Actual Housewives of New York is including one other fashionista to the forged. Black queer mannequin and artwork curator Racquel Chevremont has signed on for Season 15.
“It’s thrilling,” she stated when the casting was introduced. “I actually didn’t assume they might be serious about me … as a result of they already had a queer lady [Jenna Lyons]. I wasn’t positive in the event that they had been going to need two queer ladies on a franchise that has traditionally been about married heterosexual ladies … It was a daring choice and actually a extra genuine illustration of NYC.”
Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how she adjusts and suits in with the opposite ladies. I’m trying ahead to some new power within the group. Feels like she’ll preserve the others on their toes.
A household choice
Whereas admitting that she’s by no means been an enormous fan of The Housewives, Racquel binge-watched the present when she was supplied the chance to affix RHONY. However the last choice of whether or not or to not settle for the provide was made as a household.
“My household and I actually had to consider it,” she instructed GLAAD. “[But] ultimately, it made sense.”
“My complete grownup life has been about illustration and utilizing no matter platform I’ve to get the voices of queer people of the diaspora on the market. What higher means to take action if not as a member of this iconic franchise?”
Racquel’s aim is to point out viewers “a loving enjoyable household together with our chosen household … It’s extraordinarily vital to me, [because] this present reaches tens of millions of individuals.”
“It’s vital for not solely our neighborhood to see themselves represented,” she continued, “but additionally for the world to get to know a queer household in a extra intimate means. [We need to] present that all of us have extra similarities than not: that queer ladies might be profitable, lovely, and in loving relationships elevating kids, too.”
Popping out wasn’t straightforward
Popping out as queer didn’t come simply for Racquel. “I’m what you’d name a ‘later-in-life’ lesbian,” she stated. “After I first got here out I misplaced lots of people.”
“Due to my age and my accomplishments I didn’t care what anybody needed to say,” she added. “I didn’t really feel the necessity to show something to anybody … My complete grownup life [was spent] within the trend and artwork worlds, so … my skilled life didn’t actually skip a beat as a result of my queerness. I used to be fortunate to be part of two industries the place queerness is embraced.”
The mother of two is trying ahead to bringing extra queer illustration into actuality TV and the world itself. “I hope that seeing me and my household and with the ability to relate to us no matter your sexual orientation will maybe change a few hearts and minds,” she defined. “Utilizing no matter platform I might need to extend visibility and illustration has at all times been vital to me.”
Since she’s already mates with Jenna, and Sai de Silva typically feedback on her Instagram posts, Racquel will match proper in with the remainder of the women.
All episodes of Actual Housewives of New York are streaming on Peacock.
TELL US – ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING RACQUEL ON RHONY? DO YOU THINK SHE’LL FIT IN WITH THE REST OF THE CAST?