Q&A: ‘Real Housewives’ Marysol Patton Opens Up
Marysol Patton at the Third Annual Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens on February 23, 2011
Miami Beach, FL – September 21, 2012 – Long before she was a “real housewife,” Marysol Patton was a PR maven known for lavish parties and glamorous events. Work still comes first, and with a recent split from husband Philippe Pautesta-Herder, “The Real Housewives of Miami” star is technically no longer a housewife. But, she remains a huge hit on the show, mainly because she’s still very real. So real, in fact, that she broke down in tears while talking to us about her separation. Patton sat down with World Red Eye to chat about the breakup, the new season of RHOM, and the success of her Mama Elsa’s Bravo web series…
WRE: So not only are you back for a second season of RHOM, but your mother, Mama Elsa, is back and even has her own web series based around the coffee business. How did that happen?
Marysol Patton: My mom has always loved coffee – she’s Cuban – and I said, “Mom, we should sell coffee. You love it. It’s always been your dream.” We started that a year ago, but we kind of always knew we were going to come back in some form or another to Bravo, even after season one, so once we were filming season 2, producers decided to do a show after the coffee. Now it’s up and running, and they just started driving my mom around in the red truck with the logos all over and they’re talking to people and showing them the coffee. It’s really funny.
WRE: So what’s it like working with your mother?
MP: Pretty much I do all the work. She gives me the money to do it and I do all the work. She does the web series and we work it out. But like she said, “my money is your money and when I’m not here it’s yours.” So it’s kind of like a family business, and at the end of the day it will be something that my brother and I will have and we’ll share.
WRE: The main storyline surrounding you on the show right now deals with separating from your husband. Did having cameras film your every move make that more difficult?
MP: It was really hard. It’s hard because when you’re being reminded of something that you don’t want to think about — that you are kind of sweeping under the rug so you can function every day and work — it’s really hard to talk about that. And forcing yourself to talk about it just takes you to that painful place and it just dredges it all up again. I even get emotional now thinking about it. It’s really hard for me. But I did it, and you see me cry a lot.
WRE: Do you regret signing up for the show during this tough time?
MP: No, I don’t regret that part because I guess people need to know and at the end of the day we’re all human and we all hurt.
WRE: What’s one thing you’ve learned from doing this show?
MP: What you see is not always what you get. I was talking to one of the other girls on the show the other day and we both work very, very hard and I said to her, “you know people see us on this show or in a magazine and think, ‘oh these girls have it made.’” They don’t realize that we work so hard every day like everyone else, and go through the same issues as everyone else. I’m not saying everyone on our show does, but some of us work very hard.
WRE: Larsa Pippen and Cristy Rice from season 1 are both gone. Whose decision was that?
MP: I really don’t know. Only Bravo and those girls know and I’m not close with them so I really don’t know what went down. I just know they’re not here and the new girls have really stepped up.
WRE: What do you think of some of the new cast members?
MP: [Joanna]’s cool. She’s sweet and really into helping animals, but she’s feisty too. She’s a great addition. Lisa is really funny and really cute. I love her. Anna, which is someone Alexia and I recommended, is a really brilliant, savvy girl – very witty. She’s exactly what we needed.
WRE: It sounds like you like everyone. That’s no fun. On these shows, isn’t there usually a lot of fighting?
MP: Of course, and there’s a lot of us so we don’t all get along at all. And everyone will see that.
WRE: You seem pretty neutral when it comes to all the fighting, though. Is that just your personality?
MP: I’ve always kind of been kind of a peaceful person but don’t get in my space. I keep to myself and I don’t ruffle anybody’s feathers, but when people get in my space and start to give me a hard time for no reason, especially for nonsense, then watch out. I’m by no means a pushover.
“The Real Housewives of Miami” airs every Thursday at 9pm/8pm central on Bravo.
Marysol Patton, Zac Posen, & Nicole Lozano at Zac Posen Fall 2006 Trunk Show at Neiman Marcus Coral Gables on March 31, 2006
Marysol Patton, Keren Craig, & Georgina Chapman at Marchesa Special Appearance at Neiman Marcus Coral Gables on October 19, 2006
Keren Craig, Carol Bell, Georgina Chapman, Dana Shear, & Marysol Patton at Marchesa Special Appearance at Neiman Marcus Coral Gables on October 19, 2006
Marysol Patton at Elle Spa Launch at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach on June 6, 2011
Adriana de Moura, Marysol Patton, & Alexia Echevarria at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach on June 6, 2011
Richard Tasca, Lisa Pliner, Beth Tasca, Marysol Patton, Brittany Lopez, & Christian Slater at Voices For Children Gala at Mandarin Oriental on January 14, 2012
Marysol Patton & Donald Pliner at Voices For Children Gala at Mandarin Oriental on January 14, 2012
Marysol Patton, Ingrid Casares, Alexia Echevarria, Jose Ortiz, & Cristy Rice at Boca Tanning Club Brickell Grand Opening on February 17, 2010
Marysol Patton & Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino at Zuma at Epic on September 1, 2011
Marita & Marysol Patton at Roberto Cavalli Vodka Launch at The Raleigh on November 9, 2005
Pam Kayton, Jill Martin, Marysol Patton, & Melissa Katz at Frida Kahlo Party at Crystal Palace at Paris Theater on December 2, 2005
Norma Quintero & Marysol Patton at 49th Vizcayan Ball on November 19, 2005
Marysol Patton & Frank Amadeo at Destination Fashion at Bal Harbour Shops on March 7, 2009
Marysol Patton & Lea Black at Ocean Drive Magazine’s 18th Anniversary at JW Marriott Marquis Miami on March 9, 2011
