REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SYDNEY: To the trolls: Leave my kids alone
SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT NICOLE O'NEIL, BUT SHE KNOWS WHO SHE IS AND SHE'S PROUD. AND HER MESSAGE TO THE TROLLS? LEAVE HER KIDS OUT OF IT.
Lisa Mayoh
If you think you know Nicole Gazal O'Neil, think again. Because the woman who jumped at the chance to do a second season of The Real Housewives of Sydney did so because she was ready to challenge herself and launch Nicole – version 2.0.
"I'm in a different stage in my life," the mother of two tells Insider this week – multi-tasking while on a Costco run – "because we don't have a choice but to multi-task, do we?
"My eldest has finished school and she's at university and my youngest is about to take the HSC – so I'm looking forward to Nicole 2.0 and the next chapter, which is really exciting."
It's been six years since the local Real Housewives franchise burst on to our screens in a blur of Birkins and big personalities. This time, O'Neil joins Krissy Marsh as the show's veterans, with recruits including Sally Obermeder, Terry Biviano, Bondi vet Kate Adams, Prague-born Caroline Gaultier and mum-of-two Victoria Montano. For former Miss Australia O'Neil, life with her hedge-fund manager husband Adam and two daughters – both national fencers – is a busy one. And while most wouldn't describe the privilege of Sydney's eastern suburbs as relatable, O'Neil says she's just that.
"I feel like I am relatable – I'm a mum, I cried because my daughter's gone off ... to me it's very important that message comes across," she explains.
"I'm a mum and I've got two kids and I'm going through the next phase of my life, which is just heartbreaking," she adds with a laugh.
She says season one was "a lot of fun to film" and everything was new and shiny – an incredible experience, with no regrets – so getting the chance to be in the Binge show's next chapter was a no-brainer.
"And despite what the final edit (of season one) was, the process was very different," she says.
"And so it's funny, because when we watched it back, it didn't feel as bad as what it was portrayed to be in terms of the fighting and the arguments, so the experience was great. So when I was asked to come back to do season two, I jumped at that experience, because I had a really good time. It's a great opportunity to meet some new girls, have some new adventures and try new things.
"Naturally, seven girls together in a very intense filming period, you're going to see the ups and downs of relationships, because that's just what the nature of the show is – there's definitely a lot of colour – but I feel like the producers gave all of us a chance to really tell our story.
"I feel like the viewers will be invested in each of us personally, and I think that's really important that we didn't get in season one ... and I haven't seen any of this season but I'm hoping that at who we are comes across a lot more. And relationships – like five of us were really good friends going into it – we were a natur..."
