'I was 100% sold on the idea' — LaConco excited to make reality TV show comeback

After her appearance on The Real Housewives of Durban season one and two, Nonkanyiso “LaConco” Conco is gearing up to make her comeback on the reality TV spin-off show The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.

The show, set to premier on May 27 on Showmax, shows the media personality among eight other housewives at a luxurious villa in Jamaica.

LaConco speaks on returning to the franchise, her relationship with the other cast members, and how she's managed to navigate the fame that comes with being a reality show star:

How was The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip pitched to you?

I was actually in chats with one of the producers about something else. They then enquired about whether I knew of this particular Housewives franchise, which I admitted to having a bit of knowledge of. The producer then proceeded to ask if I was interested in being a part of this version and my answer was a definite yes! What also piqued my interest was the location. When I was informed that we'd be filming in Jamaica, I was 100% sold on the idea, even though at the time I didn't know who was going to be part of the cast. 

Speaking of the cast, how would you describe your relationship with the other ladies?

Myself and the other ladies have a good understanding of each other. Though I had been quite acquainted with the likes of Nonku Williams and Londie London, I had no extensive knowledge of the other ladies. I'm glad that I hadn't watched the other franchises before going to Jamaica, which helped me to not get any preconceived ideas about fellow cast members.

What did you enjoy about being on this trip?

For the first time in all my travelling experiences, I found that when we were in Jamaica I was not homesick — I only missed my son and my mom. When I travelled to Europe and Asia, I was very homesick. However, this time around it was different. Jamaica was like my home away from home, especially when it came to the food. I loved our housekeeper Mr Alton's cooking. Even the overall hospitality experience was amazing, with five-star treatment at its best! I also loved that the gym was a stone’s throw away from my room.

Now that you're going to be on another Housewives franchise, how do you think you'll handle fame this time around?

I'm no stranger to being on TV, so being in the news is not a shock to my system any more. There is new information about me that will be revealed and it will probably create a lot of talk, but that all comes with being on a public platform. How I've handled fame is always ensuring that I stay true to myself and that I am intact and not shaken by whatever is out there. Everything is constantly happening around you but if you are at peace within yourself you can then navigate around all these external factors. So whatever waves will come with The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, I will always pass those waves because I am content with who I am.

Do you think this version of the franchise will open up more business opportunities for you? 

Oh, definitely. LaConco has been collecting small, medium and large coins. The Real Housewives franchise has introduced me to many business opportunities and eyeballs. It has provided me with a clientele that is quite broad — a combination of premium, mid and lower LSM clients whom I’m always more than willing to provide a service to.