RHONY Newcomer Ubah Hassan Has an Interesting Connection to a Current Housewife
Supermodel and hot sauce creator Ubah Hassan is gearing up for the new season of The Real Housewives of New York City — but not without getting some advice from an experienced Housewife.
Ubah Hassan may be a newbie on the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of New York City, but the model and entrepreneur is already getting tips from a veteran Housewife.
Ubah shares a special connection to The Real Housewives of Dubai’s Chanel Ayan: The two women are reportedly cousins, according to Page Six). Chanel has been happy to share what she’s learned during her own time on the reality series.
“Chanel just said to have entertainment, drama. But nothing ill-intended because we are all human and we are all women,” Hassan told Page Six of Ayan’s advice. “Make it fun but don’t go below the belt.”
Both women, who also double as supermodels, share a tie to Somalia. While Chanel is from Kenya, she is Ethiopian and Somali. Ubah was born in Somalia but fled the war-torn country with her brother and dad as a child, heading for Kenya herself.
However, Ubah’s mother and sisters went to Ethiopia and it took years before the entire family could reunite again in Canada, according to The Fashion Spot.
The difficult past could even be an advantage during her time on RHONY — at least, according to Chanel.
“Chanel told me, ‘Look, you are from Somalia so you will be fine. They will think twice before trying to mess with us,” Ubah said.
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It isn’t the first time the ladies have compared notes. Chanel and Ubah grabbed a bite to eat together in New York last year.
“Probably one of the best lunch this year. @chanelayan you’re the most supportive kindest human being,” Ubah wrote on Instagram along with a smiling photo of the pair. “Thank you for the pep talk and the unconditional support.”
Ubah joins Sai De Silva, Erin Dana Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield on the 14th season of the revamped series filmed in the Big Apple.
The series “will follow an all-new group of seven dynamic women who run in the same social circles, thriving in one of the most diverse and electric cities in the world. From fashion to real estate, to philanthropy and social influence, these women have made their mark in NYC and will now share their lives as they juggle careers, family life and jam-packed social calendars in the city that never sleeps,” an earlier press release shared.
As for Ubah, in addition to her career in modeling — where she advocates for equal representation in the industry and has modeled for fashion juggernauts like Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Oscar De La Renta — she’s also active in philanthropy and works closely with TOMS global charity.
When she isn’t on the runway, Ubah has a bit of a spicy side project. She created her own line of hot sauces, UBAH HOT, each with gem-stone themed names, as a way to honor her “palate and passion for food.”
“I created UBAH Hot for myself and anyone who strives to eat healthier and wants to consume more vegetables and less processed food without compromising the flavor,” she wrote on the company’s website.
Watch past seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City now on Peacock.
