Real talk: Housewives stars reveal the pain behind the fame

The designer heels and headline feuds might define The Real Housewives but Teresa Giudice and Whitney Rose say there’s another side to reality TV.

The Real Housewives stars Teresa Giudice and Whitney Rose, are in Sydney for the Bring Back My Wives tour, a live stage show blending the glitz of Housewives with RuPaul’s Drag Race. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

When people think of The Real Housewives, it’s often drama, diamonds and designer labels that come to mind.

But for Teresa Giudice and Whitney Rose, the truth behind reality TV runs much deeper, one marked by personal hardships, family sacrifices and emotional growth.

The two stars from The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Salt Lake City respectively — are currently in Sydney for the Bring Back My Wives tour, a live stage show blending the glitz of Housewives with RuPaul’s Drag Race.

While in town, the pair opened up to Confidential about what fans don’t see behind the scenes.

“I feel like people are only seeing a small version of our lives,” Rose said.

“Especially Teresa, she’s not like anything that people say. She’s the nicest, calmest, sweetest person.”

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake Whitney Rose, pictured with Heather Gay, says we only see a small version of the lives of the stars. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Giudice, an original cast member of the New Jersey series, said things shifted drastically after her family unexpectedly joined the show.

“Season one and season two, I was like, my happiest, and then season three is where everything changed,” she said.

“After that, it was not fun … but I started it, so I didn’t feel like I should walk away. I’m the OG.”

Her journey included public legal battles, divorce and raising four daughters while her ex-husband was deported.

“I needed to work,” she said.

“And that’s what I’m doing.”

Both women are protective mothers, with Giudice’s eldest daughter Gia now appearing on Next Gen NYC, a new reality series.

“She saw everything I went through,” Giudice said.

“She knows how to navigate it exactly.”

Rose’s daughter Bobbi was recently hospitalised in ICU due to asthma complications but is now “doing much better.”

“We just got back from Italy … she was recruited to play for a team out there, and they ended up winning the tournament,” she said.

When it comes to the idea of their kids entering reality TV, the pair are cautious but open.

“Our household is an open book,” Giudice said.

“Any mistakes that I’ve made, I don’t want them to make the same mistake.”

Both stars also spoke candidly about confronting conflict on-screen.

“I’ve learned how to handle myself a lot better and not care what people think,” Giudice said. “But on reality TV, you have to confront people nine out of 10 times.”

“Be careful who you trust and who you let in your circle.”

Rose’s path has been one of self-discovery.

“I started young, and back then I didn’t care what anyone thought,” she said.

“But once I received feedback from the world, it really made me question who I am … I got so far away from being me. This last year I tried to get back to myself, the fun, free-spirited version.”

Reflecting on the journey, she said it’s all been worth it.

“Everything that we go through on the show that’s hard … being here in Australia with Teresa, it’s like wow. I love Sydney, it will always have a special place in my heart.”

Stream all episodes and seasons of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City now on Hayu.