Bravo is expanding its flagship franchise for the first time since *The Real Housewives of Dubai* launched four years ago, and the newest destination is an unexpected one: Rhode Island. The series, which features a cast of seven women including Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson, and Jo-Ellen Tiberi, represents the network's evolving vision of what a "Housewife" looks like in 2026.
Pamela Gimenez, VP of unscripted, lifestyle, and docs for Bravo and Peacock, told TheWrap that Rhode Island's community-focused, ocean-based culture provided the perfect backdrop. "I took a trip to Rhode Island, and I saw this world of water," Gimenez said, describing the moment that sold her on the location over more obvious choices like neighboring Massachusetts.
The casting, handled by Chelsey Stephens of Chelsey Creative, was designed to reflect how the franchise's definition of its central characters has broadened over two decades. "What a 'Housewife' is today in 2026 — it's so different," Gimenez explained. "You can not be married and have a child. You can be working, not working. We don't really tell a lot of different stories often."
Gimenez, who has been with Bravo and NBCU for nearly eight years and previously worked as a showrunner on multiple Bravo series, said the combination of compelling casting and Rhode Island's unique setting created "magic" for a potential hit. The network has been continuously searching for the right city to add to the franchise, but waited until both location and cast aligned before pulling the trigger on the newest installment.
