Dr. Wendy Osefo Saw ‘Trickle-Down Effect’ After RHOP Casting as ‘First PhD Holder’ in Franchise

When Dr. Wendy Osefo was introduced to us in Season 5 of Real Housewives of Potomac, she immediately came in toting the fact that she held four degrees. She wouldn’t let anyone forget how hard she worked, and four years later, not much has changed.

During a recent interview, Wendy claimed that her academic background shifted the Real Housewives franchise for the better. In her mind, she is solely responsible for creating opportunities for other “professional women” to join the show. You’ve heard of trickle-down economics? Well, this is trickle-down Housewives economics, and the concept is just as murky.

Did Dr. Wendy Osefo change the game?

Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Although Season 9 of RHOP kicked off with Dr. Wendy resigning from her professorship, academia is still top of mind. It’s so top of mind for Wendy that in an interview with EurWeb, she took credit for changing the direction of the Real Housewives franchise as a whole.

“I think if we look at it from a surface level, I was the first PhD holder to be cast in the entire franchise. That’s not just Potomac, but that’s all of the Real Housewives,” Wendy recalled.

According to Wendy, her PhD paved the way for medical doctors to enter the franchise. Specifically, she called out that Dr. Tiffany Moon from Real Housewives of Dallas and Dr. Nicole Martin from Real Housewives of Miami were cast after her. Wendy took credit for opening those doors.

“After I was cast on the show as the first PhD holder, and also the first Nigerian ever in the franchise history, you then saw a trickle-down effect,’ Wendy claimed.

She added, “There became this trickle-down effect after I was cast, and it was successful to show women who are not your traditional housewives, but who also can be professional women as well.”

Real Housewives have a history of professionalism

Photo Credit: Chelsea Guglielmino/Bravo

If you started watching Real Housewives in 2020, then yes, it might seem like Wendy started a trend. However, those of us who have been watching these shows for years know that Wendy was definitely not the first “professional ” to be a part of the franchise. The first PhD? Yes. The first professional? That’s a stretch.

When the Housewives franchise started in Coto de Caza, Vicki Gunvalson proudly ran an insurance business from her home office. She was a professional woman balancing her career, family, and social life. That’s kind of the whole point.

From coast to coast, Housewives casts have always been sprinkled with professionals. On Real Housewives of New York, cameras followed Heather Thomson to Yummie headquarters. Carole Radziwill won an Emmy and a Peabody for her work in journalism years before she ever held an apple.

Regardless of these facts, Dr. Wendy said that she takes pride in shifting the conversation around Real Housewives. With her impressive resume, she has earned the right to brag, even when it isn’t 100% accurate.

Wendy said, “To be a Black woman and to be able to change what people view as a traditional housewife is something that is not lost on me.”

The Real Housewives of Potomac airs new episodes on Sunday nights at 8/7c on Bravo.

TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DR. WENDY’S CLAIMS? DO YOU THINK SHE CHANGED THE GAME AS THE FIRST HOUSEWIFE WITH A PHD?