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But when their friend urged them to audition, they stepped up.
In the wake ofMarried to Medicinestenth season premiere, Toya and Drs.
Heavenly, Jackie, and Simone discussed how the show has cracked the code on long-lasting reality television.
These interviews, conducted separately, have been combined, condensed, and edited for clarity.
To what do you attribute this spike in popularity?Toya:BravoCon was amazing.
We had fans outside the hotels until almost 12 in the morning, lined up chanting.
Our show has been very authentic;nothingis rehearsed.
And we show things people dont usually show on reality TV.
Toya:This season, I can actually say, was healthy TV.
It was refreshing and a lot of fun.
There was a lot of honesty amongst everyone but not in a disrespectful way.
Dr. Jackie:Its orgasmic.
You laugh, you cry, you may curse, you may scream.
But then you leave with a breath of fresh air.
Its everything you need.
What has kept you on the show for all these seasons?Toya: Were fully vested now.
Theyre really good friends of mine.
We actually reach out and love on each other, and I cant imagine them not in my life.
And, as long as it stays positive and authentic, why wouldnt you do it?
Dr. Simone:Theres so much fan support and love for my marriage and my sons.
I thought it would be a cakewalk not really.
But what we show is open and honest.
We even argue about who is open and honest.
It puts us in places where we would have never gotten … and we get paid to do it.
Dr. Heavenly:We motivate individuals.
People often consider physicians, dentists, attorneys, and doctors to be on a pedestal.
When did you realizeM2Mwas a hit?Dr.
Jackie:When I got a call from the White House to discuss maternal mortality.
Somebody in the White House is watching!
But in certain cities, you walk in, and everyone knows who you are.
Thats so shocking to me, its surreal.
We got a hit show, and after all these years, people are watching it.
Its really a place for us to see our flaws and grow from them.
Last year, my husband walked out.
Its helped us a lot.
Had it not been for the reunion, we would not have made it.
There would have been nothing that would have kept us from signing.
I would be divorced.
Another memorable scene was the very real physical fight between Mariah and Toya.
He said, Mom, were you fighting?
He hasnt seen the episode, but I cant stop them from YouTube.
I still get choked up; it was one of the most devastating things that couldve happened.
I wanted to run away, and my husband said, you cannot leaveM2Mlike that.
Jackie:We feel that every day we wake up.
Its one of the things, even with the drama, that Ive always been so proud of.
Where else on national TV can you get real doctors?
We make up only 5 percent of all the doctors in this country.
Dr. Heavenly:Its a beautiful thing.
If theres a little girl who says,Hey, Im not calm like Dr. Jackie.
Im like this in my real life.
I cuss with my patients!
I dont have to be formal and professional 24/7.
We all have red blood and a four-chamber heart.
We can lessen the disparity, and we want to do it.
Its just part of being who we are.
But its happening every day.
Serena Williams had a pulmonary embolismthat her obstetrician didnt even believe she had.
Being able to highlight these issues in between the drama has been a magnificent thing for us.
What is one thing you want viewers to know about Black maternal and sexual health?Dr.
Jackie:Black women are dying three times more than anyone else.
We should all search for a doctor who makes us comfortable.
Theres someone out there who can relate to you, and you should probably be heard.
We want to teach people what it means to be your own health advocate.
Dr. Simone:We, as Black people, have to put ourselves first.
We have to advocate for ourselves, and we have to educate ourselves.
Theres so much information at our fingertips on Google but dont just take Googles word.
If theyre not, choose somebody else, because there is somebody out there who will.
We have to learn how not to be afraid of the healthcare system.
The season ten premiere introduced new cast member Phaedra Parks, who has a complicated Bravo history.
What was it like filming with someone so notorious in the world of Housewives?
Shes not married to medicine, Heavenly!
But we welcomed her with open arms, and you will see how it pans out.
Dr. Jackie:Her being notorious onHousewiveswasnt an intimidation because were all professionals.
It was exciting and interesting.
We just didnt know what to expect.
Its a whole new world.
She did a great job.
Dr. Simone:I was pleasantly surprised; she was always kind and full of compliments.
She wasnt for the drama and all the catty stuff you would think she wouldve been for.
Shes going through a spiritual journey.
Its okay for them to have their opinion of me, and its okay for me to be self-reflective.
Sometimes, theyre right, and I need to do better.
No wonder people be mad.
Most people dont get the therapy of seeing themselves and how they interact with people.
I mean well, but things come off very raw and very hard.
Dr. Simone: The show taught me that I was the captain of the petty boat!
I almost lost my marriage over things that were really not that deep.
Dr. Jackie:Endurance.
To stay strong even in the midst of the storm.
And that I dont have to be the norm.
I dont have to do what everybody thought I would.
