Even in areality seriesknown for its jaw-dropping moments, no entry inThe Real Housewivesuniverse has proven as shockingly delightful asThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. But, I’ll be honest, I was about five years late and only recently watched theBravohit in a beautiful week-long TV binge. I finally got to seewhy fans couldn’t stop ravingabout the Utah-based iteration ofScott Dunlop’slegendary franchise. While every version of this show boasts great moments, few can say they’ve dealt with this many wild (and legally dangerous) situations! But while I loved the drama, what really made my viewing experience so great was the women who make up this show’s cast. A group of true icons who I loved to watch over the show’s many seasons — though one stuck out. A character who began as silly comedic relief yet grewto be one of the program’s most grounded individuals,someone who faced some of the toughest situations life can offer and came out stronger every time. It was amazing to watch each memberThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citygrow in so many ways, but when it comes to someone who truly inspired me, I couldn’t be prouder ofWhitney Rose.
This Salt Lake City Rose Has Faced Some Thorns
While I was late when it came to actually watchingThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, that’s not to say I was completely unaware of the show. No, I’d admittedly spoiled myself by watching multiple videos of theJen Shahcontroversybefore finally deciding to sit down and watch the series that spawned this legal trainwreck. And I have to say, I was never disappointed; fromHeather Gay’s fight with the Mormon Church toMeredith Marks' countless meme-worthy moments, every episode was truly a thrill to watch.Amidst all these big personalitiesand controversial topics, though, one character initially faded into the background: the youngest housewife, Whitney Rose.The first season characterized her as ‘ditzy,‘with the other housewives viewing her love for stripper poles and drunken rants as signs that they didn’t have to take her seriously. And, honestly, I agreed with them — until I learned that she’s one of the strongest people this franchise has ever seen.
Being on a reality show means granting viewers an intimate look into your life, withRHOSLCaudiences watching the many devastating struggles Whitney faced over the past few years. From her father’s addiction to leaving the Church that raised her to grappling with childhood abuse, it was saddening to watch such a bubbly character have to fight through so many intense hardships. But Whitney didn’t just fight — she conquered. Binging this series let me track how, while others fell into their worst behavior, Whitney took the time to address her traumas and develop the skills to overcome them.She was still involved in some great drama, but moments like counselingBritani Batemanthrough a panic attack or navigating conversations about her White privilege showed how far Whitney came from season one. That’s not to say Whitney wasn’t strong then —she always contained the ferocity viewers see in her now— but it was only through immense internal work that the housewife became the outspoken business owner she is today. Hers was a story of facing so much and coming out the other side stronger, and I gotta be honest, I enjoyed watching that journey more than any of the chaos I expected from the show.
Monica Garcia’s Exit Will Haunt ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’
Monica Garcia will hang over future seasons of ‘RHOSLC’ in the same way Jen Shah has. But is that a good thing?
‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ Shows Viewers How To Heal
While Whitney Rose has flourished on theReal Housewives of Salt Lake City, she isn’t the only cast member who’s grown. They all have, in different ways. Though they were already utterly fabulous, the past five seasons saw these womenbecome the icons audiences love today.But, I’m sorry,nobody even comes close to how much Whitney Rose has evolved since season one.In watching all of these seasons so close together, I quickly noticed how she started to deploy healthy tools of communication and the way she’d clap back at comments an earlier version of herself would’ve quietly suffered. She is still the boisterous person watchers first met, but she’s proven that you don’t have to lose that love for life while finding yourself after so much pain. She’s offered a genuinely educational storyof how to heal from hardshipduring her tenure onThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and it goes without saying that she was my favorite part of binging this legendary franchise.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake Cityis streaming on Peacock in the U.S.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
