It's been nearly a week since Season 16 of Real Housewives of Orange County hit our screens, and with an all-new season comes a brand new feel.
After a dip in ratings last season and widespread calls for a cast shakeup, RHOC fans have finally been introduced to all-new orange-holder, Noella Bergener - and as the series' first ever Black Housewife, she's already well on her way to making "her-story".
TheThings caught up with Noella at the RHOC premiere party hosted by THYRST and hayu to hear how she she felt, knowing that she was ushering in a new era for Real Housewives franchise's OG rendition.
Noella Bergener On Bringing More Representation To 'Real Housewives Of Orange County'
Asked if she could put into words how she felt, being the very first Black woman to star on Real Housewives of Orange County, Noella smiles, "it's an honor to make her-story. That's always a plus in life!"
However, she's quick to point out that while she's aware of the cultural and historical significance of the moment, at the end of the day, she still sees herself as - well - herself!
"I'm just me!" she shrugs, with a giggle.
"It's difficult to wrap my head around what a big statement it is," she admits.
That being said, she continues, "to know that I can be an inspiration and motivation and a good representation - well, maybe not always 'good'!" she ponders, chuckling, "but at least a representation of people like me...it's an honor."
Noella Explains Why She Never Thought She'd Be On Reality TV
Despite becoming a trailblazer in the space, Noella is extremely open about the fact that she never thought she'd be on reality TV. In fact, she admits that the idea had never even come to mind.
"Absolutely never not!" she shakes her head animatedly, before breaking into her signature laugh.
"I live a pretty crazy life," she goes on, adding, "I'm pretty 'out there' and I have no filter."
While we're of the mind that all of the above fit the bill for a reality star - and in particular, for a Real Housewife! - Noella expands on her line of thinking by noting that she never thought her identity would be widely accepted in the space.
"Just being bisexual, biracial...all the boxes that I check made me probably not the best candidate," she considers.
Noella Gets Real About (Finally!) Living In A World Of Greater Acceptance
Once upon a time, that may have been the case - but Noella notes that we've finally come to a place where greater diversity is not only accepted, but encouraged on reality TV, and that played a major role in her feeling comfortable about welcoming viewers into her world.
"It was serendipitous."
"I feel like now is finally the time where it is acceptable, where people aren't going to judge."
Quickly correcting herself, she adds, "of course [some are] going to judge, [but] at least, it's not cool to judge.
As such, she smiles that when it came to Real Housewives of Orange County, "everything [just] came together. Timing was everything in this, so I'm very ecstatic that we're living in this world."
"Hi world! We're here!" she concludes, her infectuous giggle in tow.
Fans can see new episodes of Real Housewives of Orange County every Thursday on hayu.
