After a short break from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City<\/em><\/a>, Mary Cosby<\/strong><\/a> is back and funnier than ever \u2014 even though she doesn\u2019t know it. That nonchalance is what makes her the unsung hero of the Bravo series and landed her a spot on Us Weekly<\/em>\u2019s list of Reality Stars of the Year.<\/p>\n Bravo viewers have also come full circle with the 52-year-old Cosby, who was one of RHOSLC<\/em>\u2019s original cast members but took a brief hiatus (without attending the reunion<\/a> or saying goodbye) after season 2 due to the controversy surrounding her church. The break, she says, was necessary after the church was referred to as a \u201ccult\u201d following the show\u2019s first season.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to take a step back and reevaluate the situation, because I didn\u2019t realize \u2014 believe it or not \u2014 being on this show, I didn\u2019t know what I was getting into,\u201d Cosby exclusively tells Us Weekly<\/em>. \u201cI didn\u2019t understand that it was going to be so chaotic.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s grandmother Dr. Rosemary Redmon Cosby<\/strong> founded the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church in 1968. Following her death, Mary took on the role of first lady and evangelist alongside her husband, Robert Sr.<\/strong>, who is the church\u2019s bishop.<\/p>\n The criticism of her church and relationship (Robert Sr. was Cosby\u2019s stepgrandfather<\/a> before their 1998 marriage) was the \u201cworst\u201d and \u201cdarkest part\u201d of her first stint on RHOSLC<\/em>. According to Cosby, the speculation \u201cstemmed from\u201d former costar Jen Shah<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cShe put that out there, and then people took it and ran with it,\u201d Cosby claims, noting that her feud with Shah \u201ccame with the territory\u201d of the show and she has since \u201clet it go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just understood that this was part of my journey,\u201d Cosby explains. \u201cWhen you\u2019re strong enough, you go through some type of trial. Some type of change, some type of darkness, like I did, because I was able to get through it, I was able to handle it, and I was ready, but at the time, I didn\u2019t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n The drama between Cosby and Shah (which was initiated when Cosby said Shah \u201csmelled like hospital\u201d) during the show\u2019s first season is part of the reason RHOSLC<\/em> was talked about almost immediately after its November 2020 premiere. (Shah is currently incarcerated<\/a> after being convicted of fraud charges in 2023.)<\/p>\n After Cosby\u2019s absence during the show\u2019s third season, she returned as a \u201cfriend of\u201d in season 4 and seemed more subdued, memorably sitting out a night of partying to eat McDonald\u2019s alone in the Sprinter van. But when she returned as a full-time cast member in season 5, her quick wit came back with a vengeance.<\/p>\n If you ask Cosby, however, she\u2019s not a comedian.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea that I\u2019m funny. I still don\u2019t believe I\u2019m funny. I even watch myself and crack up,\u201d she admits, explaining that \u201call my family is funny,\u201d but she thought those genes skipped her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m serious. I\u2019m no-nonsense. I\u2019m direct. I\u2019m trying to get to life where I need to be, and I want to live my life in the fullest,\u201d she adds. \u201cI didn\u2019t know that I make people laugh. So, I am funny? I don\u2019t know that I\u2019m funny.\u201d<\/p>\n After seeing Cosby\u2019s take on Taylor Swift<\/strong>\u2019s Life of a Showgirl<\/em><\/a> song lyrics, Us<\/em> begs to differ, but we digress.<\/p>\n Aside from her unintentional humor, Cosby\u2019s return to the franchise also brought a wholesome friendship<\/a> with Angie Katsanevas<\/strong> that fans didn\u2019t see coming but absolutely loved. Cosby notes that their bond is \u201cprobably one of the pleasures of being on the show,\u201d even though it seems the two women might have some tension as season 6 continues.<\/p>\n \u201cFinding sisterhood is good in this world, just in general,\u201d Cosby explains. \u201cI feel like people are just different now, even after COVID. People are just more anxious. There\u2019s just more stress, they\u2019re [angrier].\u201d<\/p>\n She adds, \u201cPeople are not looking for friends, and they\u2019re not looking to be a friend to the point where it feels like family, and you just don\u2019t find that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Cosby\u2019s relationship with her family has continued to resonate with viewers as well. During season 5, it was revealed that her 22-year-old son, Robert Jr.<\/strong>, was battling drug addiction<\/a>. The mother and son\u2019s tear-filled conversation was caught by Bravo cameras, and the world applauded as Cosby responded with compassion rather than anger.<\/p>\n \u201cThat actually, truly shocked me,\u201d she recalls of learning about Robert Jr.\u2019s issues. \u201cI immediately started blaming myself, because I thought, \u2018You can\u2019t judge him and his life and his choices.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Mary Cosby.<\/span> Chad Kirkland<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Real](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Real-Housewives-of-Salt-Lake-City-2543-Us-Weekly-Cover-No-Chip.jpg?w=1000&quality=55&strip=all\")
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\n Mary Cosby, Angie Katsanevas and Bronwyn Newport.<\/span> Chad Kirkland<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n