Bravo has confirmed the identities of the five women starring in The Real Housewives of D.C. and also announced it will premiere Thursday, August 5 at 9PM ET/PT.
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Socialite Mary Schmidt Amons, infamous White House gate crasher Michaele Salahi, real estate agent Stacie Scott Turner, modeling agency owner Lynda Erkiletian, and U.K. native Catherine Ommanney will star in the fifth installment of Bravo's The Real Housewives franchise. All five women's participation had previously been reported by The Washington Post.
"We wanted to dive into the Beltway subculture as it underwent an historic shift, one that previously has not been readily accessible or portrayed, and look at the political hierarchy and definitive social circles that make up D.C.'s unique society," said Bravo programming executive Andy Cohen.
"We knew this was going to expose a different social narrative from any of our other Housewives series - provocative and engaging in a whole new way."
Bravo began developing The Real Housewives of D.C. in May 2009 and formally ordered it last October.
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In November, Salahi and her husband Tareq Salahi were accused of attending a White House state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh without an invitation.
While the couple left the dinner before the guests were seated, they managed to have contact with both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during their time at the event. The Secret Service acknowledged its personnel did not follow proper procedures to ensure the Salahis were on the guest list, however the couple denied crashing the dinner.
The Salahis were subsequently the subject of a federal investigation and were subpoenaed to testify at a January hearing in front of the House Homeland Security Committee, however they invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
The Real Housewives of D.C. cast members -- and their Bravo-supplied bios -- are:
- Mary Schmidt Amons
As a second generation Washingtonian, Mary spent summers at the Kennedy residences as a child, and is the granddaughter of legendary radio and TV personality Arthur Godfrey. Married to husband Rich for over 20 years, Mary is matriarch of the Amons clan of five children - Lolly, Ryan, Alexandra, Meghan and Matt - it's never a dull day and she calls her life "controlled chaos." When she's not busy running her household, Mary pairs her love of fashion with philanthropy as founder of "Labels for Love" and co-founder of "The District Sample Sale," two D.C.-based charities.
- Lynda Erkiletian
This southern gal moved to D.C and never looked back. She's created an empire as the owner and founder of T.H.E Artist Agency, one of the top modeling agencies in D.C. The divorced mother of four consults her astrological chart daily, and couldn't be bothered to get married again, but has found love with her much younger boyfriend, Ebong. When she's not working or running with her brood - Aaron, Jessica, Mihran, and Sam - she's a staple on the Washington social scene, and is very involved in numerous charitable organizations. This "mother hen" of the group knows how to keep it real, and when the pressures of D.C. life take its toll, she retreats to her country home where she channels her southern roots by shooting clay pigeons, riding ATV's and cooking a mean fried chicken.
- Catherine Ommanney
This feisty Brit certainly knows how to shake things up in D.C. Cat lived the fast-paced, glamorous life in London, but after reuniting with and marrying her high school sweetheart, she decided to move to U.S. soil with her two daughters, Jade and Ruby. She quickly began socializing with Washington's elite crowd, and counts many high-profile political figures among her friends. Her no-nonsense attitude and tell-it-like-it-is demeanor have helped her achieve success as a mother, interior designer, and a writer - she penned a book about her "racy" escapades as a charismatic, single woman living in London called "Inbox Full" that will come out later this year.
- Michaele Salahi
This northern Virginia native and model is a big part of the inner workings of the D.C. life. She and husband Tareq together founded America's Polo Cup, for which he is the U.S. team captain. Through her involvement in the Polo Cup, which has become one of the largest and most high profile polo events in the U.S., Michaele has met numerous political leaders across the globe. Additionally, the two are involved in running the Salahi family vineyard, Oasis Winery. Always on the move and juggling multiple projects at once, Michaele is heavily involved in charity work, including being an advocate and fundraising for MS and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A family girl at heart, Michaele loves spending time at the family vineyard with her stable of horses and beloved dog Rio.
- Stacie Scott Turner
This Alexandria, VA native has it all - a Harvard MBA, successful real estate practice, and vigorous civic and philanthropic agenda. Stacie and her husband Jason easily move amongst Washington's unique brew of local, federal, and international players. She juggles work, her family life as a mom of two young kids, Jacob and Catherine, and a busy social life. But Stacie's passion lies in the charity she founded and holds dear to her heart - Extra-Ordinary Life - which provides life-changing experiences to teenage girls living in DC foster care.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio