With former cast members leaving Bravo Nation left and right, it was exciting to hear of a return. Earlier this week, Monique Samuels shared that she would be returning to the Real Housewives of Potomac for Season 10. This is major news, especially because she didn’t leave on a good note. Now Monique is ready to update viewers on her life, including her divorce from Chris Samuels. She’ll also show she is more than capable of turning over a new leaf.
Monique Samuels is returning to the Real Housewives of Potomac cast as a “friend of”
The last fans saw of Monique was when she and Candiace Dillard Bassett found themselves in a brawl in a barn. But a source shared with People that Monique is looking to make a comeback. The insider noted, “Monique’s in a totally different place now, and fans will see that. She’s excited to show who she is now — not as a wife, not as just a mom, but as a woman starting over and taking on life on her own terms.” And she’s already been snapped filming with the cast.
As Real Housewives of Potomac fans are aware, production for the series is currently underway in Maryland. Viewers can expect to see Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Dr. Wendy Osefo, Keiarna Stewart, and Stacey Rusch all filming again. Monique will be joining the cast in a ‘friend of’ role. It will be interesting to see who Monique bonds with. I can already see her and Stacey hitting it off and becoming allies. I do think she might have a rough start with Dr. Wendy and Gizzy since both enjoy continuing to hold people accountable for their actions.
What happened to Monique and Chris Samuels’ marriage after RHOP?
In June 2023, Monique filed for divorce from Chris. For multiple seasons, RHOP viewers watched as the couple seemed to present a united front. Both were proud of the family they made. And Monique seemed to fall in line as the dutiful housewife. But there were cracks in the couple’s foundation, and therapy led to a big decision. Monique shared that she “just got to the point where I was in a place where I was so miserable. She added, “I am no longer the person that I was when I walked down that aisle 11 years ago.”
“If we keep going down this road and we’re bickering at each other and we’re not able to communicate—sometimes not even talking to each other—then how is this going to affect our children?” she noted. Monique revealed, “Because I was thinking, like most people, ‘Okay, we’re going to stay together for the kids.’ But that never works because staying together for the kids means that you’re giving them a terrible example of what a relationship should be like.” The duo seemed to have fallen out of love.
Monique and Chris Samuels’ divorce settlement details
However, Monique was quick to make sure she didn’t just put all the blame on her former spouse. “It wasn’t just all on him, it was also just with myself, dealing with my own issues and trauma, understanding myself and why I respond and react the ways I do.” She explained, “Y’all, I’ve done some work. I’ve been doing some work and it wasn’t easy.” On September 25, 2023, Monique and Chris finalized their divorce. In December 2024, Monique opened up about her settlement on the Dear Future Wifey podcast. She shared, “We had a prenup and when we sat down to create our prenup, it was with the intention of, ‘I don’t ever want you thinking I want what you have or want you for what you have.’”
She added, “So when we finalized everything, the prenup was already set. There’s no alimony. I don’t get any money from him, like at all. I could have — like most women do — they typically will go after full custody of the kids, and then there’s this whole battle for child support. I said, ‘I’m not going down that road,’ because at the end of the day, that’s not why I was ever here. So I don’t get any child support.” RHOP fans will have to tune in to see when Season 10 airs to get the full update.
