(Irvine, CA)—Do you spend your morning at the spa, your afternoon shopping for diamonds, and your evening by the pool while the nanny takes care of your children? Are you never seen in anything less than the latest designer looks? If so, you might be a perfect candidate for Bravo TV’s Real Housewives series.
“All it takes to get on one of these shows is a love of drama and some really good blond highlights,” says Judy Joseph Hamlin, author of the book “From Riches to Happiness.” “And bonus points if you can hold your own in a catfight.”
With series set in Orange County, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, and Beverly Hills, the Real Housewives aim to represent women from many different walks of life—as long as they’re affluent and glamorous.
“The casting calls for these shows say they’re looking for beautiful, wealthy women who do charity work and run businesses,” says Ms. Hamlin. “What they really want are women who live off their husbands and love to argue, criticize, and brawl.”
The Housewives’ reality is more like a media circus:
* Real Housewife of Atlanta NeNe Leakes and husband Gregg were evicted and owe $100,00 in back taxes.
* NYC Real Housewife Countess Luann came under fire when a video surfaced of her 16-year-old daughter rolling a joint and using the N-word.
* Real Housewife of DC Michaele Salahi and husband Tareq crashed a White House dinner party that landed them a grand jury investigation.
* Beverly Hills Housewife Taylor Armstrong’s husband committed suicide, leaving behind three children and financial problems, including a recent $1.5 million lawsuit.
“Does any of that sound like your life?” asks Ms. Hamlin. “It doesn’t sound like mine. And I was an actual real housewife of Orange County!”
For more information, please contact Judy Joseph Hamlin at judy@judyjosephhamlin.com or visit www.judyjosephhamlin.com.
“From Riches to Happiness” is available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Judy Joseph Hamlin, a former Orange County housewife, earned a master’s degree in special education. She is a teacher in Newport Beach, California. This is her first book.