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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
When 'Real Housewives' Makes Women Want to Be More Than Housewives
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. For some, the Real Housewives is a means to achieve their 15 minutes of fame, but for other cast members, it has been a vehicle to break free from traditional roles expected of women and take financial control of their lives. "They're finding their independence through the show," Frances Berwick, chairman of Bravo & Peacock unscripted, told Newsweek. "It's given a lot of them the ability to fulfill a dream or to evolve into something and realize their full potential." When Real Housewives started filming, Andy Cohen didn't believe it had what it takes to become a success. He didn't even think it was worth putting "Orange County" in the title because he didn't see it expanding to other areas. So, highlighting the location wasn't necessary, and it felt clunky. Nearly 20 years later, the franchise has expanded to 11 cities, and more than 150 women have been cast for the show. Generally speaking, the women cast have the kind of money that many people dream of having, often fueled by their husbands' business ventures. They're women who are predominantly focused on raising their families and caring for their husbands, who, often, are blunt about calling the shots in the relationship. But just because they start out in those roles doesn't mean they stay in them. Over the years, viewers have witnessed the evolution of these stars as they transitioned from traditional "housewife" to breadwinner. As one of the original Orange County housewives, Tamra Judge was among those who launched the entire franchise—and after a brief hiatus, she remains on people's screens each week. When Tamra was first on the show, she went by the name Tamra Barney, a last name she shared with her husband, Simon. During the early seasons, viewers saw Tamra kowtowing to Simon's domineering manner. The two said they didn't travel without each other. Simon would question the appropriateness of the Judge's outfits and berate her for the demands of her Housewives career taking her away from time with her children. "He controlled everything," Tamra told Newsweek. "He didn't want me outside of the house. He did not want me to have any life outside of this house and with the kids and that was it. And I really thought that's how it was." At the end of Season 5 of RHOC, viewers watched as Tamra hit her breaking point, declaring in a limousine ride to a party that she wanted a divorce. Then, when Season 6 returned, viewers watched her navigate life as a single mom and a 43-year-old woman who suddenly only had herself to depend on. Tamra Judge attends KIIS FM's Jingle Ball in Los Angeles on December 2, 2022. Tamra Judge attends KIIS FM's Jingle Ball in Los Angeles on December 2, returned to real estate, started selling her clothes on eBay to pay the rent, and eventually opened a gym that would become her primary business for a decade. While she ultimately partnered with her now-husband, Eddie Judge, she retained the majority stake in the company. And, unlike her first marriage, she doesn't rely on Eddie financially. "Being able to take care of yourself and your children is the most amazing feeling in the entire world," Tamra said. "I do credit the show for giving me the platform, the courage to move on and get out of this marriage that I was very unhappy with." The couple has since partnered on a successful CBD business, made smart investments, and Tamra hosts a very popular podcast with former castmate Teddi Mellencamp. Tamra still keeps her real estate license active in case she ever needs it again. While Housewives has been her identity for years, it could end at any time, and when that day comes, she wants a diversified source of income. "The show has been incredible to me and the platform is it's not gonna be there forever," Tamra said. While Tamra was finding her way out of her bad marriage, her castmate, Alexis Bellino, was embarking on a new role as well. A woman who once called her husband, Jim, her "king," viewers watched her step outside her Leave It to Beaver life to create a fashion line and appear on a morning news show. She said that she was initially happy about giving up her career to take on the traditional role, but after joining Housewives, she wanted to pursue a career again. The couple ended up divorcing, something that Alexis said likely would have happened regardless of whether she was cast on Housewives or not, because of their changing definitions of what a marriage should look like. She told Us Weekly that changing the "agreement" of who is going to be the breadwinner and who is going to take care of the kids requires a couple to either grow together in their new roles or face the possibility of breaking up. In Season 11 of Real Housewives of New Jersey, viewers saw that dynamic play out with Melissa and Joe Gorga. Melissa had become a staple of the franchise, with numerous appearances and Envy, a boutique she opened 10 years ago that has since expanded to multiple locations. From what viewers saw, it wasn't necessarily an easy shift for Joe to make, and the tension viewers saw was the culmination of years of changes in the dynamics of their marriage. Having gotten married young, Melissa and Joe started as a very traditional couple. Melissa stayed home with the kids, had dinner on the table when Joe got home and supported him by running the household while he was the breadwinner. "I would have to ask him sometimes for a $100 bill," Melissa told Newsweek. "Sometimes I would say to Joe, like, 'I wanna go to the mall today and like push Antonia around in the stroller, like, can I get some cash?' And I hate that." Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Bravo Melissa lost her father at a young age, forcing her to work to support herself through college. When she met Joe, she was already working three jobs. While she always wanted a traditional family, her work ethic was one of the things that drew Joe to her, and that didn't change when they got married. Always receiving compliments on what she wore, Melissa realized she could monetize her sense of style by opening a boutique and selling her own clothing. Viewers watched as Joe had to take on more of the child-rearing while Melissa opened the store and famously said she "makes the crumbs" with her business, while his is the "cake." "I showed my whole journey with that and how it wasn't husband was used to me being home, me being there after school, me getting them to school, you know? The whole thing," Melissa said. "People really gravitated and rooted for me and it was inspiring to a lot of the moms out there who do have hopes and can do both. We can be great moms. We can be great wives and we can also own a business." Women wanting to work and also raise a family isn't a desire confined to reality television shows. It's reminiscent of a shift that's happening in American culture, as well. The number of working moms has doubled since 1975, and the expansion of social media and telework has given women more opportunities than ever before to build flexible work schedules. And as the share of women working rose, so did the number of women who were earning as much or more than their husbands. In 1972, 85 percent of men were the primary or sole breadwinners, according to Pew Research, and by 2022, that number had dropped to 5 percent. During the same time period, the number of women who are the primary or sole breadwinners more than tripled, increasing from 5 percent to 16 percent. But women are still the main caretakers of children, whether they're working or not, and the COVID-19 pandemic showed how fragile that balance can be. Working mothers experienced a greater rise in unemployment during the pandemic when their children transitioned to remote education than working fathers. Women are also more likely than men to take time off work to care for sick kids, according to polls. Unlike Alexis and her husband, Melissa and Joe were able to redefine their roles, offering viewers a glimpse into how couples can successfully navigate the shift. And since opening Envy, Melissa's has started a podcast and launched Let's Sprinkle, a dessert line that has become a runaway success. Joe has been there every step of the way, championing his wife. Melissa Gorga is seen behind the desk at her store "Envy By Melissa Gorga" where she was wearing a hat from the merchandise line of her fellow Housewives star and friend Luann de Lesseps on... Melissa Gorga is seen behind the desk at her store "Envy By Melissa Gorga" where she was wearing a hat from the merchandise line of her fellow Housewives star and friend Luann de Lesseps on March 11, 2025 in Ridgefield, New Jersey. MoreYes, the shift these housewives have undergone has benefited them, but they all agree that it could also be creating generational change. They're women who had a drive to work, and their kids now are getting a firsthand look at what goes into building a business and raising a family. Tamra's teenage daughter caught the entrepreneur bug and has started buying and selling clothes online. Melissa loves that her daughter, Antonia, got to see her build Envy and that her sons, Gino and Joey, got a firsthand look at what it took to get her dessert line off the ground. "I love that my children see the kind of time I put into it, but then they also see the success. So, they see I'm not just missing a game here or there, I'm trying to build something for all of us later in life," Melissa said. "Joe and I were explaining to them that there's a financial part of this learning that it's not all fun and games." Transitioning from a traditional housewife to the breadwinner isn't as simple as getting on a reality television show, although the platform certainly helps. For most women who appear on the show, their success doesn't transcend the franchise—building an empire off the back of reality television requires drive and hard work. Both Melissa and Tamra worked before the show and said they probably would have gone back to work eventually with or without it. But, being on Real Housewives opened doors they never thought possible, and the key to their success is harnessing their brand and being authentic. It's not enough to slap your name on a product; you need to connect with fans in a real way. Berwick said it's not for everyone because it means you're never off the clock. Bravo stars are stopped on the streets to hear what fans of the show think about their lives and give unsolicited advice, because once you let people into your life, like reality stars do, it's hard to turn the tap off. For the women who harness that celebrity, the opportunities are life-changing. "I think there is a school of thought for people who don't watch Bravo that this is a sometimes negative representation of women," Berwick said. "I think we are showing a lot of women being incredibly successful and doing powerful things and using their voices."
