As the 11th city to join Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise ecosystem, The Real Housewives of Dubaiis giving viewers the booked, busy, and boujee vibes of past iterations but done in the renowned City of Gold. Airing on Wednesdays at 9/8c, the new series documents the lives of six housewives as they wine and dine in the most exclusive of places, build their empires, and fuel their career ambitions, radiating glamour and luxury while doing it.
Whether you’ve already tuned into the show or are having an internal debate about if this new show is worth streaming, here’s a brief introduction to each of the Dubai housewives.
Who Is Chanel Ayan?
No surprise here, but this Kenyan-born businesswoman of Somali and Ethiopian descent first made her mark in the world as a supermodel. “I’m the first Black supermodel in Dubai, and the first person from my village or my generation to do something as big as this. So I feel so proud,” Chanel Ayan said in a promotional video she shared on Instagram. These days Ayan is the owner of a talent agency and is also creating a skin care line with celebrity MUA Toni Malt, AYAN Beauty by Toni Malt.
In the same video, she explained that she has lived in Dubai for 18 years after moving there with her husband, Luca Salves. The two, who have been married for 22 years, also share a son together, Taj. Of their relationship, the beauty expert shared, “My dad beat me so bad I did not know what love was until I met him.”
Who Is Lesa Milan?
If you were a fan of BET's College Hill: South Beach, Lesa Milan might be a familiar face. Lesa hails from her home country of Jamaica as a former Miss Jamaica winner. The former beauty queen traded in her crown to shift into the world of fashion design and entrepreneurship. As the founder and chief designer of Mina Roe, a luxury maternity wear brand, Lesa has had the honor of having her items worn by the likes of Serena Williams, Gigi Hadid, and Beyoncé to name a few. She also founded My Little Makers, a youth educational brand.
Business isn’t the only thing on Lesa’s brain, love is too. She is married to Dubai-based real estate developer and millionaire financier Richard Hall. The couple share three children, Maximillian, Sebastian, and Kristian.
Who Is Caroline Brooks?
Caroline Brooks is a hustler baby, and she just wants you to know. This Afro-Latina is a first-generation American born to immigrant parents and she is proud of where she’s come from and how it’s shaped who she’s become. Her desire for multiple streams of income stemmed from craving financial independence following her split from her now ex-husband (who is also the reason she relocated to Dubai in 2010). She became a real estate director in Dubai, making her one of the first women to do so.
Caroline also founded a luxury spa and salon catering to all skin types, tones, and textures called Glass House Dubai, an endeavor she told Cosmpolitan that she manifested and is the sole creator of. Although she and her ex are no longer together, the Bravo star shared that she had no regrets about their whirlwind relationship because of the birth of the former couple’s son.
Who Is Nina Ali?
The Lebanon-born, Texas-raised Nina Ali is an entrepreneur and businesswoman known for her ambition and drive. She made the move to Dubai with her husband, Munaf Ali, in 2011. As far as business endeavors go, Nina is the proud co-owner of a budding premium fruit cake empire in addition to being a successful influencer online. In an interview with ITP Live, she talked about her passion for baking. “My mom has obviously always been my inspiration because she cooks such authentic homemade and fresh food, every day! My mom cooks all the time, everything is made from the heart.”
Nina and her husband Munaf met through friends and have been married for 12 years. She revealed to Harper’s Bazaar, “After seeing my picture, Munaf asked about me. He flew all the way around the world, just to take me to dinner.”
Nina is the mother of three children, daughters Sophia and Nour, and son Ayan. The wife and business owner is quick to own the fact that being a mother is the greatest accomplishment of her life.
Who Is Sara Al Madani?
Sara Al Madani has been business-minded since the age of 15 when she started a fashion brand to change the way Arab women dressed. When she got older, she pivoted into the world of tech working with companies like Social Fish and Hulatek. Since then, Sara has become relatively known for being a prolific speaker, accumulating over 200 keynote speeches under her belt.
