Real Housewives of New York is adding another fashionista to the cast. Black queer model and art curator Racquel Chevremont has signed on for Season 15.
“It’s exciting,” she said when the casting was announced. “I honestly didn’t think they would be interested in me … because they already had a queer woman [Jenna Lyons]. I wasn’t sure if they were going to want two queer women on a franchise that has historically been about married heterosexual women … It was a bold decision and honestly a more authentic representation of NYC.”
It will be interesting to see how she adjusts and fits in with the other women. I’m looking forward to some new energy in the group. Sounds like she’ll keep the others on their toes.
A family decision
While admitting that she’s never been a big fan of The Housewives, Racquel binge-watched the show when she was offered the opportunity to join RHONY. But the final decision of whether or not to accept the offer was made as a family.
“My family and I really had to think about it,” she told GLAAD. “[But] in the end, it made sense.”
“My entire adult life has been about representation and using whatever platform I have to get the voices of queer folks of the diaspora out there. What better way to do so if not as a member of this iconic franchise?”
Racquel’s goal is to show viewers “a loving fun family along with our chosen family … It’s extremely important to me, [because] this show reaches millions of people.”
“It’s important for not only our community to see themselves represented,” she continued, “but also for the world to get to know a queer family in a more intimate way. [We need to] show that we all have more similarities than not: that queer women can be successful, beautiful, and in loving relationships raising children, too.”
Coming out wasn’t easy
Coming out as queer didn’t come easily for Racquel. “I’m what you’d call a ‘later-in-life’ lesbian,” she said. “When I first came out I lost a lot of people.”
“Because of my age and my accomplishments I didn’t care what anyone had to say,” she added. “I didn’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone … My entire adult life [was spent] in the fashion and art worlds, so … my professional life didn’t really skip a beat due to my queerness. I was lucky to be a part of two industries where queerness is embraced.”
The mom of two is looking forward to bringing more queer representation into reality TV and the world itself. “I hope that seeing me and my family and being able to relate to us regardless of your sexual orientation will perhaps change a couple of hearts and minds,” she explained. “Using whatever platform I might have to increase visibility and representation has always been important to me.”
Since she’s already friends with Jenna, and Sai de Silva often comments on her Instagram posts, Racquel will fit right in with the rest of the ladies.
All episodes of Real Housewives of New York are streaming on Peacock.
TELL US – ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING RACQUEL ON RHONY? DO YOU THINK SHE’LL FIT IN WITH THE REST OF THE CAST?
