Yes, I said. Although it is still a Bravo baby, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has already surpassed the rest of the shows in the Real Housewives franchise. With the downfall of Orange County in this year’s season, Salt Lake City has definitely taken the crown.
I don’t think I’m the only one who doubted this show at first. The idea of rich Mormons providing entertainment equal to that of The Real Housewives of New York, Atlanta, and Beverly Hills was something I never thought would be possible. I was wrong. These women are more than that. First off, most of the women are not Mormon. Mary Cosby is Pentecostal, Meredith Marks is Jewish, Heather Gay is ex-Mormon royalty and has distanced herself from the church, Whitney Rose is also ex-Mormon royalty and was excommunicated from the church, Jen Shah converted from Mormonism to Islam, and Lisa Barlow is “Mormon 2.0”.
My biggest grievance with some of the other Housewives shows is that the women are boring. They don’t work and are quite literally housewives. Their drama revolves around petty things and the show lacks real substance. Salt Lake City is different because these women are successful and don’t have their lives revolve around catty drama, they have other things going on. In addition to raising their families, Meredith is a high-end jewelry designer, Lisa owns VIDA Tequila, Jen owns multiple beauty companies, Heather owns a medical cosmetic company, Mary is the leader of a church, and Whitney owns a skincare line. These women are not just housewives. Instead, they are successful women who are able to balance everything and are an inspiration for women who want to have both a family and a career. The show follows the women as they deal with family issues such as reconnecting with an alcoholic father, fixing a broken marriage, trying to date after getting divorced as a Mormon, long-distance relationships, and more. This Housewives show is much more developed, and the women are more open to sharing the personal aspects of their lives compared to the other Housewives. This allows us to connect with the women and get to genuinely know them. These women feel real, it doesn’t feel like they are putting on a show, aside from a few Jen Shah moments, and they really own their truth. They don’t stand for the lies and rumors and instead talk it out. I think what makes this group of women so authentic is the fact that they all knew each other before the show. Their friendship isn’t forged for the camera, and they all have history.
Although Salt Lake City is dominated by the LDS Church, this show is not lacking in drama. The show begins with Mary’s arranged marriage to her step-grandfather and from then on, the drama doesn’t end. Jen’s beef with Mary continues throughout the season and affects her relationship with the other women, increasing tension and at some point, splitting up the group. This show gives us a perspective of the women in and out of religion, which is something the other shows in the franchise have not touched on. Mormons strive to attain perfection, and that is a driving force in the actions of the women. From throwing glasses to “disengaging” from confrontation, this show will have you hooked!
I definitely recommend this show to anyone who is potentially interested in reality TV. It has the perfect blend of luxury, drama, and class. The season finale was on February 3rd, 2021 with the reunion finishing up on February 17th, 2021, but I suggest going back and starting from episode one. The show has officially been renewed for a second season, and I can’t wait to see the drama the ladies bring!