When Hoboken Girl received word that the Real Housewives of Potomac cast was in New Jersey, we couldn’t help but find out all the details. A source told us that the girls were in town — Jersey City specifically — filming their reunion in mid-November. But, they were only here for a mere 24 hours. By the looks of the reunion photos, we can report the Potomac housewives stayed and filmed at The Westin Jersey City Newport hotel.
We caught up with new cast member Wendy Osefo to talk about her experience traveling during the pandemic {for the first time}, visiting Jersey City, joining the Real Housewives of Potomac cast Season 5, women empowerment, and family life. Read on below for our exclusive Q&A with Mrs. Osefo.
{Photo credit: Photographer Domo Jenkins}
Hoboken Girl: First off, we need to know all about your visit to Jersey City! Where did you go and what did you get to see while in town?
Wendy Osefo: So while we were in town, we really tried to stay isolated only because of the pandemic. We all had to get tested for Covid and we didn’t want to overexpose ourselves the day before the reunion, but I was able to stop by and grab some dinner with myself and my glam squad and my husband. We actually went to The Cheesecake Factory [laughs]! It was the one that was right beside our hotel…the one by Newport [Mall]!
HG: Why do you think production chose Jersey City as a filming location?
WO: Because the city is beautiful and I think that it was a great backdrop for everything that we had to talk about. We were only there for 24 hours I would say, but it was really nice and the area was decorated with festive decorations so it really gave a Christmas feel!
HG: Was this the first time you traveled during the pandemic?
WO: Yes it was! It was a little bit nerve-wracking, even though it was just New Jersey because, at the end of the day, we all want to stay safe and do our part to really flatten the curve. But being that we were all going to be tested and we knew that we were going to be in a really isolated environment, then it was okay.
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HG: What was it like being together in the room after, we’re assuming, spending months apart?
WO: For some of [us], it’s been over a year since we last saw each other. So, lots of tension!
HG: We have to ask. Where does your relationship stand with the other girls right now {Gizelle Bryant, Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Monique Samuels, and Candiace Dillard Bassett}?
WO: I would say my relationships with everyone remain the same, so if any of the viewers watched the show, nothing has changed. The people I was close with, I remain close with, and the people I do not have a relationship with, I still continue to not have a relationship with them…I don’t have any best friends so I want to make sure that that’s clear. It’s just the people that I talk to, I continue to be close with them. I feel like the show really made it so it was like team this person and team that person, and I just don’t want to perpetuate that. It is what it is.
{Pictured: RHOP Cast Filming at The Westin Jersey City Newport; Photo credit: @bravotv}
HG: How has your overall experience been as a new housewife for Season 5 of RHOP?
WO: It was really good! I enjoyed myself. I got to get to know the ladies. We had fun. We went to Portugal {see picture below}. There were some times that we were at odds but overall for me it was a great first season and I really enjoyed it and I really learned so much about each of them.
HG: What other Housewives are you a fan of?
WO: I have been really enjoying the new franchise, Salt Lake City. That has been really interesting to watch! I have talked to people from Atlanta, from Jersey, from Salt Lake, from OC, so it has been great getting to know all the ladies. They’ve all been really really nice and they’ve all reached out in their different ways.
HG: You were recognized for being the 6th doctorate degree-holder to join the franchise in its 14-year history, but the first one with a Ph.D.! And you were named a 2018 Black Women in Media honoree for your work in media and television. How does that recognition make you feel?
WO: It feels great! It shows that women are multifaceted and we don’t need to be put in a box or labeled. We can do many things and wear many hats. It was really amazing to be recognized for my work as far as journalism and what I had done with the local commentary. It’s something that I love to do. It’s an area of my life I really enjoy doing and so just to be honored by such an esteemed organization and to be in the category with so many people – one of them who is now just named President Biden’s Deputy Communication Director, it’s just amazing.
HG: What advice would you give women on becoming successful in their careers?
WO: I would say continue to chase your dreams. Just know that at the end of the day, success does not have an expiration date. You might have a timeline for yourself, but you can’t put those timelines to make your life harder. Just keep on chasing what it is you want to do and with hard work and consistency you will achieve it.
{Pictured left-right: Robyn Dixon, Ashley Darby, Gizelle Bryant, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Wendy Osefo, Karen Huger; Photo credit: @bravotv}
HG: How do you continue to empower women, especially following the platform the show has given you?
WO: I think we continue to show up in our authentic selves. I think what’s really important is that women need to see that success comes in different forms. There’s no one recipe for success. There’s not one aesthetic for success and sometimes that means you just be your authentic self because there’s someone out there who looks like you, who has the same background as you, and they need to see someone like themselves doing what you’re doing. And so I think the best thing we can do as women continues to uplift each other, but continue to be authentic to who we are.
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HG: What challenges did the pandemic bring you? Was it difficult for you to manage balancing work with family?
WO: Yeah, I think that the pandemic really challenged all of us. I am a mom of three small children so it’s not just working at home, but making sure that my children have the right level of virtual assistance as they’re going to school virtually, so it was very challenging, but I think the real important thing is just know how we’re all resilient. Here we are almost three weeks until 2021 and we all virtually lived a whole year in a pandemic and we made it! And so, I just think that’s a testament to all of us as a country.
HG: How are your children {Karter, 7, Kruz, 5, Kamrynn, 17 months old}?
WO: They are grown! If you are a viewer of the show, [you would know] they have grown so much. My little girl who was a baby, who was three months old, is now 17 months old. She’s walking, she’s talking, she’s running, full of energy! And my two older ones, my 7 and 5-year-old are continuing to grow. They are almost to my shoulder. They’re getting so tall! So it’s been a joy to watch them grow and to see all their milestones along the way.
HG: Do the older ones understand that you’re on TV? Do they sit and watch you?
WO: Yeah they do! It’s kind of funny because it’s just normal for them. It’s weird because ever since they’ve known anything, they’ve known mommy has been on TV, with my background as a commentator, to just think that that’s what’s normal. I think what they’re enjoying now is that they can see themselves on TV, and that has been interesting for them.
{Pictured: Wendy, Her Husband Edward, and Her Children Karter, Kruz, and Kamrynn; Photo Credit: @wendyosefo}
HG: How will you and your family be celebrating the holiday this year?
WO: We are actually staying local. We had a family Christmas trip planned and we go away every single New Year and every holiday, but of course, with the pandemic, we thought it was best to go ahead and cancel. So next year we will hopefully be able to go back to our family tradition of traveling out of the country.
HG: With the New Year coming, have you set any New Year’s resolutions?
WO: Yes – just to live life to the fullest because if 2020 has taught us anything, [it’s] who knows what the next day will bring…Something I’m really interested in is home essentials and just decorating my home, so I look forward to doing something in that realm soon.
HG: Is another season of RHOP in your future? Would you do it all again if asked back for another season?
WO: Ugh, great question! For me right now I just want to get through the reunion. It’s such an intense time but once I get through the reunion, I will definitely have an answer for that.
Reunion Part 2 and Reunion Part 3 of Real Housewives of Potomac airs Sunday, December 20th, and Sunday, December 27th, respectively, at 9/8c on Bravo. To keep up with Wendy, follow her on Instagram here.
