RHOP’s Tia thought casting call was a ‘scam’ as she talks ‘imposter syndrome’

‘If I’m being completely frank, I had imposter syndrome when I got invited [to do the show],’ Tia Glover, star of The Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP) says.

Having had no background in reality television, Glover joined the popular Bravo show for its landmark 10th season. She has a background in real estate and celebrity styling rather than television, and sounds very different from her Maryland-based co-stars thanks to her British accent.

But it’s these differences that Glover realised made her a great fit for RHOP.

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Speaking to PinkNews as the first part of the Reunion dropped on Hayu, she says: “I don’t have an NFL husband, I haven’t been on TV, but for some reason [producers] thought I would be an amazing fit. And so I had to own who I was and say, if they invited me, then I’m supposed to be here.

“I feel that way about every room I’m invited into, and so as a result the only thing I can do is show up as my authentic self, and that’s the only thing I can maintain.”

Even then, Glover admits she thought the call to be on the show was fake.

“I was literally minding my own business and then I get a phone call, which I thought was a scam, actually. ‘Are you familiar with The Real Housewives?’ “Of course.’ ‘Would you like to be on it?’ ‘Why would you want me on it?’

“It was actually a really quick turnaround, so my mind and my heart didn’t have time to catch up,” she says.

“But an opportunity comes your way and you think, why say no when you can say yes, at least try it? My thought process going into it was if I’m a good fit, it will be great. And if not, well it’s something you tried, you can tick it off your bingo card.

“I did not expect to receive the warm welcome that I received, so that has been an extra bonus.”

‘I’m not an actress’

While Glover’s arrival on the show went down well with fans, especially British viewers, she didn’t immediately gel with all of her co-stars – in particular Stacey Rusch.

Rusch, who joined the show in its ninth season, questioned Glover’s accent, suggesting she was putting it on.

She laughs: “Stacey will throw out whatever to see if it will stick.

“At first, I just thought, ‘Whatever.’ But actually, I started to become offended, because if I had any other accent… I’m part Nigerian, so there are Nigerians who have lived in America or England for 50 years, somehow that ccent doesn’t budge. It wouldn’t become a problem.

“There’s something about the fact that it’s an English accent, perhaps in her mind a more desirable accent, it bothers her.

“If I had come on with a fake American accent, they’d call me out for it.

“So I actually thought it was rather unkind that that became a subject matter, and also just shows ignorance.”

She adds: “I’ve learned that a lot of people stick to the accent of where their tongue was formed, where you learnt to speak. I’m sorry she doesn’t like it.”

Glover joined Rusch, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Wendy Osefo, Keiarna Stewart and fellow new girl Angel Massie for the 10th season. She says it’s that group together which makes the show work so well.

“I’m Tia, and my unique value is that there is just only me, so if I’m a good fit, you’re going to get Tia,” she says.

“You already have a Stacey, you already have a Gizelle, you already have an Ashley, we’re like the Spice Girls. I feel like if anybody was amazing, they’d have their spin-off show.

“I think we all work really well as a collective in just being who we are. When you start to become something you’re not, people can smell the inauthenticity, the fans can see the performance, and also it’s not sustainable.

“I’ve just got too many kids and too much of a crazy life to be an actress. I’m not an actress.”

Stream all seasons of The Real Housewives of Potomac on Hayu now.

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