Plus, the Real Housewives of Potomac cast member shared what she's trying to change about her dating life today.
The Real Housewives of Potomac's Ashley Darby is opening up about the difficult decision to split from Michael Darby after nearly 11 years of marriage.
Fans of RHOP saw the mother of two deliberate over the future of her marriage for many episodes, but it took awhile for her to leave Michael. Ashley told The Daily Dish that it was ultimately a promise her loved ones made to her that gave her the "courage" to finally separate from the Australian businessman, with whom she shares sons Dean Michael Darby and Dylan Matthew Darby, in 2022.
"I had amazing friends and family who made it abundantly clear to me that when I was ready to make that step, that they would be there all the way and they fulfilled that," she shared. "They've been of their word — my uncle, my friends, my mom, everyone is really there."
She added, "I just have the most amazing people around me, and I'm so blessed. I count my lucky stars every day."
Is Ashley Darby dating?
Yes, the mother of two is looking for love on the new show Bravo's Love Hotel, also featuring her Real Housewives of Potomac castmate Gizelle Bryant, as well as The Real Housewives of Orange County's Shannon Storms Beador and The Real Housewives of New York City's Luann de Lesseps.
The series will see the Housewives date eligible bachelors as they vacation at the Grand Velas Boutique Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico. "
The women will decide who will check in and who will check out, and what is done with the coveted key to the Love Hotel. At the end of their time in paradise, the women must decide if they want to check out of the Love Hotel coupled up or check out solo, the way they arrived," per the press release.
Though fans will have to watch the show to find out if Ashley meets a man who sweeps her off her feet, she told The Daily Dish that she "had to learn a few things along the way."
"I didn't realize that I was this all over the place as it pertains to dating," she shared. "I thought I knew what I wanted, and this experience made me realize, oh, maybe I'm still not quite sure."
Ashley Darby reflects on dating post-divorce
Ashley noted that she was with her husband for almost 15 years, so it's been difficult to jump back into the dating world after all that's gone down. She told The Daily Dish that as a single woman she still feels this sort of "girlyness," which she's trying to reconcile with her new reality.
"I'm a grown-ass woman now, and so I have to find a way to make both of those worlds come together, the businesswoman, the mother, that part of who I am, and at the same time, like the girly, light, loving, lover girl that I am too," she explained.
As Ashley sorted through these feelings on Bravo's Love Hotel, she leaned on Gizelle, Luann, and Shannon for support. "They're my homegirls," she said, noting that they each woman taught her a valuable lesson.
See how the Housewives' friendships grow when Bravo's Love Hotel premieres Sunday, April 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes will be available to stream next day on Peacock.
In the meantime, see what Gizelle Bryant had to say about reconciling with her ex-husband, Jamal Bryant.
