RHOP’s Stacey Rusch joked that she “never imagined” she’d be at a bachelorette bash like Jassi Rideaux’s.
Stacey Rusch’s highlight from the cast trip to Nevis on The Real Housewives of Potomac
Season 10 took her by surprise as much as anybody else.
“I can’t even believe that I’m saying this,” Stacey began, before naming Jassi Rideaux’s risqué-themed bachelorette party as her top moment, in an exclusive interview with
Stacey, who joked that her “definition of spicy may be a little different than the ladies,” showed up to the Gizelle Bryant-hosted bash in Episode 6 costumed in her German-themed “interpretation” of a “nightwear” look. With fuzzy handcuffs and genitalia-shaped straws and decorations aplenty, Stacey eventually loosened up and joined in on the naughty activities (more on that below).
“We had such a fun night,” Stacey added. “That’s definitely a high. Nevis was definitely a high.”
Stacey Rusch during The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 10 Episode 5. Photo: Bravo
After RHOP‘s Nov. 9 episode debuted the ladies’ cheeky spin on throwback pay-per-minute chat line ads — complete with Housewives-style taglines for their individual party personas — the wild festivities kicked off. At first, Stacey took a more voyeuristic approach as Ashley Darby gave Jassi a sexy lap dance and made use of her “chocolate body pen,” for example, during a role-playing game.
But then, she got some inspiration from Wendy Osefo, who selected a riding crop to give Jassi some playful punishment.
That’s when Stacey got fully into character, grabbed a flogger from the table, and slowly approached the bride-to-be.
“I was so impressed with the first go around, I’d like you stand up and bend it over so I can whip you again,” Stacey said, before infusing a bit of her signature humor. “I’m gonna do it the German way. And you know what that means? Hard and accurately.”
She even commanded Jassi to say “please” in German, in a nod to newly reconciled ex-husband Thiemo Rusch’s heritage.
Even Stacey’s Season 10 frenemies Gizelle and Ashley were impressed by her commitment to the bit.
“That was hot, Stacey. I didn’t know you had it in you,” Ashley remarked, before adding in a confessional that she might just have “a little freak in there.”
As the ladies were wrapping up dinner before all the bachelorette party fun got underway on their last night on the Caribbean island, Gizelle asked Stacey if she planned on going to Jassi’s wedding to NFL linebacker Darius Harris, which later took place in June 2025.
“I believe so, yes,” Stacey answered, prompting Gizelle to ask for more clarification. Before she should reply, though, Ashley chimed in, “So, you were asked to be a bridesmaid, right?”
After confirming that was true, Stacey vaguely added, “I declined because of family reasons, and we talked about that.”
As Stacey elaborated in a confessional, however, her decision was actually related to the timing of her new cannabis line’s big debut.
“My business launch is coinciding with Jassi’s wedding,” Stacey elaborated to a producer. “I want to support my friend, but this is life-changing for me. This is the legacy that I wanna leave to [9-year-old daughter] Arabella. And I wanna be very careful about my decisions. So, my intentions are to be there to support her, but there are a lot of factors at play here.”
Meanwhile, Jassi insisted that her declination was totally understandable, telling the group, “I love Stacey, and I would love for her to, ya know, be a part as much as she has the capacity to.”
Stacey, for her part, similarly claimed that her and Jassi’s friendship was still “good,” and she didn’t feel she owed her castmates any further explanation. (And in case you were wondering, yes, Stacey did eventually attend Jassi’s wedding.)
As the drama plays out on RHOP Season 10, get the latest update on Stacey’s reconciliation with ex-husband Thiemo.
In a world of over-the-top, staged proposals, Paulie Connell just delivered a masterclass in heartfelt, chaotic, and utterly perfect romance. The “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Dolores Catania is engaged, and the story of how her longtime love popped the question—in the middle of an Apple Store, with a fake PEOPLE interview as a decoy—is a tale of pure, unscripted magic.
The plan was elaborate. Dolores was told she had a PEOPLE interview for a new medication she was promoting. After getting full hair and makeup, the meeting was “canceled.” Seizing the opportunity, Paulie insisted they finally go get her new iPhone. “I kept saying, ‘Just go get it for me! Why do you need me?'” Dolores recalled. But Paulie was relentless, inventing a story about the “only one iPhone Pro Max in the area” being held for her.
At the Apple Store in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey—the very spot where they first met nearly five years ago—Paulie’s nerves began to show. “He was sweating so bad, his T-shirt was soaked, his face was beet red,” Dolores laughed. “He started saying these sweet, beautiful things to me out of nowhere and I was like, ‘Paul, are you okay?'”
As an employee led them to the exact table where their love story began, Paulie’s mind was racing. “I was so nervous, my knees where knocking,” he confessed. “I’m like, ‘What are you doing? Don’t start getting sad, you’re meant to be happy!'”
While he was trying to deliver a heartfelt speech, Dolores was still completely oblivious, even joking to the employee, “Wouldn’t it be funny if we got engaged here?”
Then, he pulled the box from his pocket. That’s when reality hit. “I immediately said yes,” Dolores gushed. The ring, a show-stopping 11-carat centerpiece from John Anthony Jewelers, was a testament to his devotion. “Go big or go home,” Dolores laughed.
This wasn’t the first ring Paulie had bought. He revealed he’d purchased a stone years ago, but after getting to know Dolores better, he realized it was the “opposite of what I got.” This new ring, which he’d had for over a year and a half, was perfect.
The proposal was a symphony of sentimental details. The date, November 10th, was the same day Dolores had moved in with him four years prior. The celebration dinner was at Rocco’s steakhouse, the site of their very first date. “There’s not a thing this guy didn’t think of,” Dolores said.
For years, Bravo fans have relentlessly asked, “When is he going to propose?” Now, they have their answer. In the most unexpected of locations, surrounded by iPhones and unsuspecting shoppers, Dolores Catania’s next chapter has officially begun. And as Paulie laughed, “I’m just glad Dolores won’t have to answer a stupid question anymore.”