Jo De La Rosa, one of the OGs of the OC, steps Behind The Rope. Let us start at the beginning of it all, Season One, Episode One of The Real Housewives of Orange Country. Jo explains how she got cast in the freshman installment of the juggernaut franchise. The answer is not at all what you would expect. We talk about what filming was like for Jo, considering she had nothing to compare it to with The Hills, The Real World and The Simple Life being some of her only predecessors to turn to. We discuss some of Jo’s highlights from her time on RHOC, wanting to not be a “kept woman”, those dramatic always happening fights with then fiancé Slade Smiley, and that infamous French Maid's costume. Speaking of Slade, Jo discusses the end of her relationship with him and how she felt when he went on to date Fellow RHOC Housewives Lauri Peterson and Gretchen Rossi, who he is still with to this day. Jo discusses some of her past co-stars such as Vicki Gunvalson and Jeana Keough and how and why she decided to leave the show for life in Los Angeles. She also discusses her short lived follow up classic Bravo Show “Date My Ex: Jo & Slade”. We also discuss how she is not only the youngest housewife to ever be a part of the franchise (she was 24 when she joined, yes 24) but also how she was the first Housewife to ever have a hit song (fun fact: she worked with Erika Jayne's Creative Director, Mikey Minden, on the Video / Tour Choreography). We discuss her fellow Housewives Songstresses Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Erica Jayne, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Kandi Burruss and Melissa Gorga. Jo opens up about what life was like when the flashbulbs faded. Fun story, it involved a bartending job and TMZ. Jo is now trying to “reinvent” herself in LA through her stellar PopCandy Podcast and booming YouTube Channel, documenting the art of the comeback and the life of becoming an influencer. As she looks ahead with these and various other projects, she spends the hour with us looking back at her legacy in The Real Housewives of Orange Country Franchise. Thanks for stopping by Jo.  *** Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jo who lost her Dad earlier this Month due to Covid. @jodelarosaa @behindvelvetrope @davidyontef Bonus Episodes Available at - https://www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope This episode is brought to you by HelloFresh https://www.HelloFresh.com/10velvet (Use code 10velvet for 10 FREE meals, including free shipping.) Brought to you by Word Forest! (a Super Lucky Game). Search Google or Apple Store for Trivia Star   Merch Available at - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/behind-the-velvet-rope?ref_id=13198 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices