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Dolores Catania is making waves with her presence on the cast of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. Her influence has been nothing short of transformative for the group, as highlighted by her fellow cast member, Jo-Ellen Tiberi. In an exclusive chat with Us Weekly, Tiberi gushed about Catania’s nurturing nature, describing her as a “mama bear” who offers unwavering support and guidance to her new reality TV family. “Even now, she’s always there to help us with whatever we need,” Tiberi shared, underscoring the lasting impact of Catania’s kindness and intelligence.
This sentiment is echoed by other members of the cast, including Kelsey Swanson and Alicia Carmody, who view Catania as a mentor during this new adventure. Despite her roots in New Jersey, Catania seamlessly blends into the Rhode Island scene, according to Carmody, who told Us that Catania possesses a certain Rhode Island flair that makes her a natural fit among them.
Rulla Pontarelli also expressed her admiration for Catania, recounting their initial meeting with enthusiasm. “We connected right away and shared the same perspective,” Pontarelli revealed to Us. “Dolores is someone I truly admire. She brings so much to our dynamic, offering candid insights and genuine advice drawn from her own experiences.”
Dolores Catania Bronson Farr/Bravo
Several of the women — including Kelsey Swanson and Alicia Carmody — thought of Dolores as a “mentor” through this new phase of their lives. Despite being a New Jersey native, Alicia told Us that Dolores also has “that Rhode Island thing to her,” which made her fit right in.
“When Dolores and I first met, we completely hit it off. We saw eye to eye. I felt her genuine vibe,” Rulla Pontarelli told Us. “I love Dolores. I really do. I feel as though she’s brought a lot to the table. She’s been very candid. She’s been very genuine, speaking from experience.”
Ashley Iaconetti isn’t too worried about The Real Housewives of Rhode Island impacting her relationship with husband Jared Haibon. “I know that since we’ve been through the spotlight together, that neither of us are going to feel affected by it,” Ashley, 38, told Us Weekly exclusively during the RHORI cast’s first interviews. “We have been […]
Rulla called Dolores “an asset” to the entire RHORI cast for their debut season.
News broke on Tuesday, March 24, that Dolores will return to The Real Housewives of New Jersey for season 15, but Bravo fans will get their fix even sooner by seeing Dolores in a “friend of” role when RHORI premieres.
Dolores was brought onto the show through main cast member and best friend Liz McGraw.
“Liz has been asking me for a few years to come to Rhode Island,” Dolores explained to Us.
With RHONJ on pause last summer, Dolores was able to film in Rhode Island — but don’t expect her to make the move permanent.
“My heart is [in New Jersey], but you can find me every summer in Rhode Island for the rest of my life,” she gushed.
Jo-Ellen Tiberi, Ashley Iaconetti, Alicia Carmody, Kelsey Swanson, Rulla Nehme, Elizabeth McGraw, Rosie DiMare. Bronson Farr/Bravo
Dolores also told Us that she enjoyed the “different role” she played on RHORI. She even went to former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey for advice before securing her “friend of” slot.
“She goes, ‘You know what, Dolores? It’s a really great role,’” Dolores recalled.
After filming the season, she agreed with Cynthia’s take. “It was great. It was great to see the girls do such a good job,” she teased. “They weren’t trying to be like other Housewives at all. They were just themselves, and I am so proud of them. They gave it 100 percent. They worked really hard. They filmed a ton. They put their lives out there.”
The Real Housewives franchise is expanding to Rhode Island — and fans are in store for plenty of drama. In May 2025, Bravo announced that The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is set to premiere in 2026. “Set against the shores of the Ocean State, The Real Housewives franchise expands into the world of a […]
Dolores said that she immediately felt “at home” with the RHORI women.
“Alicia said to me, she goes, ‘Dolores, you’re one of us,’” she said. “I go, ‘Well, you know, I’m kind of new here.’ She goes, ‘No, you’re not. You’ve been here a long time, and you’re one of us.’ I’ll always have a spot in my heart for her.”
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island premieres on Bravo Thursday, April 2, with a second episode premiering on Sunday, April 5. New episodes will be released on Sundays, streaming via Peacock the following day.
For more from the RHORI cast, pick up this week’s issue of Us Weekly.