Why Leva Bonaparte Finally Joined the Southern Charm Cast After Years with the Group
The Charleston restaurant and nightclub owner has about a decade of history with the cast.
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Leva Bonaparte may be a new face on Southern Charm Season 7, but the successful restaurateur has been running the same circle as the Charleston crew for quite some time. Leva opened up about her connection to the rest of the Charm-ers and revealed what finally made her decide to join the cast on the November 14 episode of The Daily Dish podcast, which you can listen to, below.
Leva’s ties to the group go way back to when she first became roommates with Cameron Eubanks.
“It’s actually a hilarious story. It was like over a decade ago. I was looking for a roommate, and so I put an ad up on Craigslist, and Cam showed up at my door,” she said. “We were like, friendly soulmates. So that started there. And she moved in with me and she lived with me on and off for so many years.”
Although Leva “did film a few times over the seven years just here and there,” she admits, “it freaked me out a little bit back then. I was just like, oh, what is this? This is crazy. I’m leaving now. Bye.
So what finally changed her mind? Leva explained that “it just was organic” after years of the show filming at the restaurants and clubs she owns with her husband, and spending time with the group.
“I had struggled getting pregnant for so many years, we were building businesses for so many years, and I just couldn’t afford any time outside for anything else,” Leva added. “Even, you know, extra friend time. I was so hyper focused on what I was building inside my own family and my own life. So I think this year, I was just like, you know? Let’s do it.”
“Let’s go from a place of yes,” she continued. “This isn’t necessarily my comfort zone. But I’m gonna grow, and I’m already there.”
Want more Southern Charm? New episodes air Thursdays at 9/8c or catch up on the latest season through the Bravo app.
For a sneak peek at what's to come, check out the preview, below.
