When it comes to Heather Gay, fans have dubbed her one of the most relatable women on the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. The divorced mother of three never tried to paint a pretty picture of her situation. And often addressed the shame of leaving the Mormon church behind. But she has moved forward and carved out a nice lifestyle for herself. So when she brings up a topic about age and discrimination, fans listen.
RHOSLC the hit Bravo needed
Heather made sure to solidify her place in Bravo history after she said her famous line “Receipts! Proof! Timelines! Screenshots!” in Bermuda. But what makes Heather so great is her comradery and respect for the other women in the series. She told The Daily Beast, “We have real history, but we also consistently show up and leave it all on the field.” The Bad Mormon author added, “As much as we fight and are at each other’s throats, we’re also consistently predicting each other’s behavior, which is kind of what friendship is about: radical acceptance of our closest friends’ flaws, and the ability to navigate it together.”
The network has allowed each cast member to bring their own unique life experiences to the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. The show is a literal melting pot and has been able to showcase multiple religions and ways of thinking, all in a way that speaks to viewers. As fans have learned, Mormonism teaches a need for perfection. Each woman, including Heather, had their own way of dealing with a lesson that had been drilled into their psyche. But Bravo has allowed the ladies to grow with little to no restraint. And that is unheard of for a reality TV show.
Heather Gay is mentioning it all
Heather shared, “We kind of pulled the curtain back on this environment we live in, and people have found it interesting – and traumatizing. There’s a lot of camp just innate in our culture.” Perhaps what makes the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City such a game-changing series for Bravo is that there is no single star on the show. The chemistry that is between the women is undeniable and it just works. Each snowflake is stubborn and not afraid to stand up for their personal beliefs. The reason behind the clashing is merely because they all see a situation in a different light. And that is okay. The premise is that people from all walks of life can get along.
“Who wants a Housewife curated for Twitter? That’s not reality television,” Heather said. “Housewives is built on women being willing to expose their weaknesses and flaws to the world, and it’s a much harsher environment now. On Salt Lake, a lot of the women don’t play to the audience, and that’s what keeps the story moving.”
Women have a place on Bravo
With the current climate in the United States surrounding women’s rights, it can feel, for many, like a dystopia. Many Real Housewives viewers are questioning where they might belong. But Bravo is making sure that women know no matter what you look like, your beliefs, your age, your opinions, that you belong right here. When it comes to the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Heather shared, “I don’t think it’s for everybody, but it’s definitely for me and my people.” In Heather’s opinion, “This is the only forum that gives women over 40 center stage and a platform and a voice, and financial independence and fame. Even Hollywood ages ’em out. If you think of the livelihood that it creates for women in my decade, it’s phenomenal as a source of societal change and eradicating misogyny.”
Undoubtedly, Heather and the rest of the Real Housewives crew are trailblazers. Bravo originally started as a fine arts and film channel. By the early 2000s, they were focusing on series aimed at women and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. The network has constantly given a voice to the underdog, for which talent and viewers are thankful. “Where’s the highest density of women’s stories anywhere on the planet other than in Andy Cohen’s back pocket?” Heather added. Gone are the days when June Cleaver represented the idea of women. And here are the days of Heather, Dorinda Medley, and Porsha Williams– all aging icons in their own right.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH HEATHER’S ASSESSMENT OF THE BRAVO NETWORK?
