The upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne will introduce three new cast members.
Former CNN news anchor Anjali Rao, yoga teacher Cherry Dipietrantonio and ‘champagne educator’ Kyla Kirkpatrick will join the 2020 cast.
The three women will join returning fan favourites Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello, Gamble Breaux and Gina Liano.
Coming soon! The upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne will introduce three new cast members, Kyla Kirkpatrick (left), Cherry Dipietrantonio (centre) and Anjali Rao (right)
‘I’m brown, I’m female and I have an English accent’: Former CNN news anchor Anjali Rao, 46, had a successful journalism career in Hong Kong for 20 years before moving to Australia
Anjali Rao, 46
Former CNN news anchor Anjali Rao had a successful journalism career in Hong Kong for 20 years, before moving to Australia with her now ex-husband Brett Gullan, who was born in Melbourne.
However, she found the media industry wasn’t as inclusive in Australia, so she moved into reality television.
‘I’m brown, I’m female and I have an English accent. And they just don’t require any of those things over here,’ Anjali told Arena.
The single mother-of-one decided to join The Real Housewives of Melbourne because she sees the news as ‘the most real of reality television’.
New faces: Anjali Rao (left), Cherry Dipietrantonio (centre) and Kyla Kirkpatrick (right) will join the 2020 cast. Pictured at a launch party in Melbourne on Wednesday
Sparkling: Anjali (left) joined Real Housewives of Melbourne because she thinks journalism is similar to reality TV, while Cherry (right) wanted to be ‘thrown’ into a new situation
Cherry Dipietrantonio, 39
Having met her husband, Andre, in Bali when she was only 18, British-born Cherry Dipietrantonio moved to Melbourne to start a family.
The yoga instructor follows a philosophy of mindfulness, but she’s not afraid of the other women ‘taking the p**s’ out of her career choice.
‘I think it’s quite interesting because I tend to surround myself with similar people – you know, people that are into mindfulness,’ Cherry explained.
‘They tend to be people who are very compassionate and understanding. So, how fabulous to be thrown into a situation that’s completely the opposite! Sink or swim, right?’
‘Sink or swim’: Yoga instructor Cherry, 39, follows a philosophy of mindfulness
‘I’m a big supporter of women’: As CEO of three champagne-related companies, Kyla Kirkpatrick, 42, has never had time to watch The Real Housewives of Melbourne
Kyla Kirkpatrick, 42
As CEO of three champagne-related companies, Kyla Kirkpatrick has never had time to watch The Real Housewives of Melbourne.
The self-proclaimed Champagne Dame has an 80-hour work week, but she also squeezes in quality time with her six-year-old, Arlington-Rose.
Despite not being familiar with the reality TV franchise, Kyla hopes that the all-female cast will support each other more this year.
‘It’s interesting for me to do this show as I’m a big supporter of women. I just think women are the most amazing and resilient and talented creatures,’ she added.
Back with a bang! The new housewives will be joined by fan favourites Gamble Breaux, Janet Roach, Gina Liano and Lydia Schiavello
Janet Roach, 61, Lydia Schiavello, 50, Gamble Breaux, 46, and Gina Liano, 53, will all be returning this season.
Gina, Lydia and Janet have appeared on the reality series since it first aired in 2014.
Original cast member Jackie Gillies will not be returning this season, as she focuses on starting a family with her husband, Ben.
Fan favourites: Janet Roach (left), Lydia Schiavello, Gamble Breaux (right) and Gina Liano will all be returning this season
Get ready! Gina, Lydia and Janet have appeared on the reality series since it first aired in 2014