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Pete Davidson reveals hefty sum he's spent removing his tattoos: 'Uncomfortable amount'
Pete Davidson reveals hefty sum he's spent removing his tattoos: 'Uncomfortable amount' Show Caption Hide Caption Will 'Queer Eye' continue after Season 9? Here's what the cast says. The cast of Netflix's "Queer Eye" talked with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball about the show's future and more. Pete Davidson's tattoo removal journey will be neither brief nor cheap. The former "Saturday Night Live" star, 31, revealed in an interview with Variety published April 23 that he has spent $200,000 on getting all of his tattoos removed, and he isn't even halfway finished. "It's a pretty uncomfortable amount of money to disclose, but I think one of the tabloids already leaked it," Davidson told Variety. "I've already spent like 200K and I'm like 30% done. So, like, it's gonna suck." The comedian also said it may take another 10 years before all of his tattoos are gone, noting he still has "to do my torso and back." Davidson, who has opened up about his mental health struggles and borderline personality disorder diagnosis, reflected that he wanted to remove his tattoos because he got them done during a time when he "wasn't taking care of" himself. "I used to be a drug addict and I was a sad person, and I felt ugly and that I needed to be covered up," he told Variety. "And I don't think there's anything wrong with tattoos, but mine, when I look at them, I remember a sad person that was very unsure. So I'm just removing them and starting fresh, because that's what I think works best for me and for my brain." Davidson started getting his tattoos removed in 2020. On "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in 2021, he said he was inspired to do so in part because "it takes like three hours" to cover them up for his acting roles. "So now I'm burning them off, but burning them off is worse than getting them," he said. Pete Davidson says his 200 tattoos are 'almost gone' after years of 'horrible' lasering In January, the "King of Staten Island" star shared he has continuing getting his tattoos removed and that it's been "horrible," noting he at one point had around 200 of them. "They've got to burn off a layer of your skin, and then it has to heal for, like, six to eight weeks," he said. "And you can't get in the sunlight, and then you've got to do it, like, 12 more times. So really think about that 'Game of Thrones' tattoo you're thinking of getting." Pete Davidson strips down in tattoo-free Reformation ad as he shows off muscles Davidson added that he might keep "two or three" tattoos but is "trying to clean slate it" and "trying to be an adult."
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Trainor announced as Minnesota State Fair 2025 Grandstand headliner
Meghan Trainor has been announced as a 2025 Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Series headliner. The singer will take the stage on Friday, Aug. 22, and tickets range from $56 to $125.75. Tickets officially go on sale on Friday, starting at 10 a.m., via the Minnesota State Fair's website. It will be Trainor's first State Fair appearance, having initially been scheduled to perform in 2015 before she canceled the show and the rest of her tour that year due to a vocal cord hemorrhage. The last time Trainor performed in the state was in 2014, when she was one of the acts for KDWB's Jingle Ball in December at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, according to Concert Archives. The "All About That Bass" pop star has garnered a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, achieved eight multi-platinum singles and two multi-platinum albums, sold out three world tours and received multiple industry awards and nominations since she dropped that diamond-certified single in 2014. Trainor has also starred as a judge on "The Voice UK" and FOX's "The Four: Battle for Stardom." She released her fourth studio album, "Takin' It Back," in 2022 and re-released her album "Title" to celebrate its 10-year anniversary on March 28, featuring two new songs, "All About That Bass (Remastered)" and "Better When I'm Dancin' ( Timeless Tour Version)." Trainor is the eighth headlining Grandstand Series show to be announced thus far, with the others listed as follows for 2025: The Avett Brothers and The Milk Carton Kids — Aug. 29
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Meghan Trainor hoping to connect with country songwriters at Billboard event
