind-the-scenes drama, production manipulation, cultural influence, and audience response. From controversies to conflicts, let’s delve into the captivating tapestry that is “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”.
Behind the polished façade of Beverly Hills mansions and designer wardrobes lies a web of personal dramas and off-camera controversies. Yolanda Hadid’s battle with Lyme disease became a headline-grabbing plot, with cast members questioning the authenticity of her illness. Lisa Rinna’s suggestion of Munchausen syndrome ignited heated debates, blurring the lines between genuine concern and calculated manipulation by other cast members such as Lisa Vanderpump.
Meanwhile, during a trip to Amsterdam, yes you read that right, the clash between Lisa Rinna and Kim Richards due to Lisa’s constant prodding of Kim’s off-screen struggle with alcohol reached explosive heights. Thus exposing the raw emotions and deep-seated tensions simmering beneath the surface. The remarks thrown around by Lisa questioning her sobriety got snapped back with unknown allegations about her own husband (who you might know from Mad Men) Harry Hamlin. This brought forth one of the most iconic lines of the housewives ‘Let's talk about the husband’ (in season 5, episode 16 called Amster-Damn) ending with anger explosions, broken glass and most importantly a buzz in the air about what these allegations really are.
At the beginning of Season 7, a seemingly dramaless pre-gathering for a white party turned into a battleground as “Pantygate” erupted on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In a scene similar to a Shakespearean drama, Erika Girardi, with icy determination, levelled accusations against Dorit Kemsley, unleashing an emotional storm that threatened to break the group apart. As the tension rose, murmurs of betrayal and deception weighed heavily in the air, exposing the fragile connections and hidden animosities beneath the opulent façade of their friendships. The fight, reminiscent of a Hollywood blockbuster, echoed with echoes of past misdeeds and unsolved issues, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats and eagerly anticipating the explosive conclusion.
In my opinion, saving the best for last, was the incident in Shanghai. After a crescendo in the situation of Dorit’s dinner party, Lisa Rinna finally snapped at a high-end dinner, where previous fights were ongoing. Lisa began the conversation with a simple “I just have to ask you a question” It was simple enough till she completely 180ed into a ‘Were people doing coke in your bathroom?’ the way my jaw dropped (more than Kyle Richards’ at that moment). There was a moment of silence, as I sat there and I just admired how casually this woman had managed to drop such a massive bomb. This led to more heated discussions and high tensions between the cast, and honestly… that was the thrill of it all.
Reality TV thrives on conflict and spectacle, and RHOBH is no exception. Yet, as viewers peel back the layers of glitz and glamour, questions arise about the authenticity of the drama unfolding before our eyes. Did producers orchestrate the confrontation between Yolanda and her sceptical castmates? Was the infamous “Let’s talk about your husband” moment a genuine expression of frustration or a scripted plot twist designed for maximum impact?
Beyond the entertainment value, RHOBH reflects and shapes broader cultural perceptions. The opulent lifestyles of the cast members serve as both aspiration and cautionary tales, fueling our fascination with wealth and materialism. However, the show’s focus on gossip and backstabbing also raises concerns about the normalisation of toxic behaviour and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. As viewers, we are drawn to the drama and spectacle of RHOBH, eagerly devouring each episode in search of the next explosive moment. Yet, amidst the razzle-dazzle, we must confront the ethical implications of our voyeuristic tendencies. Are we complicit in the exploitation of personal struggles for the sake of entertainment? Can we separate the real from the manufactured drama, or are we merely pawns in the producers’ game?
In the world of RHOBH, reality is often stranger than fiction. As viewers, it’s up to us to navigate the blurred lines between truth and entertainment, recognizing the power and pitfalls of the reality TV phenomenon.
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