Ashley Iaconetti is ready to take on her new role as a Bravolebrity after joining The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.
During the Tuesday, November 18, episode of their “Almost Famous” podcast, Ashley, 37, and cohost Ben Higgins addressed her presence on the upcoming series, which was officially confirmed at BravoCon 2025.
“The reason I was gone a lot over the summer was because I was filming The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” she told podcast listeners, who previously speculated over Ashley’s involvement in the show. “I truly can’t say much more than you can check out the trailer, which dropped at BravoCon [this weekend].”
Ashley said it’s been “very fun” to see how fans are reacting to the cast announcement and first look. “Thank you all for being so supportive and saying the sweetest things about me being on there, I appreciate that so much,” she added.
‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ Season 1 Trailer Premieres at BravoCon
Even Ben, 36, couldn’t contain his excitement, teasing that the Real Housewives franchise “just picked up one new viewer.”
Fans initially got to know Ashley on season 19 of The Bachelor, which aired in 2015 with lead Chris Soules. She later appeared on seasons 2 and 3 of Bachelor in Paradise in 2015 and 2016, returning to reality TV in 2018 on Bachelor Winter Games.
Comparing her time on the two hit franchises, Ashley said filming RHORI this summer “was an experience for sure,” without getting into too many details.
“I don’t know when it’s gonna air, I don’t even know if I can give a timeline as to what the estimated airtime is,” she explained on the podcast. “It was a lot different than The Bachelor, I will say that. … It is a very fun, exciting time to kind of go through the cycle again, especially with so many nice people out there rooting for me.”
Having been in the spotlight before, Ashley said it’s “a little less scary” this time around. “At least, like, you guys kind of understand who I am and hopefully that still stays reflected throughout the show,” she noted.
Bravo revealed Rhode Island as the latest Housewives franchise 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 official 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.”
Meet the Cast of Bravo’s Upcoming Series ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’
Details about the cast were initially kept under wraps, but Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania was rumored to be involved. At the time, a source exclusively told Us Weekly, “She has authentic roots there, and the idea is she would set a tone but not as an official cast member.”
During day 3 of BravoCon, fans got their first glimpse of the cast including Ashley, Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMarie, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi. Dolores, 54, will appear as a “friend” of the Housewives.
“In Rhode Island, everyone knows everyone,” the women said 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.”
Ashley’s official bio mentions her husband, fellow Bachelor Nation alum Jared Haibon, and their two sons, Dawson, 3, and Hayden, 16 months.
“While Jared manages their beloved coffee shop, Ashley has built a thriving career as a social media powerhouse, all while acclimating her new life in her husband’s home state,” read the Bravo press release.