Meghan Trainor hoping to connect with country songwriters at Billboard event Show Caption Hide Caption Meghan Trainor reveals she'd like to have another baby in 2025 Meghan Trainor tells USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball that she'd like to expand her family and write music in 2025. The singer is being honored with the "Hitmaker Award" at the upcoming Billboard Women in Music Awards. Trainor expressed her desire to collaborate with country artists like Megan Moroney and Mickey Guyton. She is also promoting a partnership with Arm & Hammer while supporting her best friend Chris Olsen on tour. Meghan Trainor is all about that bass, that family and those detergent sheets. The mom of two is breathing a sigh of relief following her Timeless Tour that stretched across the U.S. last fall, visiting cities from Mansfield, Massachusetts, to Inglewood, California. "It's like you've accomplished the hardest physical and emotional thing in two months," she says over Zoom. Her smile beams through the camera. " I can't imagine how people do it for years. I salute them. I think they're heroes." Her husband, Daryl Sabara, and kids, Barry and Riley, joined her on the road. Trainor's one rule is she doesn't spend more than a week away from the loves of her life. "Riley won't stop talking about the tour," she says. "Every day was an adventure. Every day we got in a new car and on a new bus to go to a museum or aquarium." More: Meghan Trainor calls Nashville her 'pretend second home,' talks first tour in seven years Trainor is gearing up for her next event, hoping to rub elbows with fellow stars at the Billboard Women in Music Awards. She's being honored with the "Hitmaker Award." "I'm trying to get back into writing with other artists," Trainor says, adding she would welcome the opportunity to work alongside Megan Moroney, Mickey Guyton or Tanner Adell. "I would love to write with these country artists. They're incredible. They're so cute. I've just been a fan. I can't wait to meet them and meet them in person and give them a big hug and say, 'We should write.'" The YouTube Theater broadcast will air March 29 at 7 p.m. PT on VIZIO WatchFree+. This year's program will include: Becky G, Doechii, Glorilla, Gracie Abrams, Megan Moroney, Meghan Trainor, Muni Long, Mickey Guyton, Suki Waterhouse, Tanner Adell, Tyla and Zara Larsson. Laverne Cox is hosting. In the meantime, Trainor is following her best friend Chris Olsen on tour with her brother Ryan Trainor and promoting her partnership with Arm & Hammer. She creatively ties together both. "They're selling out venues, which is insane and I'm just so proud of them," she says. "It's funny watching them go through all the tour stuff, like doing laundry. That is the hardest part of tour, I think, and I wish I had Arm & Hammer Power Sheets when I was touring, you know what I'm saying?" Olsen's tour is a 90-minute variety show that includes musical theater, stand-up comedy and covers of popular songs (Trainor recorded back-up vocals). Updated to correct the name of a product.
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lady Gaga's Earliest Smash Returns, Even As Fans Focus On Her New Album
Lady Gaga rules the Dance Streaming Songs chart with 'Abracadabra,' while five Mayhem tracks sit in ... More the top 10 and 'Poker Face' returns years after release. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 12: Singer Lady GaGa performs on stage during Z100's Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by) With her new album Mayhem still going strong just weeks after its release, Lady Gaga is once again leading several of Billboard's electronic tallies. She dominates one genre-specific roster, thanks largely to her latest offerings, but it's not just her new music that's performing well. One of her earliest smashes, which remains a global sensation to this day, returns and becomes a hit all over again. This week, Gaga rules the Dance Streaming Songs chart, Billboard's ranking of the most-played dance tracks in the U.S. on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. She's steady at No. 1 with 'Abracadabra,' the latest release from Mayhem. The single has now claimed five of its seven weeks on the ranking atop the list, and it's far from her only win at the moment. 'Abracadabra' isn't the only tune from Mayhem performing well on the Dance Streaming Songs chart. Gaga fills five spots inside the top 10 this frame, owning half of the highest tier. 'Garden of Eden' is steady at No. 3, while 'How Bad Do You Want Me' holds at No. 5. 'Disease' slips slightly from No. 6 to No. 8, and 'Vanish Into You' drops five rungs to No. 9. As if those smashes weren't enough to show Gaga's continued power in the electronic space, she pulls off another impressive feat this week. One of her earliest hits, 'Poker Face,' returns to the Dance Streaming Songs chart. The tune blasts back onto the 15-spot ranking at No. 14, coming in just ahead of last place. Even as all eyes and ears are on Mayhem, fans are still hitting play on the cut that helped turn her into a household name nearly two decades ago. 'Poker Face' was the second major hit taken from Gaga's debut album The Fame. After 'Just Dance' featuring Colby O'Donis introduced her to the world and reached No. 1, 'Poker Face' quickly followed, replicating that chart-topping success. It earned the singer several Grammy nominations and proved that she wasn't just a flash in the pan, she was a bona fide pop star.
