Vanderpump Rules: Lala Kent Claims Show 'Rewards' Her For Confrontations
Years after joining the cast of Vanderpump Rules, Lala Kent claims that one of Bravo's most successful shows rewards her for the amount of drama she brings to the table. The hit series, which is a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has drawn fans in since the very first episode showed Stassi Schroader and Scheana Marie—who had an affair with Lisa Vanderpump's co-star Brandi Glanville's then-husband—battling it out. With the show's ten-year anniversary quickly nearing since its premiere in 2013, Lala Kent has become one of the biggest breakout stars of Vanderpump Rules.
When Lala was hired as a hostess at SUR in season 4, the then-25-year-old was quick to turn heads with the other employees. Joining the group as an outsider who had no connections with anyone prior to filming, the other women were indifferent to getting to know her; 'Witches of WeHo' Stassi, Kristen Doute, and Katie Maloney were particularly disinterested in her presence, especially as Lala admitted to having a crush on Kristen's ex-boyfriend James Kennedy. Over time, Lala not only solidified her position on the show after being promoted to a lead in season 6, but engaged in memorable fights with almost every co-star. Lala and James' infamous "It's not about the pasta!" scene in season 6 is a highlight among many fans, as well as the dramatic SUR showdown between Lala and Raquel Leviss in season 7.
With years of reality television under her belt, Lala claims that her pay stubs correlate with how dramatic she acts on camera. “My show rewards me for confrontation and speaking up. I don’t want to say that I like confrontation, but I will say that I’m great at it,” Lala told Jason Tartick on the Trading Secrets podcast Monday. She added that a paycheck depends on "earning your place" as a cast member. Despite providing years' worth of drama for viewers, Lala admits that her abrasive and assertive personality is more subdued in real life. “When cameras aren’t on, I tend to pick my battles a little bit better. But when cameras are on, it’s, like, ‘Well, I have a thought and I’m going to say it,’” the mother-of-one explained. While beefing with her other cast members doesn't leave the star "feeling amazing after it happens," Lala says that at the end of the day, it's all a part of the job: "I know what I signed up for and I’m being paid for my thoughts."
Lala, who joined Vanderpump Rules in 2015, knows all about climbing through the ranks of reality television. Revealing to Tartick that her first paycheck from Bravo barely covered her expenses, Lala put things into perspective for viewers of the show: “When you’re brand new, you definitely need that hostess job. I still was having to fit model. I still was having to be a hostess. Like, what I was making on the show was not covering much."
With Vanderpump Rules season 9 officially over after the two-part reunion aired at the end of January, Lala's return for season 10 is up in the air. While the reality personality hasn't given fans (or Bravo) a definitive answer, her ties with the rest of the cast have seemed to waver to a minute point. Combined with having to deal with the fallout of her relationship with Randall Emmett, Lala says that she is taking things one day at a time; if Bravo calls with an offer, Lala has said, she may or may not accept. With longtime co-stars and married couple Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright already out the door, the cast of Vanderpump Rules can change at any moment.
Sources: Trading Secrets/Apple Podcasts