Kyle Richards is looking back at her early moments on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and more in a series of new interviews.
In addition to recounting her most and least favorite moments of the Bravo series, on which she’s starred since its first season in 2010, Kyle opened up about her style and shared what she believes is the “downside” of appearing on reality television.
“Milestones with my children that I get to get documented,” Kyle told Hello! on July 7 after being asked about her favorite moments of RHOBH. “Whether it’s sad – dropping them off at college; I’m always going to have that. And Farrah graduating, Bar Mitzvahs, learning to drive a car, all those things… I have some great professional family home videos.”
As for her hardest times, Kyle said she doesn’t like seeing herself in arguments with co-stars.
“I know that’s a given, but obviously the hardest was with my sister [Kim Richards], as that’s family,” Kyle noted. “When we have these arguments on the show, it doesn’t just end when the cameras go off, and it spills into your personal life.”
Although many of her castmates go all-out when it comes to their style and glam, including Erika Jayne and Dorit Kemsley, Kyle admitted that she’s never had a stylish and doesn’t travel with a team for glam.
“I’m sure people are like, ‘Yeah you can tell!’ But no, never had one,” she confirmed. “I don’t travel with a glam squad either. When I’m working, I like to be well put together, I like color. I go with my mood. Some days I want to be conservative, some days more edgy.”
“When I go on trips I feel like I do better,” Kyle continued. “So when I’m away with the show on a trip, I’m like, ‘OK – this is our itinerary’,’ so I do my best, so I can really think something out. Plus, my husband [Mauricio Umansky] isn’t with me, so he’s not judging me on how much luggage I’m bringing!”
When Kyle first signed on to appear on RHOBH over a decade ago, she, like many others, most likely, didn’t realize the pop culture phenomenon it would ultimately become.
“I thought I was going to be doing it for two months. It’s crazy when I think of it like that. I was a stay-at-home mom, which is a lot of work. I really didn’t know what could possibly happen,” Kyle admitted to iNews.
But it hasn’t been all good.
“The downside, of course, is just losing the privacy of your life,” Kyle reflected. “[And] the scrutiny is overwhelming sometimes.”
Her disputes with other RHOBH cast members are also “a little rough.”
“I get along with all the women, but I have my moments with a few throughout the season,” Kyle admitted of the currently airing 12th season. “Sometimes I wish I’d handled things differently or wish I’d said things differently. I like to torture myself or beat myself up. But for the most part I feel pretty good, even though there’s moments coming up that I really don’t want to see.”
While being a reality star isn’t always easy, Kyle said she’s developed a close bond with her producers.
“There’s been times when they’re like, ‘You’re not gonna like this.’ You know, they actually come to my house and will say, ‘Do you wanna watch it together?’” she revealed. “One time, one of the producers cried and was like, ‘I feel so bad.’ But hey, I did it, what am I gonna do? It is what it is.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 12 airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.