‘Bachelor’ star Ashley Iaconetti on ‘totally different experience’ with ‘Real Housewives’

Ashley Iaconetti has had her share of reality TV time thanks to “Bachelor in Paradise,” but being part of the “Real Housewives” is a whole other experience.

“On ‘Bachelor,’ it’s about love and drama and on ‘Housewives’ it’s a little bit more about drama, that’s the big difference for me,” she told PauseRewind’s Kevin Zelman at the iHeart Radio Awards red carpet. “It was a totally different experience.”

The first episode of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” premiered Thursday, with Iaconetti, Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi as they navigate the Rhode Island life and the close-knit social scene.

“I was friends with one of the girls, we were set up on like a girl date, and we hit it off immediately. And then she was involved and I was like, ‘I guess if given this opportunity’” Iaconetti said of joining the show.

She added, “It took us a lot of deep conversations, but given the opportunity, how could I say no?”

“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” is Bravo’s first new “Housewives” franchise in four years and promises as much drama as the other locations.

Describing the series to Deadline ahead of its launch, producer Andy Cohen said, “It’s interesting that it’s one of the smallest states and it kind of feels like this insular community where everybody knows each other [and] you can’t get away with anything. It is the perfect spot for a ‘Housewives.’ Plus, it’s also so beautiful, it’s aspirational. It’s the Ocean state – it’s teeny. And the women are outrageously fun and great for TV.”

Iaconetti hadn’t seen any episodes yet by the time she hit the iHeart carpet, but told fans, “I think the first episode is going to be light and funny, very comedic. I think they’re going to get some maybe New Jersey/New York vibes. I think they’re going to be happy.”

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