In March, Bravo announced the upcoming cast of season 16 of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” and it included major changes. Only three cast members from the previous season were returning, including Erin Lichy, Jessel Taank, and Sai De Silva.
In a recent interview with OK! Magazine, Taank teased what fans can expect in the upcoming season. The reality star opened up about major changes viewers will see — not only with the cast dynamic — but within herself as she steps into season 16 with newfound confidence.
Jessel Taank Opens up About Finding Her Voice on RHONY Season 16
GettySpeaking to OK! Magazine, Jessel Taank revealed that fans will see a new side of her in the upcoming 16th season of “The Real Housewives of New York City.” For Taank, it’s a side she is especially proud of after starring in the franchise since its season 14 reboot.
“It’s been such a whirlwind, in the best way,” she began. “Coming back feels different this time around because I feel different. There’s a confidence and a comfort level that comes with having already been through it. I know who I am. I know what I bring to the table. I’m just ready to have fun and be authentic with these women.”
Taank opened up about finding her voice now that she’s been on the series for two seasons and reflected on how much she’s grown to become more confident on screen.
“I think I’ve grown into my voice. When you put yourself out there on television, you learn so much about how you communicate, how you handle conflict and what really matters to you,” she shared, adding, “I’ve become more secure in who I am as a woman, a mom, a wife and a friend. The show has truly been a mirror for me in so many ways.”
Who is Joining Taank, Erin Lichy, & Sai De Silva on RHONY Season 16?
GettyThree new Housewives are set to join Taank, Erin Lichy, and Sai De Silva for season 16. The women include Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond, and Daisy Toye.
According to Us Weekly, Glassman is a public relations professional in New York City who has previously dated Jon Gosselin of “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” Hammond is the cofounder of Rumble Boxing and has created fitness programs for Equinox.
Lastly, there is Toye, a celebrity makeup artist who works closely with A-list stars such as Martha Stewart. Toye has shared several photos and videos on Instagram showcasing her close bond with Stewart. She has also partnered with Mario Dedivanovic, whose celebrity clients include the Kardashians.
Additionally, joining the season 16 cast is a familiar face that fans of the franchise, after it was retooled, are happy to hear about. Carole Radziwill returns as a “friend” of the cast. Radziwill famously starred on RHONY from 2012 to 2018.
In a March interview with The New York Times, Radziwill shared that she was extremely hesitant about returning to the show. After a major falling out with Bravo boss Andy Cohen when she left RHONY, the two were able to put their differences aside for her to join the new season.
“To go back to something that I was such a big part of, you know, is a bit of a risk for me,” she said, adding, “Andy said I could film as much or as little as I want.”
When speaking on his SiriusXM radio show that same month, Cohen shared how he and Radziwill found a resolution. “I think I took her out to coffee in, was it December or January, and proposed that she be a friend. She was very Radzi about it. She was very analytical. It will be good,” he said.
He also added that she has become close friends with Lichy and her husband, making the cast dynamic all the more authentic. “You know, she’s gotten to be pals with Erin and Abe, like they are actually legitimate friends,” he shared.
