Ashley Darby: There Is a Great Deal of Doubt About My Abilities

Bravotv.com: What do you think about Robyn saying everyone should mind their business about her marriage?

Ashley Darby: Wait, what marriage? I thought Robyn and Juan were co-habitating parents with benefits? Anywho, it's impossible to keep a secretive personal life when you have such a public marriage and separation. While Robyn may perceive it as malicious, sometimes people are inquiring because they actually care and want to understand her situation. Sure she may not have the answers yet, but life if short and time is precious, so perhaps Robyn should consider what will actually make her happy. 

Bravotv.com: What did you think about the women’s reactions to your marriage struggles and wanting to support your restaurant? Quite a shift from last year. 

AD: That moment at Preakness touched me to the core. I had a deep and profound appreciation for the ladies that I didn't know existed! I'm human, I know I don't have all the answers, so I am grateful for any sound advice and assurance from trustworthy people who have a shared experience. It's apparent that our relationships have progressed leaps and bounds since last year. I mean, who'd have thunk that I'd be entering the cougar's den for a therapy session? But I'm very glad I did. 

Bravotv.com: How was the day at the races? Did Gizelle share her winnings with you all? 

AD: The day at the races was a hoot! I had (a few) bourbon cocktails, fascinators, and sandwiches - what more does a woman need? Gambling is a scary sport because I only like to waste money on alcohol, but it turned out to be so much fun. I rode in rodeos as a kid and seeing those jockeys on their thoroughbreds took me back to the good ole days. 

There's a reason Gizelle's eyes are green - the girl loves money, honey! We'd have had more luck of getting Justin Trudeau as president than seeing any of those coins. 

Bravotv.com: Tell us about getting emotional in interview and being so uncertain of how to move forward with your marriage. Did the skydiving day help?

AD: While I usually try to keep a brave face, the difficulties of mixing business and marriage have rocked my emotions. There is a great deal of doubt about my abilities, and whether opening a restaurant was the right decision after all. So many question marks are hanging in the air - what better way to solve them than going indoor skydiving? Michael and I fell in love and bonded over the love of adrenaline. One of our very first dates was free-falling out of an airplane at 13,500 feet in the air. Doing an activity that we both loved helped us to reprioritize and remember that our relationship comes first. 

Bravotv.com: You mentioned the other ladies' failing relationships, do you worry you will follow in their footsteps?

AD: A failed marriage is certainly a concern for me - who wants to experience a devastating loss like that?  The other ladies have children or other obligations that kept them in an unhappy relationship, which I understand, but the last thing I will do is be tethered to an unfulfilling situation. But it's true, marriage takes work, and Michael and I are still punched in. This oven is still hot and ready for Hot Cross Darby!