Fans got their first look at The Real Housewives of Rhode Island during BravoCon 2025.
The trailer for the new reality show debuted on Sunday, November 16, during Andy Cohen’s “Ask Andy” panel. Fans also met their newest batch of Houswives: Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiber. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania will appear in a friend-of role.
“In Rhode Island, everyone knows everyone,” multiple women could be heard saying in a voiceover during the trailer. “People here, they don’t look down on other states, but they are weirded out that other states exist.”
They admitted that the state is a “blip” but to these women it’s “the center of the universe.”
The trailer promised lots of drama — and, of course, tears from Ashley I., who might be best known as that crying girl from Bachelor Nation — and even some affair rumors. A release date for the new franchise has yet to be announced, but the show will hit Bravo at some point next year.
Bravo first announced The Real Housewives of Rhode Island — the 11th franchise since The Real Housewives of Orange County debuted in 2006 — in May.
“Set against the shores of the Ocean State, the Real Housewives franchise expands into the world of a tight-knit circle of Rhode Islanders who have deep community roots and families that go back generations,” the synopsis read. “With aspirational lives, thriving businesses and tangled family dynamics, these decade-long friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past … or each other.”
In a May interview with People, Andy Cohen described RHORI as “Italian with a capital I” and hinted that the series would give fans “early Jersey vibes,” referring to The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
While casting details were kept under wraps, rumors surfaced later that month that RHONJ star Dolores Catania could join the new Rhode Island-set show.
“Dolores may be appearing on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island but not necessarily in a friend or full-time capacity,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time, emphasizing that nothing was official yet. “She has authentic roots there, and the idea is she would set a tone but not as an official cast member.”
Cohen, for his part, exclusively told Us of Catania’s potential involvement in May, “You know what, we haven’t even started shooting yet.”
In July, Catania, 54, explained her connection to Rhode Island.
“So my first time out of New Jersey was in Rhode Island,” she exclusively told Us. “I was 18 years old.”
At the time, Dolores and her now ex-husband, Frank Catania, traveled there to help his sister settle in at Rhode Island University.
“So we drove up to bring her to help her move into her dorm. It was my first time in a college,” she recalled. “It was my first time experiencing anything [outside] of New Jersey. It was insane.”
Not only was Dolores in “awe” of Rhode Island’s coastal charm, but she also later learned of the state’s “really strong Italian community.”
“They paint the streets with the Italian flag there,” she noted.
Dolores previously believed the state was a stereotypical New England vacation spot.
“When I first went there, I thought it was like Martha’s Vineyard,” she shared. “Everybody was very blonde and everybody was [in] their sweaters and everything was very preppy to me.”
Despite her first impression, Dolores later grew to appreciate the “Italian presence there that you will very much love.”
Dolores’ now-fiancé, Paulie Connell, seemingly shared an update on RHORI filming via Instagram in September, posting photos of the couple’s summer in the state.
“And that’s a wrap 🎬 Rhode Island…..,” he wrote at the time. “Oh did we have a blast, so so impressed tbh, you have earned a special place in our hearts 💞 great place along with great food and so much fun, RI you are in for a treat, Jersey Style! Stay tuned.”
Dolores chimed in from the comments section. “Best summer everrr so sad to leave 😢😢❤️,” she replied. “❤️❤️❤️ stay tuned.”
