The cast of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” is bringing a mix of business owners, media personalities, and longtime friendships to Bravo.
Ahead of season 1, each cast member shared insights into their careers, relationships, and closest allies within the group and with the network, along with what viewers can expect from the new series.
RHORI Cast Jobs Range From Business Owners to Media Personalities
Liz McGraw leads the group as the owner of The Slater Center, Rhode Island’s largest cannabis dispensary. She is married to Gerry and has three stepchildren. McGraw said she quickly bonded with Dolores Catania and Kelsey Swanson, noting, “With Kelsey… she’s super level-headed and reserved, so we kind of balance each other out.”
Jo-Ellen Tiberi works as an aesthetic practice development manager and is married to her husband, Gary, with three children. Tiberi described her closest connections as “Kelsey, Liz, or Alicia, depending on the day.”
Swanson, a makeup artist and former Miss Rhode Island, said she relies on McGraw and Tiberi to share information within the group. “If I want it to get out, I’m telling Jo-Ellen first. Jo-Ellen is like TMZ in human form,” she said.
Ashley Iaconetti brings experience as a social media influencer and podcast host. She is married to her husband, Jared, and shares two children. Iaconetti said she connected quickly with Rosie DiMare, explaining, “We hit it off immediately. I was like, ‘Oh my god, I can blabber on with this girl for hours.’”
RHORI Cast Relationships and Alliances Take Shape
Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, a certified financial planner, said she relates most to Alicia Carmody due to their shared experiences as mothers. “We sort of are sympathetic, but we also tell it like it is,” she said.
Carmody, who owns Pizza Mamma, described herself as deeply rooted in Rhode Island. “I am very Rhode Island. We love to be close to our family… And I’m never leaving,” she said. She listed DiMare, Tiberi, and Pontarelli among her closest connections.
DiMare, a TV host and DJ, teased the tone of the season, saying, “Rhode Island is one of the most beautiful places… but the people here are crazy.” She added that viewers will hear moments like, “Welcome to Rhode Island, bitch,” throughout the show.
RHONJ star, Catania, who appears as a friend of the cast, said she quickly formed a close bond with McGraw. “Me and Liz became friends a few years ago. And we got very close, very fast,” she said.
Dolores Catania Offers Advice and Teases RHORI Season 1
Catania also shared advice she gave to the new cast as they began filming.
“You’re putting your life out there. You don’t know what to expect. You don’t know what’s coming. There’s a lot of self-doubt. You have to be thick-skinned,” she said. “Don’t look at social media, don’t respond to negativity, don’t give it light.”
She added that the show’s appeal comes from its relatability. “Everyone should know that Rhode Island is… very relatable. The cast is relatable, and I think that was a love that people also had for Jersey.”
Tiberi also teased what viewers can expect, saying, “This season, there’s a lot of people just getting caught in lies and lots of drama, but there’s touching moments, too.”
Fans can catch new episodes of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” Sunday nights on Bravo.
