Bravo’s Real Housewives of Washington D.C.” star Mary Schmidt Amons is an aspiring actress, a designer, philanthropist, the mother of five children and the granddaughter of the legendary TV and Radio personality, Arthur Godfrey.
On Thursday, October 7th, Bravo will air the final episode of “The Real Housewives of DC”. Daedrian McNaughton caught up with Mary who shared her fond memories of Miami, lessons from her granddad, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, charity, Cancer Schmancer, and the unique feature of her closet (Charlie’s Angel-style biometric fingerprint lock/ biometric fingerprint scanner).
Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of DC” finale — airing Thursday, October 7 at 9PM ET/PT — will document the aftermath of President Obama’s first White House State Dinner last November and the ensuing media frenzy surrounding the event. In the finale episode, the other housewives learn, along with the rest of the country, of the events of that night and the questions swirling around whether fellow housewife Michaele and her husband Tareq Salahi had been officially invited to the State Dinner. The episode captures the reactions from Stacie, Linda, Cat and Mary as they hear the news, as well as Michael and Tareq’s initial response to the accusations by the media that their names allegedly were not on the State Dinner guest list. For more information visit www.bravotv.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.
Immediately following the finale, Michaele and Tareq Salahi will join host Andy Cohen on “Watch What Happens: Live” at 10:15PM ET/PT to discuss the infamous night, their experience with the “Real Housewives” franchise and take live questions. Viewers can email, Facebook or tweet questions to @BravoAndy. For video clips go to: http://www.bravotv.com/watch-what-happens-live. “Watch What Happens: Live” is Bravo’s first ever late night interactive talk show featuring guests from the world of entertainment and pop culture. The show airs live every Thursday night from the clubhouse.
Fond Memories of her Granddad, Arthur Godfrey
Mary Amons: My grandfather has a longtime love of Miami Beach. He ended up doing something very pivotal in broadcast history, where he was one of the first people on the radio who broadcast live through telephone wires up the east coast from Miami Beach. He also had part ownership in the “The Kenilworth By-the-Sea,” which was built by Tom Raffington. He ended up spending the winter in Miami and making it his home away from home. He would often conduct his show on the pool deck at the Kenelworth hotel. I have seen many reels and pieces of footage of him doing it. In fact we have somethings in our family archive of footage.
One thing that was particularly interesting to me, on the putting green of the hotel which is right next to the pool deck, he landed a helicopter and does a live demonstration. He was simulcasting radio and television at the same time. The television signal was coming up the telephone lines. He was doing a live broadcast from inside the helicopter right there next to the pool deck. I was amazed at that.
Mary On Her Visits to Miami
Mary Amons: I love Miami. It is a place that I have real affinity to. I love to get in, just relax, and spend a long weekend. It is usually with friends and I do have some friends who live there as well. I do have the ability to navigate my way around without necessarily making a big party scene. I know some of the cool places to go. I love to shop at Bal Harbour Shops and just walk around the shop. I also have a friend who lives by Bal Harbour. Usually I stay by South Beach in a few hotels. I like Eden Roc and the Shore Club, even though I have not stayed there in a while.
On Her Role As a Mom
Daedrian McNaughton: You were referred to by one blogger as a Supermom. Are you?
Mary Amons: I wouldn’t call myself a Supermom; I would call myself a busy mom. I am very committed to my children, my charity work and just to balance everything in my life. Having five children is a challenge to kind of keep it all together and to make sure your little souls are taken care of physically, mentally and emotionally. I would not call myself a Supermom. I am just trying to do the best I can as a mom, giving back to the community and taking care of my family as best as I can.
On Designing and her Aspirations on Becoming an Actress
Mary Amons: I am going to use this as a spring board in terms of getting some more work in television. I do have some aspirations as been an actress. I trained as an actress here in DC for a few years.
I shared with my grandfather when I was about 9 years old my dreams of being an actress, and he had positive input and sound advice. He said, if I was truly passionate about getting into it, I needed to be aware that it is a very difficult profession filled with rejection. He also said, he would not recommend it to anyone, but if it were my dreams, I should go for it.
I do have some other things I am doing. I am continuing my charity and encouraging my kids with giving back and being involved with the charity work and possible talk shows.
As for designing, I may do a jewelry line as well.
On Her Decision to be on the Real Housewives of DC and Elizabeth Hasselbeck
Daedrian McNaughton:Your friends considered The Housewives series déclassé. Now that you have completed the first season, will you return for season 2, and do you have any regrets?
Mary Amons: I have no regrets doing it. I feel like I have approached this with a very positive attitude. I have been very much myself and I am very proud of my family, my charity work, my friendship and the opportunity to be featured as hopefully a positive character which, I think am.
