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'Real Housewives of D.C.'s' Stacie Turner is feeling the pressure
With Bravo's "The Real Housewives of D.C.'s" premiere creeping closer, cast member Stacie Turner admits to us that she's feeling some pressure.
Not only is she the sole African-American cast member on the show, but also the show is based in a city apparently nicknamed "The Chocolate City" for its large population of African-Americans.
"I feel so much pressure," she tells Zap2it. "I'm sure there was some expectation that there would be more African-American housewives. But, I think the show has done a good job of showing the diversity of D.C. You'll see a good representation of African-Americans from my friends to family to different places that we go, because the city is so racially diverse."
Some in the media have been talking about a backlash against Turner for participating, but she says she hasn't noticed it.
"I really haven't felt any backlash," she says. "And, of course, I didn't do the casting for the show, so don't hate me for being in it! I'm hoping I can be a really positive portrayal for African-American women. I love my city. I love my life. And to the extent that I can share it and it be positive, as well as entertaining, I think it's a great thing. So, hopefully I will represent well."
In our opinion, representing for African-Americans is probably the least of her problems. Let's face it, this is the "Real Housewives" we're talking about and things tend to get messy on so many other levels.
Turner is a successful real estate agent and founder of the charity, Extra-Ordinary Life, which seeks to mentor and expose foster care children to opportunities they may not have had access to. A product of the foster care system herself, she tells us she'll be going on a search for her birth father this season.
As the head of her charity and a role model for her own kids, Turner went into shooting determined to avoid drama like the kind that has transpired on the other "Housewives" shows.
"I have small kids," she says. "I have to think about, 'Do I want my son or my daughter looking at me on TV talking about mama turning over a table?' I'm trying to instill morals here."
Of course, Turner didn't expect to be cast alongside Michaele Salahi, who created one of the biggest news stories of last year when she and her husband allegedly crashed President Obama's first state dinner.
"We were all caught off-guard like the rest of America when the incident happened," she says. "Things did change after that point and we are equally as interested to see how that portion of the show unfolds to see what that was all about."
"The Real Housewives of D.C." premieres Thursday, August 5 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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Photo credit: Bravo
Photo credit: Bravo
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To the Author:
Please be sure to correct your statement that Ms. Turner is the only African-American cast member of the DC franchise. Paul Wharton is also featured. Thank you!
Dear Paul Wharton aka DC Fan,
Ms. Turner is the only african-american Housewife. You are not a housewife.
Thanks!
Bigger DC Fan
In addition, Stacie Scott Turner is a regular real estate agent on HGTV' "Get It Sold" - one of the episodes aired today, Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 1:30 PM est.
bahahahaha. I love that Bigger DC Fan called out Paul Wharton aka DC Fan. Get a grip. And thank you to Bigger DC Fan for calling him out.
Stacie is what's wrong with this country. Hahaha that episode where she gets mad at the other real housewife for disliking Tyra Banks is hilarious. According to Ms. Stacie, white people are not allowed to dislike any black figures in pop culture! What a dumb racist *****.
Stacie is not what's wrong in America. Bashing one black person after another in a black person's house is not what was expected ... that was the point, Lola!
Just so you all know STACIE IS NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN she is black american, she was born here not in Africa, please stop making such stupid statements, from the author to the commenters. SHE IS A 1/2 BLACK WOMAN that's it nothing more.
who cares...i live in dc and all those people are nobody's - seriously....they are just rich people...stacie, linda, and the photographer for Obama (i'm shocked he agreed to be on the show) are the only "little somebody's"....many of the real big wigs in DC would never be able to do a show b/c of the privacy that is required - why do you think only the NUTS went to the white house dinner - NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE WASHINGTON ELITE!
Stacie is African American because she is an American of African descent.
Lulubean, you sure got that name right, although perhaps Knucklehead would better suit you!!