Jessel Taank had reservations about ‘Real Housewives of NYC’

The revamped ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ cast is shaking up the city, especially fashion publicist Jessel Taank, whose casting is history in the making.

She’s the first ever Indian cast member on the Bravo franchise. In fact, Taank is the only Southeast Asian woman in the show’s history, a major reason the reality tv star ‘opted in,’ despite her initial reservations.

“I joke about it, I always say there’s like 1.5 billion of us in the world and maybe like 50 people in the media,” Taank told the Daily News. “It means the world to me. I don’t want to say I’m representing a culture because it’s so easy to say that, but I also don’t want to bear the weight of an entire culture on my shoulders. All I can do is share my personal experiences and lend my identity.”

“As Indians we’re a very reserved culture as well. We’re very reserved, so being a part of this is interesting for me. It’s a very different experience.”

An experience she initially had reservations about before officially deciding to join the new cast.

“I think there’s like two things we considered. I mean, first of all, you’re really opening up your life and you’re providing this entire country and the world a window into your life. You know everyone’s sitting there on their couch eating, talking about what you’re wearing, what you’re doing, how you’re talking to your husband, how you’re talking to your mother, how you’re parenting, and these things are private, they’re personal. Everyone’s got an opinion on it now.”

“The second part of it is a show that in the past has got a reputation for drama. We’re not dramatic. My husband and I barely fight.”

This is why the publicist revealed in an interview with Vogue India that certain moments of the season add ‘shock value’ as the episodes confront her personal life.

“I talk a lot about my IVF journey and the reproductive issues that I went through. As an Indian woman, we don’t talk about that stuff either to family or to friends. We’re very private,” Taank explained to The News. “So when I signed up to do this, I said if I’m given this opportunity I really want to be as transparent and as open as possible. Maybe it’s giving another Indian girl strength to talk about her things.”

But the reality trailblazer admits, even though the drama that’s already started brewing among the cast since the Jul. 16 premiere was expected, it was also inevitable.

“We all have our moments. I think it’s very hard watching this back because you think you’re one thing and then you see it and you’re like ‘Wait a second, why would I do that? Why would I say that? Why would I act that way? And I think that every single one of the women sort of has that ‘oh s–t’ moment. It’s just emotions are so heightened.”

“My biggest takeaway is no matter how hard you want to be one thing and maybe that’s inherently who you are, you’re sort of in this whirlwind of just a show and you’re a part of six women who are extremely opinionated. It’s a lot. It’s a rollercoaster for sure.”

Originally Published: Aug 01, 2023 at 5:09 pm