Elizabeth Hasselbeck was a big inspiration to me because she started out in reality television and has really succeeded. Most people don’t even realize that she was from Survivor, that is how she started and she has done a great job using her brains. I just think she is a very smart and savvy woman, and now she is a mom. I look up to her greatly, as someone who made their way using reality television to springboard into different things in television.
Signing on for Season 2 of The Real Housewives of DC and Charity
Mary Amons: If I am asked, I will return, but I am not sure we are going forward yet. I think it is an opportunity for me to get my charity out there. Fortunately there have been enough attention from our press, and promotional tours. I have had an overwhelming response. The exposure has been overall a very positive experience, and I think it is all how you handle it, and navigate it in a way that makes sense. I believe that pursuing anything that is a part of my dreams is very important and not just making things up to monetize on it. It has to be something that makes sense.
On Breast Cancer
Daedrian McNaughton: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are you doing to show your support for the cause?
Mary Amons: I am a big advocate of breast cancer. First of all, I am overwhelmed with how out there this breast cancer awareness month is. During the football game on Monday between the Dolphins and the Patriots, the players were covered in pink. Whoever is responsible for this marketing campaign is a genius; it is really making a huge impact. I am really overwhelmed.
I am donating to breast cancer and Cancer Schmancer is an organization that I am passionate about. It was started by a friend, Fran Drescher who is a 10 years Uterine cancer survivor and her whole campaign is to bring early awareness to the public. So, I am very passionate about supporting cancer and Cancer Schmancer.
I’m working with a dedicated team to bring together a top fashion designer as well as a jurored fashion inspired art auction all to benefit Cancer Schmancer (www.cancerschmancer.org). The event will take place in DC on Thursday, November 4th. Working with Fran Drescher has been incredibly inspiring and motivating! She’s one amazing woman using her celebrity to change the world and save lives.
For more information about how to get involved, please visit the website www.labelsforlove.org.
Relationship with the Salais and their Behavior
Daedrian McNaughton: The Salais will be the topic of discussion for the finale. What is your current relationship with the Salais, and what do you think of their behavior?
Mary Amons: I wouldn’t call it a relationship, because a relationship is actually something that you are interested in pursuing and giving in to. The Salais are on their own path. I wish them all the best and I hope it all works out for them. I am on my own path pursuing my own endeavors and trying to stay very positive and using this for good.
I really don’t like to judge but their behavior speaks for itself. I believe in Karma and I believe what you give you will receive. I will just leave it at that.
Tension Between Cat and Erica
Daedrian McNaughton: In the last two (2) episodes, we have seen a lot of tension between Cat and Erica. What do you make of it?
Mary Amons: That was a very surprising evening, and that is why you you see me kind of shock and not really getting involved in it. I am not one who jumps into confrontation and I don’t like confrontation. I am a very unique person and I don’t like it when people speak ugly to each other or confront each other in a way that is disrespectful. Erica is one of my dearest friends for 10 years and to see her lash out at our new friend, Cat was really upsetting.
The thing that I loved about Erica was that she owned it. She said, after the fact that she did not know where that came from. She never acts like that. I feel like it is what it is, it is unfortunate that it occurred but we are all grown women, and we are all responsible for our own choices and how we treat people. Those girls clash is really between them. I love them both dearly, but I really can’t get in the middle of two friends who don’t get along.
On Her Talked About Closet and Moving to the City
Daedrian McNaughton: We recently learned that your house is on the market. Is there an additional cost for your closet with its unique feature (a biometric fingerprint scanner)?
Mary Amons: No it all conveys, but I think I might take my lock with me, because I threw away the box and I don’t know how to reprogram it. I think I will take it with me and put a regular lock on my closet.
We are excited to move into the city and get a little more privacy, our house has been very exposed and our kids are back in private school. We have options about where we can move.
Lolly and Her Career
Daedrian McNaughton: How is Lolly doing?
Mary Amons: She is with us. She is moving into her own place soon. I am very excited about her because she is actively persuing her career as an artist. She is getting her website pulled together and she is doing some shows as well. She is doing great and I am really excited about how she is using this show as an opportunity for herself to make some positive progress.
Advice for Fashionistas and Creating a Fashion Line.
Mary Amons: Everyone should have some key basics in their closet.
- A great pair of jeans.
- A pair of flats
- A pair of heels
- A scarf
I love to be casual and relaxed. A very casual look for me is a t-shirt, jeans, great pair of shoes and a scarf around my neck. This is very comfortable and laid back in style for me.
I do have aspirations of creating a fashion line that is going to be very true to my own style which is very laid back and approachable and easy to pull together, very basic casual style and could be worn by all ages.
Be sure to watch the finale of “The Real Housewives of D.C. tonight on Bravo. Watch what happens!