Ashley Darby Reveals What She Discovered About Herself on ‘Bravo’s Love Hotel’

Filming took place at the Grand Velas hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico, where the women met a rotating cast of potential male partners.

“Let me tell you, Luann was extremely popular,” Ashley recalls. “The guys are definitely fans of Luann.”

As a singer, Ashley, like Luann, has showcased her musical talents multiple times on Bravo. They even “sang at the ‘Love Hotel’ together,” Ashley mentions.

“I was overjoyed to spend time with the countess, especially having watched her for so long,” Ashley shares, referring to Luann, whose cabaret ambitions began on “RHONY” and have blossomed into a successful international tour.

“I just knew I’d adore Luann,” Ashley expresses.

Unfortunately for fans, Ashley mentions that their musical moments were likely not filmed. During production in Mexico, there was an earthquake followed by a hurricane, causing the ceiling of her hotel room to collapse. But the ladies remained resilient, navigating through the “so much water” and hitting the town.

“We had our little jam sessions,” Ashley recounts about her time with Luann. “And, of course, there was dancing.”

“It was a fantastic experience,” Ashley recalls. “I learned so much from Luann.”

One significant lesson Ashley learned during her time with Luann and the other “Housewives” was “how to be more vulnerable.”

“I typically show one side of myself on ‘Housewives of Potomac,’ and while that show gives a glimpse into my life, it touches only slightly on relationships,” she explains. “This was distinctly different, allowing me to focus solely on my romantic life.”

This new focus made Ashley feel “a little anxious.”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she shares. “But I discovered that I can be more vulnerable than I thought.”

Ashley is open about her interest in “men of different decades.”

Having previously been married to Michael Darby, who is in his 60s, their relationship unfolded on “RHOP.” They finalized their divorce in February, as reported by People, after Ashley confirmed their separation in 2022 on Bravo’s “The Daily Dish.” The couple shares two sons: Dean, 5, and Dylan, 4.

In the May 11 episode of “Bravo’s Love Hotel,” Ashley mentioned her intention to date more “age-appropriate” men after getting to know some of the younger contenders. However, she surprised the group by expressing interest in Ralph, who is in his early 60s, stating he had been on her radar “since Day 1.”

Another contestant she connected with, Wale, who is in his late 30s, was taken aback by Ashley’s revelation about Ralph.

“I don’t know how to process that,” he confessed to the other men.

In a confessional, Wale added, “I’ve never spoken to a woman who can also talk to someone in their 60s. It’s just something I’ve never encountered.”

“I’m unique, and I’m fully aware of that. It’s one of the reasons I feel more emotionally mature than men my age,” Ashley comments to TODAY.com regarding Wale’s thoughts. “Since Wale is around my age, that reaction is expected, but as he gets to know me, I hope he understands why I’m drawn to older men. I express this to him.”

“Whether he hears me and processes it is one thing, but I share my reasons. I appreciate the stability, the self-confidence, and the assurance that comes from a man with experience.”

As for her comments on the show about dating men closer to her age, Ashley sighs, saying, “It’s still a journey.”

“Men from various decades — whether they’re in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s — each present unique challenges,” she elaborates. “I’m just trying to navigate it all.”

Although Ashley’s “dating history has covered a wide age range,” she felt no pressure being the youngest woman in the house — nor as the center of attention for younger men.

“I’m into older guys, and while it’s just a three-year difference, I’ve also dated men in their early 20s,” she reflects. “It feels odd to say.” During her time on the show, her focus was more on bonding “with the girls.”

“I knew they were around the same age and didn’t want to feel out of place,” she shares. “Even with Gizelle as my close friend, I wasn’t sure how our age differences would influence the dynamics. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about.”

Prior to this experience, Ashley had met Shannon only in passing.

“I felt a bit anxious because I wasn’t sure how our personalities would mesh,” she admits.

In a recent episode, Ashley and Shannon shared an emotional moment.

Shannon acknowledged that the filming day marked a year since her DUI. She revealed this to Earl, the man she had been conversing with in the “Love Hotel,” becoming visibly emotional when he didn’t recognize how far she’d come since that incident.

At 11:59 p.m., Ashley inquired how Shannon wanted to commemorate the occasion.

Shannon said she wanted to take a selfie, recalling that a year ago, she had taken a bloodied photo of herself post-accident, which she “didn’t remember” capturing.

“And here I stand: a better and stronger person after everything that has transpired,” Shannon stated in a confessional.

After observing Shannon take the selfie, Ashley suggested taking one with a flash for better lighting.

Ashley expressed her pride in Shannon, particularly since she has also faced public struggles.

“I understood that we each had strong personalities,” she shares with TODAY.com. “There was concern about whether we would clash or compete for the attention of men. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that we cultivated a genuine sense of sisterhood and camaraderie during our time together.”

“Bravo’s Love Hotel” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the following day on Peacock.

(Bravo and Peacock are part of our parent company, NBCUniversal.)