00:00We're here with the one, the only, Romina.
00:02So what's this newfound fame been like for you?
00:04I mean, it's so exciting because I've been doing this for a really long time.
00:08Well, not this, but in general, being in the entertainment industry with music and fashion.
00:13So actually getting some recognition finally is definitely super nice.
00:18And everyone that has recognized me has just been so sweet and so supportive.
00:23So obviously, I'm on cloud nine.
00:25This season, you're kind of the new girl in town.
00:27You're new to Palm Beach.
00:28Did you ever think that moving there was going to come with so many rules and regulations?
00:33I did know a little bit because at one point, my brother wanted to move down.
00:38And he chose Naples over Palm Beach because he was told that Palm Beach doesn't really accept new people.
00:46But I know that I can break any wall and any door down.
00:52So I was like, I'm going to be fine.
00:53You refer to yourself as the Palm Beach Kim Kardashian.
00:55People call me the Palm Beach Kim Kardashian.
01:00Everywhere I go, people always think I look like Kim Kardashian.
01:03And I'm always like, thank you.
01:05I am curious.
01:05Have you heard from Kim K or anybody adjacent since saying that?
01:09I have not yet.
01:12Yet.
01:12But it's just been like for so many years, people would see me and be like, oh my God, you look like Kim Kardashian.
01:18And then also I have two cousins and people would always like refer to us as like the Kardashian.
01:23So it was like that in Philly.
01:25And then we all moved to Florida together and it was like that in Florida.
01:28So we just kind of like kept it up with like, you know, just the Kardashian look.
01:32And I think one of the most savage moments we saw was when you sent Gail your contact for better wigs.
01:39I texted Gail my hairdresser's number because he creates wigs.
01:45And I feel like Gail should get a better wig.
01:49It doesn't look natural.
01:50It doesn't.
01:51Do you know if she's contacted this person yet?
01:53I don't think she has.
01:55But she recently left a comment.
01:58I think it was actually this morning that I read it.
02:01And she was like, by the way, I wanted to say thank you for suggesting I get a better wig because I understand now.
02:07They didn't show it, but I actually said it to her when she fell and the wig fell off.
02:11And I was just like, oh, my God, I hope you're OK.
02:14And I was like, Gail, like, you need a better wig.
02:16Like, it was just like, come on, woman.
02:18Like, you're supposed to be the queen of everything.
02:21You need a better wig.
02:22Do you want to talk about that kind of painfully awkward etiquette class that Gail and Rosalyn had for you, I guess?
02:30Yeah.
02:31You know, a lot of people have been talking about the way Gail spoke to you, spoke about you, the way she treated you in that moment.
02:36If you're going to an Indian party in America, it still makes it an Indian party.
02:41I don't want to change anyone.
02:43You are who you are.
02:45You're beautiful in your own way.
02:47See?
02:47She agrees.
02:48I mean, she was on my side.
02:49What is it like for you to watch that scene back?
02:52It was definitely upsetting a little bit because I didn't actually hear her when I was at the table saying she should go back to one of her countries.
03:03I didn't hear that part because I'm talking to the teacher at that moment.
03:07So when I saw that, I was like, oh, damn.
03:09But, like, I kind of almost feel bad for her because it's like, don't you know you're being filmed on, you know, internationally?
03:17Like, this is a big deal.
03:18You don't say things like that to people.
03:20And it was upsetting, but also usually when I introduce myself and I tell someone I'm from Uzbekistan, the first answer is always Pakistan.
03:31Oh, really?
03:31So it wasn't anything new, yeah, because most people just don't know where Uzbekistan is.
03:36But she just kept doing over and over, and it was really stressful.
03:39I mean, you guys saw it.
03:40I got up and cried.
03:41But do you wish that Rosalind had stuck up for you more in that moment?
03:44I do, but, you know, we have talked since then, and she's watched the show, and she always says, like, I really tried to say something.
03:53But Gail has a tendency to just speak over people, and it's really hard to have a conversation.
04:00And Rosalind's like, look at my face.
04:02Like, I look mad.
04:03And I get it, but I did tell her that because a lot of people are also contacting, you know, her and saying that she's racist, and she feels really bad about that, obviously.
04:13And I told her you should have stuck up for me, and, you know, maybe next time she will.
04:18You said a couple times that you enjoy being in rooms with Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
04:22I love going to Mar-a-Lago and being in the same room as the president and Elon Musk.
04:27Like, that is such an amazing feeling because you feel like, oh, my God, like, you made it.
04:32Do you think that people calling this show, without getting too into politics, but do you think that people calling this show kind of the MAGA Housewives is an accurate description?
04:40I think that the way that we spoke about it all the time, probably, yes, but that's not what the show is about.
04:48The show is about members-only clubs.
04:51It just so happens that Mar-a-Lago is the main one in Palm Beach.
04:56It's the biggest one that is there.
04:58But the show is really to explain and depict how it is to be accepted into this lifestyle of members-only.
05:08And when you move to Florida, one of the first questions that you get asked is, what club are you a member at?
05:14So it's just, it just so happened that that's the one that was the, you know, the biggest one in the area.
05:20We have to touch on your birthday party because that caused a lot of drama within the group and how you asked people who planned on bringing gifts to just bring cash.
05:28If you're thinking of bringing a gift, I'd kindly prefer cash gifts.
