Way back in 2012, the first-ever Persian-centered show on a major American network, Shahs of Sunset premiered, putting the spotlight on six affluent Persian-American friends in Los Angeles trying to balance their career and social life, while juggling the demands of family and tradition.
Nine years and seasons later, and it has essentially launched a whole cast of unique personalities from a race often under- or totally misrepresented in the public spotlight. Diving deep into the reality of individuals thrust into the nation’s film and TV center amid two vastly different cultures, the past nine installments have seen the growth of the cast from having petty fights to engaging in meaningful conversations, all in all adding up to life-changing moments played out in reality television, for everyone to see.
Golnesa Gharachedaghi. Image courtesy of hayu.
At the core of this cast is Golnesa Gharachedaghi, fondly nicknamed “G.G.” and the “Persian Princess” after her stunning fashion looks and vibrant personality took the entertainment industry by storm.
As Rank Magazine caught up with the reality star, she opened up about her experience as a woman and mother beneath all the glitz and glamour of TV, and her ceaseless effort to stay true to herself amid all the camera flashes.
As you would imagine, the prospect of having your personal life played out on national television can be daunting, but G.G. revealed she was never truly hesitant about it. Her father, who she described as “Persian and old school”, was reluctant at first, having very limited exposure to what reality television entailed. She acknowledged this, noting that, at the time, shows like Jersey Shore and Keeping Up with The Kardashians were just starting out.
“[My] parents’ idea of reality TV was, ‘You’re just going to go on camera and fight?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I do it without the cameras being there, so I might as well just do it'”, she joked.
Of course, having a life as flashy as G.G. and the rest of the cast can be quite overwhelming, and she admitted that all the money, fame, and TV perks have gotten the best of a few of the cast throughout the years. But the growth is undeniable. For herself, in particular, she’s confident in her emotional and spiritual growth, especially over the past three to four years. She believes that her change and growth is clear as day, and, as she put it, it’s like she’s a “little Buddha in the making.”
A big part of G.G.’s comfortability in front of the camera comes from the fact that she’s really just being herself. She shared that the only reason she’s doing well on reality TV is it’s her actual life. There are no lies or secrets that she has to go out of her way to hide; she’s truly just living her most authentic self, and there just happen to be cameras around.
“When you are doing something like reality TV, and it’s about your life, if you have all these restrictions and secrets and things that are locked away, you either: A. Have one of your friends – who’s on camera – coming after you and your secrets the entire time or, B. you’re just not going to come off that great because you seem fake,” she shared.
As someone who views her experience on the show as something therapeutic, G.G. commits to, and prides herself of her realness on screen. In fact, probably the only thing she’s been hesitant to film is her newborn son, and understandably so. Having given birth during the pandemic, and being a first-time mom, she revealed that she was incredibly nervous to have him around people and the crew. Although they followed all the necessary restrictions, and they all got tested three times a week, she admitted that, as a new mom, it was still a nerve-wracking experience for her.
Photo courtesy of hayu
G.G., much like the whole of the show’s cast, takes pride in the fact that the Shahs of Sunset ensemble is the first, and still only, Middle Eastern and Persian cast who have their own show on a huge American network like BRAVO.
“I love that we are in a generation where people want to see all types of ethnicities and cultures represented on TV—they’re demanding it. I’m proud to be at the forefront and feel like we kind of started something before people even knew they wanted it. It’s been an awesome ride,” she expressed in pride.
She also noted another BRAVO show, Family Karma, which follows the first Indian-American cast on reality TV. Celebrating the call for diversity and cultural appreciation, the Persian Princess lauded the show and the general movement towards seeing more color on screen.
Focusing back on the ninth season of Shahs of Sunset, G.G. teased that it’s a little more different as far as the drama, compared to seasons prior. “It was more eye-opening,” she explained. “I think the audience, has been following us for too long for us to try to even lie to anybody. So, I would love for the audience to really watch it with an open mind, to accept that maybe, there’s some changes happening right now. We are not the same people we were during Season 1.”
She furthered: “As a show, I would piggyback onto what I said previously… I love where we stand and I would love for people to embrace our culture, and not in a segregated way, but as their own. When I get people from different ethnicities messaging me and telling me that they are cooking certain Persian dishes and naming their kids Persian names, it’s like the biggest compliment in the world to me. So, you know I love it. Embrace who we are, embrace our culture as your own.”
Beyond television, Gharachedaghi also shows off her personality in her podcast, Genuinely GG. Initially launched to the public in March of 2021, the show expands the conversation with G.G. on controversial and taboo topics discussed in her signature devil-may-care attitude, venturing into topics in a no-holds-barred manner for “topics that matter.”
“Genuinely GG is so awesome and fun. It has been a breath of fresh air for me. Yes, I have this platform on reality TV, but the podcast is based on me just being myself amongst my friends. I have a whole different world, and group of friends, who are not involved with the show. So, it’s cool to have this platform where it’s not about fighting or anything like that – I can just talk and express my views and my opinions,” she expressed.
“I love that a lot of people are telling me that they are learning a lot through my podcast. It’s awesome. I wish I could end up being the ultimate host one day. I swear, I live for that. I’m coming for all the hosts out there…including Andy Cohen!” she jests.
Shahs of Sunset as a show, the whole cast, and G.G. herself are doing such an important job at reaching out to the Middle Eastern community in America through their show, as well as educating people outside the culture about their rich heritage.
Sure, reality television might come with its own set of challenges and disadvantages. But it’s a great avenue to show off a people’s culture, and to increase positive visibility for a race that’s so commonly abused and demonized in mainstream media.
Key visuals courtesy of hayu
With the ninth season currently available for streaming on hayu, watch how Golnesa Gharachedaghi and the rest of the cast face even bigger challenges and revelations on the weekly episodes of Shahs of Sunset: https://www.hayu.com/show/29518888026