Jessel Tank knows negative editing when he sees it. The The Real Housewives of New York star — a newcomer just like her five co-stars in this 14th season, completely revamped reboot — had an awkward introduction to reality TV. Thanks to skillfully staged run-ins with actresses Jenna Lyons and Erin Lichy and others, the London-raised fashion publicist, 43, came off as a “very crazy figure,” she told HELLO during a recent visit to the Manhattan apartment seen on the Bravo series. “Someone who orders her husband around, isn’t nice to her mom, is rude to Jenna about the gift, and just complains about everything. [first] three episodes were very difficult for me”
© GettyLondon, fashion columnist Jessel, 43, is making history as the first Indian housewife in the history of the Bravo franchise.
Jenna’s gift in question? As fans know, during a bachelorette weekend trip to Erin’s house in the Hamptons, former J. Crew creative director Jenna, 55, gifted Jessel with a green negligee; Jessel complained out loud on several occasions that the piece of underwear was neither flattering nor her style. And while her actors and viewers were stunned by the not-so-kind response, Jenna and Jessel reconciled in a moment that, of course, remained on stage.
“I certainly don’t take myself too seriously and I always, of course, correct myself when I’m wrong,” she said. “I apologized to Jenna after the underwear giveaway. I wrote her a handwritten note. We had a really nice conversation, but it didn’t show. So cute! Everyone thought I was someone completely different from who I was, and a big part of it was editing .”
The sweet and stunning Jessel generously opened her doors — she shares her spacious apartment with her husband Pavita and little twins Kai and Ria, two — to HELLO! during a truly hectic period for every fashion lover: New York Fashion Week. Watch Jessel get ready to attend the Shane Falguni Peacock Show with the glam squad in the video above — where she reveals her beauty trick, the ugliest item in her closet, the most expensive beauty splurge, her role model and more.
© Getty After a disastrous 13th season, Bravo completely revamped RHONY for Season 14 with (left to right) Brynn Whitfield, Erin Lichy, Sai De Silva, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Ubah Hassan.
Jessel also makes history as the first Indian-origin housewife to appear in the history of the sprawling franchise, which now has official iterations in nine (!) cities. That biographical detail, she told HELLO!, led some to make assumptions based on broad cultural tropes. “At the beginning of the season, everyone expected me to be this quiet, boring. It was a lot of stereotyping. [Indian women] they are not riotous. We’re not too confrontational, we’re not loud in that way. We’re a little tamer.”
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HELLO! visited Jessel in her Manhattan apartment while her glam team prepped her for Falguni Shane Peacock’s New York Fashion Week show.
Now, though? Late last week, it was revealed that Jessel had nabbed the coveted spot right next to Andy Cohen for the reunion — a sign of the favored alpha-girl supremacy in the Housewives universe. Jessel says, “I proved everyone wrong.”
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© GettyJessel, Brynn, Jenna and Sai at the wedding anniversary celebration of colleague Erin
The Real Housewives of New York airs on Bravo every Sunday at 9pm EST.
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Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education