There was quite a bit of time between the two seasons of Real Housewives of Dubai. It was enough of a hiatus that alliances shifted in the meantime.
Lesa Milan and Chanel Ayan were ride-or-die for each other in Season 1 and seemingly enjoyed getting a rise out of Caroline Stanbury. Ayan even showed up to the British expat’s desert wedding celebration in a blonde wig. The duo got a laugh out of Caroline’s irk at her co-star’s attempts to upstage her on her big day.
But that dynamic has shifted, and the professional model is now friendly with the Ladies of London alum. She and Lesa are still filming together, but the latter is questioning her friend’s decision and motive for warming up to Caroline.
Lesa “sees” Caroline “for who she is”
Lesa recently joined Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast to question the hype for Caroline, especially coming from her followers.
“I don’t get it, I really don’t get the hype, I genuinely don’t,” said the Mina Roe founder.
“I feel like I would want to be on this side any day,” she explained during the podcast. “And anybody that rocks with me elevates.”
Lesa quipped that all she touches “turns to gold” and suggested that the professional influencer is “rusting.”
“Over there, it looks very gold-plated and rusting,” the American expat added.
There is no love lost between the two co-stars, and Lesa maintains her distance. She is also wary of Caroline.
“I don’t have any issues with her. You know when they say no expectations, no disappointment? I feel like I see her for who she is, you know, slithering through,” the entrepreneur explained. “And that’s enough for me. I navigate those spaces accordingly.”
Indeed, the former Miami resident feels more hurt by Ayan’s perceived betrayal than anything.
“[I had] a lot of expectations and so she’s the only one that could truly disappoint me,” she explained.
Ayan and Lesa’s relationship further deteriorates as Season 2 continues, and the mother-of-two is keen to watch it all play out onscreen. It may answer some of Lesa’s own questions about the falling out with her former bestie.
“It was a true friendship and I think people can identify with it. Ayan and I, we were really best friends, and … I can’t wait to see how it all plays out,” she revealed. “I must have missed something because I did not see it coming. So I am just as invested as the fans.”
Lesa suspects that the Ayan Beauty creator may have “had some outside influences.”
“I know, from my perspective, it was a lot of like secret competition that I felt was going on that I didn’t know at the time until after,” she explained.
The reality TV star is still mourning her former friendship with Ayan, saying she “truly, genuinely loved her.”
And it’s always sad when anybody breaks up, right?” Lesa concluded.