Monique Samuels almost made her Bravo comeback much sooner — just not on “The Real Housewives of Potomac.”
During Part 2 of the RHOP reunion, Andy Cohen revealed that before welcoming Monique back for season 10, he had offered her a spot on season 2 of “Ultimate Girls Trip.”
“Something that people may not know that I really admire about you is that I tried to get you on, I think, Season 2 of ‘Ultimate Girls Trip,’” Andy shared. “And you were a hard pass. You really said that you emotionally were not ready to come back to this platform.”
Monique confirmed she was approached to join Peacock’s Ex-Wives Club edition of “Ultimate Girls Trip,” which filmed at Dorinda Medley’s Blue Stone Manor in September 2021.
“I was still very much in my marriage, trying to figure things out,” Monique explained, referring to her now-ex-husband Chris Samuels. “I was so angry at everybody.”
Monique and Chris divorced in 2023 after 11 years of marriage.
Monique Samuels Says Healing Made Season 10 the Right Time
Monique said returning during season 10 of “The Real Housewives of Potomac” felt different because she had done the work.
“And then I said, you know, you really can’t test how much you’ve healed unless you’re in a place that could possibly trigger you,” she said. “You know, staying by yourself at home in solitude is not actually peace.”
Andy praised her growth, saying, “I really want to congratulate you on your journey of self-discovery and healing. I think we can all see the work that you have put in to make positive changes in your life. And it is really impressive.”
When asked what advice she would give her season 5 self, Monique joked, “Oh, I would tell her to calm her ass down. It’s not that serious.”
She even brought back her infamous reunion binder “just in case,” though fans noticed a lighter dynamic — especially with Gizelle Bryant. The former rivals acknowledged they could have been “cool” during her original run if they had communicated better.
Monique also addressed what changed in her personal life.
“The first step to getting lighter is to lose 350 pounds,” she quipped, seemingly referencing her divorce. “The second step is honestly just self-reflection.”
Reflecting on her marriage, she added, “It taught me that I didn’t love myself… I was in a relationship where I was allowed to be depleted.”
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