05:31Terrible.
05:32Exclamation mark.
05:33Do you still stand by that request?
05:35Would you do it again?
05:36A hundred percent.
05:36This is, so normally, and I grew up around all like Russian friends in Philadelphia and we don't have to write it on an invitation to bring cash because everyone just knows.
05:50That's why I called my cousin, you know, she had no idea she was being filmed and I was like, what do you bring to a, to a, to a birthday?
05:57And that's what you bring.
05:59It's just our culture.
06:01It's just what we know.
06:02But a lot of my friends were messaging my cousins and they were like, what should we bring her?
06:05What should we bring her?
06:06And even though they told them cash a few times, they didn't feel comfortable because they're not used to this.
06:12So I'm like, you know what?
06:13I'm going to just go and make this mass text message to my friends about guys, you really don't need to bring a gift, but if you want to just make it cash.
06:24I don't want plants.
06:26I don't want clothes.
06:27Like I don't want anything, you know?
06:29So if you're going to bring it, just make it cash.
06:31And it just blew like out of proportion.
06:33And I get it.
06:34It's not Palm Beach etiquette, but it was my birthday.
06:37It wasn't, you know, just a Palm Beach like charity event party.
06:41And by the way, charity events are not free.
06:44You have to pay for the ticket.
06:46And what's funny is about a month later, it was Rosalind's birthday.
06:50And Gail wrote a message to all of us, all of her friends saying, hey, let's chip in for Rosalind's present, like $200.
06:58I was like, oh, so this is okay to ask someone to bring a present.
07:04Meanwhile, I said, you don't have to bring a gift, but if you want to, make it cash.
07:08I don't see the difference.
07:10I think there's a lot of hypocrisy.
07:11Question a lot of fans have been asking also is, why does Romina still want to be friends with these women if they treat her this way?
07:18So I want to ask you, why is their approval so important to you?
07:22Because I live in the area.
07:25And these are the social circles that you need to be a part of.
07:29I'm a very social person.
07:30I need friends.
07:31I need events to go to.
07:33I need somewhere to dress up to go to.
07:35And they are, you know, the main part of it.
07:38So if it wasn't for Rosalind, I would have never gone to one of these members' charity events that are gorgeous.
07:46Like, you're literally inside of a castle.
07:48It's like you're a princess in a ballroom.
07:50So who wouldn't want that?
07:51I understand maybe it's not for everyone, but it is my path.
07:55And I, even though it wasn't easy, I'm still enjoying myself.
08:01And they're all such successful people.
08:02And there's so much to learn from this society.
08:05And I really believe in continuing and getting farther in life, in success.
08:12And even though I've already have had a lot of success, I don't think there's ever, like, a limit.
08:18And there's always more to go.
08:20I'm a very just driven person.
08:21And I have a lot of dreams, and I want to make them come true.
08:26And we also got to see you sing this season at your birthday party.
08:28So much fun.
08:29We're the night.
08:33We're the night.
08:35It's her birthday, and she will hit any notes that she wants to.
08:39Can you talk a little bit about your musical background and what made you want to bring it to the show?
08:43Yeah, I mean, singing is a huge part of my life.
08:45I've been working on music for over 10 years, and I have a lot in my collection.
08:51I'm everywhere, you know, digital music is sold.
08:54So Spotify, Apple Music, anywhere, YouTube.
08:57I have a lot of music videos.
08:58I've invested a lot of time and a lot of money into this career.
09:02So it was definitely something I wanted to showcase.
09:05And it's just what I always do at all of my birthday parties.
09:09I sing.
09:10And the last few birthday parties, I've also combined my singing with a fashion show.
09:15So I've been showcasing my clothing line at my parties.
09:19And unfortunately, they cut most of it out of the episode, the fashion part.
09:25But they used my music in the episode.
09:27So I have like three or four of my songs that are playing in that episode, whether it was me singing or just in the background, which is like so cool.
09:34A lot of people have kind of been saying, you know, I want to see her on The Real Housewives of Miami or things like that.
09:39I'm sure you've seen that.
09:41What are your thoughts on that?
09:42You want my real, real thought?
09:43Yes, always.
09:44Depends on who's going to pay me more.
09:48Fair enough.
09:49I can fit in anywhere I go.
09:51Well, are there any like misconceptions about you or the group or the show that you've seen that you'd want to clear up?
09:56Oh, one of the things that I said that I'm getting like a tiny bit of backlash for was my COVID comment about COVID being a blessing.
10:05I feel like COVID was like a blessing for many people.
10:08Even though it was a weird time, it also like shifted things.
10:13Too many people died, honey.
10:14I'm just the kind of person that looks at everything in a more positive way.
10:19And COVID was a blessing for some people.
10:21And I moved to Florida because of it.
10:23I spent time with my kids that I otherwise wouldn't have spent because of it.
10:28I got to spend time with my family, my cousins, my husband.
10:32He got to stay home from work.
10:33Like it was, there are good things.
10:36Obviously, I know that it was sad and we lost a lot of people.
10:39I lost people too.
10:41But I'm just a half full kind of human.
10:44And that's what I meant.
10:45And a lot of people are like, how could you have said that?
10:47Social media influencers got so much bigger and they built their businesses because of it.
10:53Because they had time.
10:54So there are positives.
10:56And that's what I meant.
10:57Just to clear things up.
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