Overview of Ashley I: From Bachelor Nation to Bravo
In this episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat, Amanda Hirsch sits down with Ashley Iaconetti Haibon to talk about her surprising evolution from tearful Bachelor Nation standout to full-fledged Bravo housewife on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. The conversation covers Ashley’s life with Jared Haibon, their move from Los Angeles to Rhode Island, raising two young sons, Jared’s restaurant business, and what it’s been like stepping into a very different reality-TV ecosystem.
Ashley Iaconetti’s Reality TV Evolution
From The Bachelor to Housewives
- Ashley reflects on how surreal it is to go from:
- The Bachelor
- Bachelor in Paradise
- married life
- and now Real Housewives of Rhode Island
- She says she never imagined she’d end up as a housewife, especially since she sees herself as more grounded and less naturally dramatic than many Bravo women.
- Her husband Jared was always Rhode Island–oriented, and Ashley had promised they’d eventually move back there.
Why she said yes to Bravo
- She and Jared were open to reality TV, but hesitant because Housewives is much more intimate and exposing than dating shows.
- Ashley says she ultimately said yes because she didn’t want FOMO and prefers to say yes first, then back out later if needed.
Life in Rhode Island with Jared and the Kids
Family and parenting
- Ashley has two little boys and says balancing parenting, filming, and content creation is a lot.
- She jokes that other cast members without toddlers have a very different life from hers.
- Her kids’ ages make filming a bit easier than it would be with younger children.
Moving from L.A. to Rhode Island
- The move was partly planned long before children entered the picture.
- COVID made remote work easier, so leaving L.A. felt more realistic.
- She says the transition had hard moments, especially during early motherhood when she felt isolated.
Giving birth in Virginia
- Ashley explains that she delivered both children in Virginia because her father is an anesthesiologist there.
- She chose that hospital because of the comfort, familiarity, and especially its epidural-friendly approach.
Jared Haibon, Audrey’s, and the Business Side
Jared’s restaurant
- Jared owns a coffee shop/restaurant in Rhode Island, and Ashley helped with decor and menu ideas early on.
- She says it became much more intense and time-consuming than he expected.
- The business does well, especially because of the show’s visibility, but Ashley notes that coffee shops are rarely huge profit machines unless they scale.
Jared on reality TV
- Ashley says Jared is proud of what he built and still likes the restaurant world.
- She sees his dream as eventually directing or producing, rather than becoming an influencer.
- She says she would be uncomfortable if he suddenly became overly interested in influencer culture.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island Cast Dynamics
Who Ashley clicked with
- Rosie was the first person she truly connected with.
- Joellen clicked with her as well, especially because both are moms.
- She also gets along with Rula and Alicia.
Cast “teams” and tensions
- Ashley describes the group as somewhat divided:
- Rosie + Ashley
- Kelsey + Liz
- Rula and Alicia floating between groups
- She says navigating those alliances is tricky, especially when her closest friend is Rosie and Rosie has tension with others.
Rula vs. Joellen
- Ashley says she supports Rula in the conflict and believes Joellen pushed too far by digging into personal matters.
- She hints that the situation with Rula’s husband and an alleged mistress is central to the drama.
- She frames the storyline as messy but excellent reality TV.
Kelsey, Liz, and the rumors
- Ashley says Kelsey can be frustrating because she tends to present speculation as fact.
- She specifically disputes claims involving:
- a job firing
- an alleged affair
- and a house-size dispute
- Ashley says she has seen documents backing up some of those claims.
How Ashley Sees Herself on the Show
The “crying” reputation
- Ashley laughs about how often she cries on TV.
- She says it’s not really how she is in everyday life, but heightened situations and cameras bring it out.
- She also admits that some of her crying came from being uncomfortable, not just emotional.
Confessional vs. real-life confrontation
- She says she’s much better at processing in confessionals than in live group settings.
- Ashley emphasizes that she never wants to say something she wouldn’t also be willing to say to someone’s face.
Why viewers relate to her
- She believes Bachelor fans want perfection and sweetness, while Bravo fans want authenticity and justified messiness.
- Her goal is to be honest, funny, and reactive without becoming mean for the sake of screen time.
Bachelor Nation Reactions and Crossovers
Support from former Bachelor women
- Ashley says many women from Bachelor Nation have been supportive and are enjoying watching her on Bravo.
- She’d love for some of them to appear on the show or offer a different version of female friendship than what viewers usually see on Housewives.
Andy Cohen and Bravo recognition
- She mentions that even Andy Cohen seemed impressed by her, though not especially familiar with her Bachelor background.
Key Takeaways
- Ashley Iaconetti’s new chapter is defined by family life, Rhode Island living, and a major reality-TV pivot.
- Her marriage to Jared Haibon remains central, especially as he balances restaurant ownership with fame.
- The show’s drama mostly comes from cast alliances, gossip, and long-standing rumors rather than explosive blowups.
- Ashley is self-aware about her image: emotional, talkative, and comfortable in confessionals.
- She sees Real Housewives of Rhode Island as a fresh opportunity, and it sounds like she’s open to doing another season.
Notable Moments
- Ashley joking about being “the more grounded one” in a housewives cast.
- Her description of Rhode Island as beautiful in summer but gloomy in winter.
- The discussion of how bizarre it is that a Bachelor alum can become a Housewife.
- Her insistence that the Bravo audience is less predictable than Bachelor Nation.
- Her and Amanda bonding over the absurdity of reality-TV careers evolving in unexpected ways.