This profile of Mary Cosby, star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, is part of Street Meet, FLEETSTREET’s series, where we meet the celebrities everyone’s talking about to uncover the stories, secrets, and moments that keep fans hooked.
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When The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Mary Cosby, the Bravo-network star known for her sharp wit and one-of-a-kind style, and I caught up, we talked about her personal growth on the show, her approach to fashion, and how she stays calm amid the chaos. We even played a round of Hot or Not, where she rates castmates’ fashion looks.
FLEETSTREET: Between season one and now, fans have watched you transform, saying you’re wittier and more reflective. What do you think is the biggest shift for you on the show?
Mary Cosby: I think, throughout the years, I’m showing more and more of myself. I got thrown into this [show] and I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I didn’t expect that take-down thing; I didn’t expect that dynamic. I watched Housewives, but I never knew what to expect. I think, I just wasn’t comfortable in the beginning. I wasn’t comfortable with Jen Shah; I wasn’t comfortable with these women, as a whole. They seemed not to like me and, honestly, I didn’t like them either.
Once I got comfortable and had a better relationship with Bravo, I was able to create better relationships and define what I wanted for myself on the show. Once that all worked out and the dust settled, I was able to just come in and just be myself.
RHOSLC’s Angie Katsanevas plays rapid-fire questions.
FS: How do you mentally and personally prepare to film the show?
MC: I don’t really do much to prepare. I just clock in mentally and focus on being present. Before, I never used to do that; I’d go into filming unhappy and not really enjoying it. I used to regret it, honestly. But now, I actually look forward to it. I can’t wait to start filming season seven. There’s something about the number seven for me—my birthday’s October 17—so it just feels even more special.
FS: How do you handle the dramatic or confrontational moments on the show?
MC: I just take it on with common sense. I know common sense is not so “common,” but I just take everything in just like I would in my real life, right? And I don’t handle it any differently [than my personal life], and I just do it on TV. It doesn’t matter if I’m filmed or not. I just handle it how I would normally in my home, or with my son, or how I handle it with them. That’s how I’m able to escape everything.
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FS: What do you think fans have misunderstood about you?
MC: My humour. I think they perceived me as something I wasn’t. I think viewers perceived me as a dark and angry person. I’m not that. I always see the lightness. And, once they got a really good glimpse of who I really am, I think they appreciated it. So, I’m happy about that.
FS: Let’s shift gears. Tell me a little bit about how you choose what to wear for confessionals.
MC: I’m always shopping for my confessionals. My stylists in New York and in Beverly Hills are constantly sending me things they think I’ll love. They’ll say, ‘Mary, this is so you,’ and I’ll say, ‘Perfect, send it!’ I like to buy pieces all year long so I have great options when it’s time to film.
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FS: What is your all-time favourite designer piece that you own? What’s the story behind it?
MC: I have a Chanel Cuban box purse from 2016, the year Americans were first allowed back into Cuba. Chanel hosted a major fashion show there, and the bag itself was crafted from real Cuban cigar boxes. It’s one of my favourite pieces, there’s just something about it that feels truly unique.
FS: Let’s play Hot or Not. I’m going to show you a photo of a castmate, and you tell me if you think the outfit is hot or not.
1. Meredith Marks:
MC: Not.
2. Bronwyn Newport
MC: Love it. Hot. Hot, like burning up.
3. Whitney Rose
MC: It’s OK. Yeah, it’s just OK.
4. Heather Gay
MC: Hm. It’s hot.
5. Lisa Barlow
MC: It’s Lisa. Lisa’s hot. I think that’s a good look. I like it.
6. Britani Bateman
MC: Um, not.
You can stream The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (EST) on Hayu.