Grab your Birkin bags…Bravo is headed to Potomac, Maryland.
This week, the network offered a first look at “The Real Housewives of Potomac” and introduced a new crop of ladies who party, entertain, and shade each other in the “cozy, upscale enclave with gated mansions, rolling hills, and exclusive country clubs.”
Via Bravo:
Viewers will be introduced to the wealthy African-American families who have broken racial barriers and now reside in the sophisticated community. The Real Housewives of Potomacwill follow socialite and single mom Gizelle Bryant, international model and TV personality Katie Rost, grand dame Karen Huger, social butterfly Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, publicist and single mom Robyn Dixon, as well as restaurateur Ashley Darby.
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” will premiere on Sunday, January 17 on Bravo.
Katie Rost
Katie Rost is an international model and TV personality born and raised in Potomac, in a very affluent and philanthropic biracial family. She grew up in the elite social scene of Maryland. Katie went to the best private schools and was groomed to be a top doctor or lawyer. But despite her parents’ hopes, she followed her dreams all the way to New York City to become a successful model. A vivacious beauty with girl-next-door charm, Katie has big dreams and electric ambition. In 2009, Katie was asked by Vogue Magazineeditor Anna Wintour to join The Vogue 100 List, a group of intriguing and fashionable women from around the country who act as arbiters of style. Katie and her mother run the Ronald F. Rost Charitable Foundation in memory of Katie’s father, who died in 2000.
Katie went on to marry her college sweetheart, but the marriage was short-lived and fell apart. She decided to move her three-year-old son, James Rocco, and 14-month-old twin daughters, Kathryn and Renee, back to Potomac to settle down and raise them “properly.” A single mother of three, Katie was introduced to one of Potomac’s most eligible bachelors, Andrew, an investment executive. Although he had no plans of settling down, Andrew and Katie hit it off instantly and have been dating for over a year. Katie loves Andrew and is ready to give marriage another shot.
Ashley Darby
Ashley Darby is a Maryland native with a spicy personality and an unmatched drive to succeed. The oldest child in her family, Ashley grew up juggling multiple jobs to help support her single mom and younger siblings. When she turned 18, she attended the University of Maryland and bartended on the side to keep both her and her family financially stable. While bartending, Ashley was scouted by the Miss District of Columbia Pageant and went on to take the crown in 2011.
Soon thereafter, Ashley met Michael Darby, an Australian real-estate millionaire, who is 29 years her senior. Sparks flew, and Ashley was introduced to a world she never knew existed. After four years of dating, the couple married, and Ashley went from 22 and single to wife and stepmother of Michael’s 21- and 24-year-old children. In a classic Cinderella story, Ashley is now constantly attending galas and charity events. She wants to make a name for herself in the food industry, so with the help of her husband, she’s opening a restaurant with an emphasis on fresh and wholesome ingredients. Although she’s having the time of her life, Ashley can’t shake the thought that the only thing missing from this fairy tale is a baby to complete her family.
Charrisse Jackson Jordan
Charrisse Jackson Jordan is a dedicated wife, mother, and socialite whose reputation precedes her in the elite Potomac social circle. Maintaining an extensive network both inside and outside of Potomac, Charrisse prides herself on being a dependable friend and confidant. When her packed schedule allows, she loves to shop, socialize, and travel. Well known to throw extravagant parties and events, Charrisse is the ultimate social butterfly who connects the Who’s Who of the DC area. Her passion is giving back and during her tenure as President of Behind the Bench, the National Basketball Wives Association, combined with her efforts on behalf of various organizations including Knock Out Abuse Against Women, Men Against Breast Cancer, N Street Village, and many national nonprofits, Charrisse has proudly raised millions for charity based organizations.
A dedicated mother of two teenagers–Jackson, 17, and Skylar, 15–Charrisse has been married to NBA player-turned-coach Eddie Jordan for more than 18 years. The secret to their marriage is distance: for the last three years of their marriage, they have lived apart. Eddie currently resides in New Jersey while Charrisse and the children live in Potomac. The couple has faced its share of relationship challenges, but Charrisse tackles any obstacle that comes her way with dignity and grace. Her number one priority has always been and will always be her children, as she is determined to be there for them 150% . . . no nannies, period.
Gizelle Bryant
Gizelle is a vibrant socialite and resident of the Potomac area who effortlessly manages her jam-packed calendar as a single mother of three daughters, Grace and twins Angel and Adore. She was raised by very prominent and powerful parents who set the tone for her path in their work in government and philanthropy. After graduating from Hampton University, she married megachurch pastor/activist Jamal Bryant and lived in Baltimore in wedded bliss for seven years. But when the marriage came crumbling down on her, this resilient woman decided it was time to move back to her old stomping ground of Potomac for a fresh start with her three girls.
Never one to stay down for too long, Gizelle keeps herself busy with multiple philanthropy projects. She works with the city council of Birmingham, Alabama to generate funds to revitalize the city and is currently working on an event to raise money for a number of local charities. Gizelle is committed to working hard and sees every obstacle as an opportunity. She is currently working on a makeup line geared to meet the needs for women of color and is on target to launch the line in 2016. Gizelle maintains her status as a sophisticated woman in the Potomac social scene and with her outspoken, no-nonsense demeanor; she is currently embracing a new chapter as she learns to date again and adjusts to single life.
Karen Huger
Karen Huger currently lives in the most desirable section of Potomac with her husband, Raymond, and their two children. Originally from Virginia, Karen grew up on a large family farm and witnessed her father succeeding through hard work and perseverance. She took those lessons to heart, moved out, went to college, started her climb to social heights, and never looked back.
Karen reigns supreme as a grand dame of Potomac, and she is a big contributor to the social scene. Although Karen is known for throwing over-the-top parties at her home, her family always comes first, and she is extremely proud of all that they have accomplished. Raymond, her husband of 19 years, a technology entrepreneur, is president and CEO of a highly successful information technology company. Her son, Brandon, 27, is a graduate of both Morehouse College and Georgetown University. Her daughter, Rayvin, 17, is currently a senior in high school and looking forward to heading to the college of her choice. Karen has dedicated her life to her husband and children and is dreading the day when she goes off to college. With her oldest out of the house and her youngest about to leave the home, Karen must face becoming an empty nester, and there’s no telling how this will impact her relationship with her husband.
Robyn Dixon
Baltimore native Robyn Dixon is the epitome of “You can’t keep a good girl down!” She graduated from the University of Maryland, where she earned a degree in business marketing. While Robyn was in high school, she met Juan Dixon, a star athlete at a rival school. In what turned into a whirlwind romance, Robyn and Juan became high school sweethearts, attended college together, and eventually married. Juan went on to become a professional basketball player; the couple moved to Potomac and had two talented, athletic sons. However, being married to an athlete was not easy, and when Juan broke her heart, the couple decided to part ways. Juan now works as a special assistant basketball coach for the University of Maryland, and the couple remains extremely close, so much so they all live together under one roof and are embracing the “new normal.”
A full-time single mom of two active sons, seven-year-old Corey and six-year-old Carter, Robyn successfully maintains a balance between family, work, and fun. Never one to sit still, Robyn launched her career as a publicist and event manager at TAA PR, a public relations, marketing, and special-events boutique specializing in luxury lifestyle, fashion, and hospitality in Washington, DC.
Get a first look at “The Real Housewives of Potomac.”
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” premieres on January 17 and “The Real Housewives of Dallas” will also debut in 2016.
Will you be watching?
All photos, cast bios, and video are courtesy of Bravo TV.
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