Julia Lemigova on being the 1st openly LGBTQ 'Real Housewives' person cast in franchise
"The Real Housewives of Miami" returned to television Thursday after a nearly decade-long absence and made history in the process.
Among the cast of women either returning to the series or making their debut was newcomer Julia Lemigova, the first openly LGBTQ woman to be cast on any show in the "Real Housewives" franchise.
Additionally, Lemigova and wife Martina Navratilova, a former professional tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, became the first same-sex couple to be featured in the popular franchise.
"I first want to say it's about time!" Lemigova told E! News of her historic casting and what it means for the LGBTQ community. "I want to normalize how we live and show that love has no gender. We are a very loving family with big and unique personalities."
"I cannot wait to show the world that a same-sex marriage is just like any other marriage," she continued. "We will share our joy, fun and our daily life."
Lemigova, a former Russian model and mother of two who won the title of Miss USSR in 1990 and was second runner-up at Miss Universe 1991, also opened up to NBC News about her casting and the "responsibility" that comes with it.
"Being a visible part of our LGBTQ community is quite new to me and I would not even try to pretend I am a spokesperson for it," she said. "What I am happy to be is a spokesperson for myself and my family and hope that as a family we represent our LGBTQ community well."
Lemigova is not the first LGBTQ person to star in the "Real Housewives" franchise, but she is the first out at the time of her casting.
Three members of the "Real Housewives of Orange County" cast have come out as LGBTQ since joining the show: Braunwyn Windham-Burke came out as lesbian last year while Elizabeth Lyn Vargas and Noella Bergener both came out as bisexual this year.
