It’s a sunny Monday in London when STELLAR catches up with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne on Zoom, just one day after her glitter-soaked, high-energy return to the stage at Mighty Hoopla. TikTok is ablaze, Florence Pugh is posting from the side of the stage, and Erika – fresh from a DM exchange with the Oscar-nominated actress – is still riding the wave.
“I had the best time yesterday,” Erika beams. “That crowd at Mighty Hoopla could not have been more energetic. It was incredible. Truly.”
The performance marked a milestone: her first major festival appearance outside the US, and part of her bold return to live music after a challenging few years filled with legal battles, personal upheaval, and, of course, a global pandemic.
“I did have moments where I thought, ‘Am I ever going to do this again?’” she admits. “You compound COVID with everything I was going through personally, and I really didn’t know what was coming next. So to be back on stage – that’s my happy place. I’m just grateful.”
As for the unexpected celebrity cameo from Florence Pugh? “I was DMing her this morning,” Erika laughs. “She’s adorable, and I’m a fan. It was lovely to have someone like that at my show. Feels good.”
With shows in Las Vegas and even a stint on Broadway under her belt, the next logical question: when will Erika bring her show to Ireland?
“I would love nothing more than to come give shows there,” she says. “So to the gods, whoever are listening – let’s make that happen.”
And yes, she’s aware that another Housewives songstress – Countess Luann – has already made it to our shores twice in the past two years. Can Erika top that?
“Challenge accepted.”
Fans of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills know Season 14 was explosive – and for once, Erika wasn’t the lightning rod. “It’s nice not being the centre of the storm,” she says. But her close friend and castmate Dorit found herself in the thick of it.
“I knew she was in for the fight of her life,” Erika explains. “Divorce is horrible. Doing it on television? It’s brutal. I told her to take it one day at a time. It sucks, but it gets better. Slowly.”
And while rumours swirl that cameras were spotted filming at Mighty Hoopla, Erika stays coy on whether that marked the beginning of Season 15. But she does offer advice for any new Housewife joining the cast next year – potentially filling the vacancy left when Garcelle Beauvais sensationally quit the show post-reunion.
“Be yourself. Be open. Don’t force anything. The best entrances are always the easiest.”
As for what’s changed over the past decade (yes, decade – Season 15 will be Erika’s tenth year on the show)? Erika doesn’t hesitate.
“Well… we’re all divorced,” she deadpans. “The show’s changed because life changes. We’ve had kids grow up, marriages end, careers shift. Yes, it’s still glamorous and fun – but it’s also heavy sometimes. It’s real. That’s what makes it interesting. That’s what makes it human.”
One thing we haven’t seen much of on the show? Erika’s dating life.
“Oh, I’m dating,” she assures us. “But who wants to go get embarrassed on TV? You’re right to be suspicious when cameras are rolling. But maybe I’ll meet someone who’d be up for it. Who knows? Honestly, I think all of us should just start setting each other up on blind dates – now that would be fun television.”
And despite plenty of fan chatter after she allegedly got close to Summer House cast member Jesse Solomon after a recent Watch What Happens Live appearance, Erika is ruling out an appearance on THAT Hayu show
“Did you just say Summer House?” she laughs. “No. That’s funny. But no.”
She may not be spilling too much tea on that fling, but when it comes to tips for getting glam, Erika’s an open book and has a few solid beauty non-negotiables.
“Skincare is everything,” she says. “Get your sleep, stay out of the sun, and cleanse. That’s the best you can do. The cameras see everything.”
And when it comes to fashion, her motto is simple: “Don’t let the clothes wear you. Find your own style – what fits your personality and your body type. You’ll shine when you feel good.”
Finally, what can fans expect from Season 15? Erika’s not dropping spoilers – but she has a hunch about where the drama might land.
“If I were to bet a dollar, I’d say Sutton is probably going to start a lot of shit,” she says with a wry smile. “Look, when Sutton is consistent and calm, we’re fine. When she’s not? We’re not.”
And with Kyle and Dorit’s divorce drama continuing, Garcelle out of the picture, and the cast dynamics shifting, Erika’s entering this season with a clear mantra: Trust the process. Trust the universe.
“Beautiful things are unfolding,” she says. “And I’m just letting it all happen.”
Stream The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills on Hayu.
