Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Heather Gay feels a sense of validation after watching Hulu’s reality series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Speaking with PEOPLE, the 50-year-old Bravo star expressed that the show resonates deeply with her experiences as a former member of the Mormon Church.
“It basically validated what I wrote about in Bad Mormon,” Gay shared, referencing her memoir. “It confirmed everything we’ve discussed on Housewives for five seasons now.” She believes Real Housewives of Salt Lake City laid the foundation for exposing Mormon culture, recalling early criticism that they misrepresented the faith or that she spoke out due to bitterness.
Gay observed that the younger generation on Secret Lives is now echoing the same concerns she and her castmates have voiced. “These young women are facing the same cultural pressures we did,” she said, emphasizing that their struggles reflect those of her past. “It’s proof that we weren’t lying. No lies were told.”
Previously labeled an “old-school Mormon,” Gay pointed out that people often argued the church had “changed and evolved” since her departure. However, the young women in the series, some as young as 21, face similar expectations and pressures.
Gay hopes the cast of Secret Lives finds the same empowerment that she did through Housewives. “I feel rescued by these opportunities,” she explained. “Every book I write is cathartic, allowing me to unburden myself.”
Since its Sept. 6 debut, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has quickly become a hit on Hulu. Earlier this month, the streaming service confirmed that the show’s popular cast, including Taylor Frankie Paul and Whitney Leavitt, will return for 20 additional episodes, bringing their unique stories and perspectives back to viewers.
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