This is somewhat indirectly connected to miles & points, but considering the overlap between Real Housewives fans and miles & points aficionados (I’ll leave you to figure out why), I believe this will pique the interest of many…
Newly notable Real Housewives cast member
The lineup for the 16th season of the Real Housewives of New York City has just been disclosed. There were speculations that the series might face cancellation at this juncture, as its popularity has significantly waned over the years, a fact that Bethenny Frankel frequently emphasizes (along with her unparalleled contributions to Puerto Rico!). Nevertheless, the show is making a comeback, featuring a predominantly new ensemble.
One of the fresh cast members is Erika Hammond, a 34-year-old former WWE wrestler and celebrity fitness coach. She is also married to Ankur Jain, the creator and CEO of Bilt.
Hammond wed Jain in 2024 during a ceremony in Egypt (the festivities spanned several countries in Africa, but the formal event took place in Giza).
Season 16 of Real Housewives of New York City will also welcome back Carole Radziwill, who hasn’t appeared on the show in eight years. It will be intriguing to see how prominently Jain is featured in the series.
Congratulations on the new role, and best wishes!
Kudos to Hammond for scoring a spot on Real Housewives of New York City. It certainly serves as an excellent platform for gaining visibility and an audience, which can assist with other entrepreneurial endeavors.
That said — and this isn’t directed specifically at Hammond, but more so at the program in general — Real Housewives doesn’t have the best history regarding its cast members (in terms of marital stability and avoiding legal troubles — not that everyone must remain married to the same individual forever, but the statistics are quite grim for those who participate in Real Housewives).
I used to tune in to nearly every Real Housewives franchise back in the day, yet I can’t bring myself to watch any of it now. From my perspective, the show primarily attracts significant narcissists… I don’t know how else to articulate it. This explains why there are individuals like Jen Shah and Teresa Giudice who end up incarcerated, why people like Erika Jayne pursue vanity pop careers using money misappropriated from 737 MAX disaster victims, and why you have figures like Mary Cosby operating highly dubious churches. They can’t help but flaunt that lifestyle on television! The entire show seems to revolve around the notion that “any publicity is good publicity.”
On a broader scale, being part of the Real Housewives cast appears detrimental to marriage. It’s unsurprising when you consider the influence a television program can exert on your life, especially when you are encouraged to be so transparent, and conflict is celebrated rather than discouraged.
In any case, best wishes to Hammond, and I hope for her sake it brings her joy and success, instead of… well, what tends to occur more frequently than not to those who choose to join the show.
Conclusion
Erika Hammond, spouse of Bilt CEO Ankur Jain, is joining the cast of season 16 of Real Housewives of New York City. It’s fascinating to observe a crossover between a Real Housewives franchise and the (kind of) miles & points realm.
This is certainly a fine opportunity for exposure, and I wish her the best regarding success and marital happiness, considering the impact this show all too often has on individuals.
What are your thoughts on Hammond’s addition to RHONY?