Ashley Darby's empire is only expanding these days — because she's doing everything and anything to support herself and her family, as seen in the most recent episode of The Real Housewives of Potomac.
The working mother of two young sons, 5-year-old Dean Darby and 3-year-old Dylan Darby, shared in Season 9, Episode 4 that she had no plans of slowing down as she enters a new chapter of life. The one-time Miss District of Columbia said she must keep the cash flowing, especially amidst her ongoing divorce from estranged husband and realtor Michael Darby.
“I’m busting my balls over here, O.K.?” Ashley said in her confessional.
How does Ashley Darby make money?
While on a girls’ trip to Mia Thornton’s holiday home in Lake Norman, North Carolina to celebrate Wendy Osefo’s big 4-0, Ashley took a call with Brandt, her philanthropic event coordinator (perhaps a peek into what’s next for the entrepreneur.)
“I’m working really hard to create income so that I can maintain my lifestyle,” she continued to producers. “I’m out here hosting drag shows, I’m hosting live shows, I’m doing whatever I can as a working mom to make sure that, you know, we stay up here.”
As featured on Ashley’s Instagram page, the RHOP alum spent part of last year hosting her coast-to-coast ‘Wives Drag Brunch Tour all over the U.S.A., making stops in Minneapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, and New York City. A clip from one of the drag shows appeared in the recent RHOP episode, as did a little bit of Ashley’s booty shaking at an Improv comedy club.
Not to mention, there's Ashley and Gizelle Bryant’s thriving fashion business, GnA.
What is GnA?
Gizelle 'n' Ashley, which makes up the acronym "GnA," spent a good portion of RHOP Season 8 perfecting their fashion line, which Gizelle once compared to a cross between Lululemon and Rihanna’s Savage [X Fenty] line.
The GnA website sells athletic wear of all kinds, from baseball caps to hoodies.
"Gizelle and I decided to come up with our athleisure line because we feel like athleisure ties into something I'm passionate about, which is physical fitness, and feeling good, and looking good," Ashley said last season.
The brand has seen much success, including a fashion show that prompted criticism from the Grand Dame Karen Huger. However, as already touched on in Season 9, it’s a brand that continues to evolve.
In Episode 2, Gizelle said the passing of her father, Curtis Graves, inspired her to make the brand a little more “meaningful” so she hosted a charitable event with the National Brain Tumor Society. It was the same party where Ashley and Gizelle infamously kicked out their guests, including Stacey Rusch, Keiarna Stewart, and Jassi Rideaux.
“GnA was all about athleisure, fun, sexy little clothes, but we’re moving in a different direction towards health and wellness,” Gizelle told producers.
Fans can’t wait to see what Ashley and the others will do next.
Tune in to all-new episodes of The Real Housewives of Potomac, Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.
