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Danielle Olivera Opens Up About Her “Instant” Connection to Chris Leoni
The Summer House cast members quickly connected on Season 7, and Danielle revealed why.
The returning Summer House cast members all formed different kinds of friendships with newbies Samantha Feher, Gabby Prescod, and Chris Leoni on Season 7, but Danielle Olivera’s bond with Chris runs especially deep.
During a game of cornhole on Episode 2, the pair bonded over their similar backgrounds. “I’m Puerto Rican,” Danielle told Chris, who replied that he is Uruguayan and Honduran.
Fast-forward to the end of the summer, and Chris and Danielle decided to further cement their bond by hosting a Latin-themed dinner party for the rest of the cast.
“This night was inspired by my primo [cousin], Chris,” Danielle said on Episode 12, which aired on May 1. “And we wanted to have a Latino night, like something that shows us off.”
The fashion app co-founder made her mom’s empanada recipe (which originally came from Danielle’s grandmother) for the festivities. “When you offer food that feels so close to home, it’s like you’re offering a piece of yourself,” Danielle explained about why the dinner was so meaningful to her.
Danielle then spoke directly about her bond with Chris, who later taught the roommates how to salsa dance.
“I have really enjoyed this summer with Chris being in the house, because being someone who is Hispanic, you brought this side out in me, which I haven’t shared with my housemates ever,” Danielle told the group. “I’ve always pushed down this part of my persona because I wanted to succeed. And me being a successful person meant being in finance and being around white people.”
Chris agreed with Danielle about how strong their friendship became over the summer.
“I feel like I came in here, and us being Hispanic, immediately I’m like, ‘That’s my hermana. She’s like my sister already.’ I just had this connection with her,” Chris added.
While recently chatting with The Daily Dish, Danielle opened up even more about her special connection to Chris.
“When I met Chris, it was instant,” Danielle told The Daily Dish about her bond with the Season 7 newbie. “It was ‘OK, this is a brother from another mother.’ We could relate to each other in ways that the rest of the cast can’t, and it was immediate.”
Danielle bonded with Chris quickly, but she was “really nervous” to meet a different Season 7 newbie for the first time. (Read more about Danielle’s unique pre-show connection to Gabby Prescod.)