She once shared her why in an interview, “The number one thing that I’ve done is that I freed myself from the stereotype of what I should or shouldn’t be doing as a woman: how a woman should only be working in feminine fields; how a woman should just be at home raising kids. None of that resonated with me. I believe in gender equality and I believe that you go out there and get whatever life’s giving you.”
Sara has been married twice and divorced twice and aside from her career endeavors, she also finds purpose in raising her son.
Who Is Caroline Stanbury?
London born and bred, Caroline Stanbury is not a new face to Bravo. Unlike the other ladies on the franchise’s roster, Caroline has skin in the game as a reality star from a previous series called Ladies of London. She was previously married to Cem Habib, a financier with whom she shares three children: Yasmine, 16, and twins Zac and Aaron, 12.
Caroline and Cem divorced in 2019 and Caroline has since been in a relationship with a 27-year-old former Madrid soccer player, Sergio Carallo. The pair first went public in 2020 about their relationship before getting engaged in 2021 and their nuptials will air on this season of RHODubai.
Worth a reported $30 million, the former stylist now splits her time between philanthropy, acting as a luxury brand ambassador, and hosting a successful podcast.
Featured image by Chris Haston/Bravo
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy
After Decades-Long Career, Terri J. Vaughn Is Finally The Main Character: Exclusive
Terri J. Vaughn first captured our attention in the late ‘90s as Lovita Alizay Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show. Decades later, she is starring in her very own series, She The People, which is now available to stream on Netflix.
The political sitcom, which she co-created with Niya Palmer and later teamed up with Tyler Perry Studios, is about a Black woman named Antoinette Dunkerson who runs for lieutenant governor of Mississippi. She wins and becomes the state’s first Black lieutenant governor. Now, she’s forced to balance working with a racist and sexist governor while also trying to keep her family from running amok.
According to the beloved actress, this project was a long time coming. “I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff,” she says in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“But just keep going, because this is what I do. This is what I love, and I know how important it is for us to continue to show up and make sure that we are seen, make sure that our voices are heard. For several reasons. I just never give up. So here I am, 20 years later, finally sold my show.”
She The People is inspired by the true story of London Breed, who became the first Black female mayor of San Francisco, Terri’s hometown. And to help make the show more authentic, the Cherish the Day actress tapped former Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms to come on as a producer.'“I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff."
After bringing the former mayor aboard, it was time to pitch again. And this time, the companies were pitching them. Ultimately, Terri decided to work with Tyler Perry on the series.
“We decided to do it with Tyler for several reasons. I love that. Well, most of the companies we met with were Black-owned companies, but he was the only studio,” she explains. “Tyler is like Walt Disney. That's literally what he is. He has the studio, he has the content. He operates just like Walt Disney.”
And thanks to the cast, the show is nothing short of laughs. The series also stars social media creator Jade Novah as Antoinette’s crazy cousin/ assistant, Shamika, Family Mattersstar Jo Marie Payton as Anotinette’s mom, Cleo, and Terri’s husband, Karon Riley, who plays Michael, her driver and love interest.
While we’ve watched Terri’s career blossom in various ways. From directing to producing, and playing diverse characters, the mom of two says her The Steve Harvey Show character will always be her favorite.
“Well, Lovita was definitely my favorite, especially for my time, the age and everything that I was. Now as a grown ass woman over 50, Antoinette Dunkerson is everything that I've wanted to play. She's everything. She's a mother of two teenagers. She's divorced, so she's co-parenting with her ex-husband. She has to wrangle in a very eclectic family,” she says.
“So I like playing characters that are really flawed and trying to figure it out and doing their best to try to figure it. And she's very flawed and she is trying to figure it out, and she fucks up sometimes. But her heart and what she's trying to do and what her vision is and purpose, it's all for the people. I mean, she the people. She’s for the people, she is the people.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Jamie Lamor Thompson/ Shutterstock