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The Real Housewives of Lagos will be returning for its second season on September 29, streaming service Showmax has announced.
The series stars a vibrant cast of successful ladies from Nigeria, including Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, lawyer and entrepreneur Chioma Ikokwu, AKA Chioma Goodhair, fashion designer and stylist Toyin Lawani, actress Caroline Danjuma and blogger Laura Ikeji.
"The popular reality TV series will build on the success of the first season, whose first episode broke the first-day streaming record on Showmax Nigeria and was the only African title to crack the top 10 most-watched shows on the streaming service in 2022 across not just Nigeria but also Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa," the statement said.
It goes on: "In the highly anticipated second season, fashion entrepreneur Tania Omotayo and former model and socialite Faith Morey join the original cast."
Speaking on her reality TV debut, 32-year-old wife and mother of one Tania said: "I joined The Real Housewives of Lagos because my life is so public but not because I shared anything, simply based on assumptions. This was an opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone to share a bit of my life and challenge myself with."
Faith, a former basketball player turned supermodel said she joined the reality show because she has always loved the genre.
"I am a private person but for some reason, I wanted to experience it. I also wanted to meet fellow hardworking ladies. And of course, the franchise needed a touch of Faith Morey. I was the missing puzzle from the show!"
The Real Housewives of Lagos was the first West African instalment of the global Real Housewives franchise.
Season 1 trended on Twitter (now X) at number one in Nigeria and remained on the trend list for the 14-week duration of the show. The show also trended at number one on Twitter in South Africa and featured on the trend list in the United Kingdom.
"The Real Housewives of Lagos shattered records on our platform and dominated conversations on and off social media throughout its run, so it's a no-brainer that we'd bring it back," said the Executive Head: Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, Dr Busola Tejumola.
"Beyond the show's entertainment value, RHOLagos' cultural impact can't be ignored. The feedback from fans shows that in no small way, the show helped put one of Africa's most important cities and its vibrant culture on the map. We are thrilled to do it all over again and even bigger this season."
The show scooped up the award for Best Costume Designer at the prestigious 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs), where it was also competing for Best Television Series, among other categories.
The Real Housewives Franchise originated in America in 2006, with The Real Housewives of Orange County. It subsequently grew to up to 11 US-based series and an additional 21 international adaptations.
The franchise was part of the fast-rising shows that revolutionised TV with the rise of reality TV.
Time Magazine reports: "Reality TV has radically altered the landscapes of celebrity, politics, and power. It has made many people extremely rich; Kim Kardashian has a net worth of $1.8 billion. Reality stars have penetrated every corner of the entertainment industry, from Harry Styles, Kelly Clarkson, and Cardi B on the pop charts (appearing on The X Factor, American Idol, and Love & Hip Hop: New York, respectively) to Jennifer Hudson, Laverne Cox, and Emma Stone in Hollywood (first seen on Idol, I Want to Work for Diddy, and VH1's In Search of the Partridge Family)."
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