Bravo’s Newest Stars Live in Rhode Island

After watching Sunday’s fantastic episode of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, I’m ready to share my thoughts on all the new cast members. It’s rare to be able to evaluate everyone at once, and surprisingly, I think most of them are genuinely great – with the possible exception of Rulla. Consider them all officially judged! Simply calling them amazing isn’t interesting enough, so I’m going to break down what makes each woman special and predict how long they’ll stay part of the group. Their relationships are so interconnected – it’s like a precarious Jenga tower where removing one person could cause everything to fall apart. Let’s see who I think will last and who might be leaving soon.

Jo-Ellen Tiberi

This group has incredibly strong connections, and everything seems to revolve around Jo-Ellen, especially her close friends Alicia, Liz, and Kelsey. Even those a bit outside that inner circle, like Rulla and Rosie, are linked to Jo-Ellen through shared drama. She perfectly fills the classic reality TV role of being the one who knows all the gossip, shares it with the group, and uses it to drive the storyline, as seen with the rumors about Rulla’s husband. Jo-Ellen also has all the qualities of a successful reality star: she’s good at handling conflict, delivers cutting remarks, and can turn gossip into compelling stories – plus, she has an attractive husband! She currently lacks a strong personal storyline, but that’s sure to change as her sister gets closer to her husband. Jo-Ellen is a natural for this show and will likely remain a key figure for a very long time, much like Kyle Richards.

Liz McGraw

Like Jo-Ellen, Liz is a central figure who holds the group together and often takes on a motherly role. However, she’s more quick-tempered, which has already caused conflict, like her arguments with Kelsey and Alicia. Beyond her personal life – dealing with her husband’s fishing hobby, selling her boat, and the drama surrounding Dino – Liz has several interesting stories to tell. Considering her connections to the cannabis industry and some questionable people (a quick search for Dino might be revealing!), things could easily escalate. While Jo-Ellen brings outside perspectives to the group, which is valuable in today’s reality TV landscape, Liz is the show’s new Teresa Giudice – she’s entertaining with her unique mannerisms, funny interviews, fiery personality, and friendship with Dolores Catania – and will likely remain a key cast member as long as she avoids major trouble.

Alicia Carmody

Alicia is a larger-than-life personality – a true star! She’s the kind of person drag queens would adore, and it’s no surprise she seems to love them back, perhaps because they remind her of Bratz dolls. She’s completely unique and consistently delivers hilarious moments throughout each episode, from doing retro workouts to snacking on the go, and even casually recounting shocking stories with remarkable composure. While she hasn’t been involved in much drama so far, her brief argument with Rosie proved she understands conflict and how to navigate it – a key skill for any ‘Housewife’. She’s funny, friendly with everyone, isn’t afraid to stand her ground, and is a genuinely original personality. In fact, she reminds many viewers of NeNe Leakes, and it’s clear she’s here to stay. Expect to see her on other reality shows before long.

Rosie DiMare

Rosie is the person every friend group needs to stir things up. She instinctively knows how to create drama, keep it going, and then gracefully exit before things get too heated. As an outsider to the main circle, she isn’t afraid to clash with anyone – whether it’s Jo-Ellen over cheap wine, Kelsey due to her lifestyle, or Alicia for commenting on Liz’s personality. Plus, there are plenty of rumors swirling about her marriage, hinting at future conflicts. With her tendency to playfully tease, jump into arguments, and then quickly remove herself, along with some incredibly suspicious facial expressions during interviews, she’s quickly becoming as iconic and enduring as Ashley Darby.

Ashley Iaconetti

Ashley is the newest cast member to move from The Bachelor world to Bravo, but she’s broken the mold – she’s not as emotional as she was portrayed and has definitely moved on from her past. She’s somewhat of an outsider, not originally from Rhode Island and mostly uninvolved in the main drama. As a close friend of Rosie, one of the show’s villains, she’s generally secure in her position. However, unlike others who blindly support their friends, Ashley tries to find common ground, which goes against the show’s focus on conflict. Her storyline about her husband’s struggling coffee shop isn’t groundbreaking, but she’s refreshingly honest, and, let’s be real, her husband is very attractive. While she doesn’t create much drama, she tries to keep the peace and understand the villains, which often leads fans to criticize her and call for her departure – all while she continues to surprise us with her bold fashion choices, similar to Gina Kirschenheiter.

Kelsey Swanson

Kelsey being the first cast member to openly discuss being a ‘sugar baby’ and in a polyamorous relationship on the show is noteworthy, but I doubt she’ll last. Her friendship with Liz is a good thing, even though it has its ups and downs. However, her argument with Rosie over an Instagram post felt unnecessary and possibly manufactured. I don’t think her relationship with Big Poppa Jr. (who I call Fat Daddy) will last, and I’m not sure what will keep Kelsey interesting once it ends. She’s young, attractive, and driven, so I question whether she’ll want to stay in Rhode Island if she becomes famous. I can easily see her leaving to pursue a risky pop music career, similar to Jo De La Rosa.

Rulla Nehme Pontarelli

I’m not sure Rulla will last on the show. She feels like an afterthought, and she’s currently having issues with Jo-Ellen, who’s a key cast member. Plus, she hasn’t really shown a compelling personality – she’s not particularly funny, interesting, or unpredictable, which is what viewers expect from the Housewives. While her relationship with her husband, Brian – who is openly unfaithful – is definitely dramatic, I predict she’ll either leave because she can’t handle the spotlight or faces backlash from fans, similar to Camille Grammer. However, like Camille, she might occasionally appear at events just to deliver a cutting remark.

2026-05-02 00:00