It’s a new year of reality TV, and fans can’t stop talking about Members Only: Palm Beach.
Netflix’s latest reality show puts the spotlight on a posh Florida city focused on private clubs, luxurious couture and charity galas.
Cameras roll as Hilary Musser, Taja Abitbol, Rosalyn Yellin, Ro-mina Ustayev and Maria Cozamanis experience a wealth of drama and showcase their unique personalities.
If you ask some of the stars, the response to the show has been nothing but positive.
“Everyone is just telling me how inspiring I am and how I stayed true to myself and how even though I wanted to fit in, I didn’t want to change myself,” Ro-mina exclusively shared with Luxury Handbag Shopping. “People always picked on me for being too loud or too crazy or too wild or whatever, but at the end of the day, I am who I am.”
Taja added, “I have businesses. I actually work. A lot of them, you know, are just on Instagram all day. … But I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.”
As more and more viewers tune in and meet a group of women who love visiting Mar-a-Lago and following etiquette, Us had the chance to sit down with two of the show’s breakout stars.
Keep reading to see what they had to say about some of the biggest talking points of the season. Plus, watch Members Only: Palm Beach, which is streaming now on Netflix.
Does the Cast Really Live in Palm Beach, Florida?
Ro-mina and Taja were quick to confirm that the cast lives in Palm Beach County.
“Nobody ever said we live on Palm Beach Island,” Taja explained. “We all live in Palm Beach County. Do I have a condo in Miami? Duh! That’s the best lifestyle. You’re supposed to have a country clubhouse and a beach house.”
Ro-mina added, “We all live in Palm Beach County. That’s all I’m going to say. It’s Palm Beach County. So I’m in Palm Beach County.”
What Do Palm Beach Residents Really Think About ‘Members Only: Palm Beach’?
Despite reports claiming Palm Beach residents aren’t happy with the show, Taja said hundreds of people were trying to get into her premiere party.
“They’re all jealous, and 100 percent they’re all watching,” she claimed. “They’re binge-watching, and they’re watching it over and over and over. They can’t stop watching.”
Ro-mina added, “I think they’re definitely supportive. There are a lot of people that I’m sure would love to be on a show on Netflix, so I’m sure there’s some envy there, but 100 percent people are watching.”
Does President Donald Trump Know the Cast of ‘Members Only: Palm Beach’?
According to Taja, Palm Beach is a “very small place,” allowing the cast to have connections to Trump.
“I’ve been connected to Donald Trump from New York. My son went to the same school as his son in New York,” she shared. “I went to the same school as him in Queens because we grew up in the same place, and I have been snowbirding in the same place as him my whole life. Me and the president have the same lifestyle.”
While Ro-mina isn’t sure if Trump is watching the Netflix show, she predicts he would be “entertained, because we all know he loves to be the center of attention like some other people.”
“Has he heard about it? I’m sure he’s heard a rumor here or there because he’s met us in person, and Rosalyn has met him so many times,” she explained. “I’m pretty sure he knows her by, like, first-name basis. So I’m sure he’s heard stuff, but whether he’s watched or not, I doubt it.”
Why Is the ‘Members Only: Palm Beach’ Cast Always Talking About Mar-a-Lago?
The historic estate, luxury private club and resort is a common talking point in season 1 of Netflix’s reality show. Both Taja and Ro-mina can’t say enough good things about the Palm Beach landmark.
“It’s grand. It looks like a castle. Who doesn’t want to be a princess or a queen going to a castle?” Ro-mina explained. “It’s a really high-end, high-class place. And you know, it just happens to be the president’s house.”
Taja added, “Architecturally, it’s just stunning and magnificent. And the property and landscaping are really unbelievable. When you’re in Mar-a-Lago, it gives you a type of feeling that you can’t even explain.”
Has Ro-mina Changed Her Fashion Choices Since Filming Wrapped?
During season 1, many cast members criticized Ro-mina for not following Palm Beach etiquette and wearing clothes that were too revealing or not appropriate for specific events.
After time has passed, Ro-mina said she’s still going to wear what she wants to wear.
“I do understand that sometimes you have to dress a certain way for certain places,” the aspiring fashion designer explained. “I want to be respectful, but I’m still going to be true to myself. That’s never going to change. I feel like there’s a difference between being respectful and true to yourself.”
Which Cast Members Are Still Close After Season 1?
Unlike Bravo’s The Real Housewives franchise, Netflix has no plans to host a reunion for Members Only: Palm Beach cast.
Since cameras stopped rolling, Ro-mina said she has been able to maintain some strong friendships.
“I think I’m closest with Maria and Rosalyn,” she revealed. “We have a group chat, and we talk every day and we discuss all the things. It’s a different relationship with Maria than it is with Rosalyn, and I have a lot of fun.”
Taja said she’s booked and busy expanding Taja Drip. At the same time, she revealed, “I talked to Hilary all the time. I talked to Maria. I just don’t have time to hang out with them.”
Will ‘Members Only: Palm Beach’ Get a Season 2?
While Netflix has not confirmed any future plans for the show, both Ro-mina and Taja are hopeful the series can continue.
“I think that it’s always good to bring in some new blood, and I personally have a couple of friends that really want to join,” Taja teased. “I would like to see more of me as a mother, as a wife, as a businesswoman, as a family woman. That’s what I would like to see because there was definitely not enough of me and way too much of some of the others.”
