Real Housewives of Miami: Lea Black, Marysol Patton, and Alexia Echevarria on Bravo, Miami, and What the Camera Catches

Bravo launched Real Housewives of Miami on February 22, 2011 — and the premiere brought the cast, the cameras, and a red carpet to Miami. Lea Black, philanthropist and wife of prominent attorney Roy Black. Marysol Patton, one of the city's most connected PR professionals. Alexia Echevarria, publisher of Venue magazine and a fixture in Miami's Cuban-American social world. Three women, one city, and a franchise that had already proven it could make careers and end friendships in equal measure.

On how each of them ended up on the show — Lea Black: “Several different people had recommended me. At the time I said no. Then they came back and said they wanted to use my house for casting. I said fine. And then I ended up being cast myself.”

On how Marysol ended up on the show: “Somebody had called my office — the casting director — and asked if we could recommend some women. I said sure, I’ll put together a list. And then they said, ‘What about you?’ I had Bell’s Palsy at the time — half my face was paralyzed. I thought, this is the worst possible moment. But I went in anyway.”

On how Alexia ended up on the show: “I found out it was here and I never wanted to be part of it — I knew my husband wouldn’t want that. I went to accompany a friend who was auditioning. They picked me instead.”

On what Miami brings to the franchise — Lea Black: “Each city has its own pulse. Atlanta is so Atlanta. Jersey is so Jersey. Miami is where everybody wants to vacation. It’s international. It’s diverse. It’s glamorous. And it’s real — the people here actually live this way.”

On Marysol’s mother’s curse: “My first marriage she was like, ‘That’s never going to last.’ When I got married the first time, she put a curse on it. And it didn’t last. So now I listen to her.”

On the drama to expect — Lea Black: “I wouldn’t say it’s hair-pulling, table-flipping drama. I would say that it’s a different kind of drama. Miami drama. Which is its own thing entirely.”