Vanderpump Villa has returned for season 2 with all ten episodes available to binge on Hulu! Speaking exclusively to Life & Style, cast members Anthony Bar, Marciano Brunette, Grace Cottrell, Hannah Fouch, Andre Mitchell and Gabriella Sanon talk about life inside the villa, what it’s really like working under Lisa Vanderpump and how Stassi Schroeder brought her well-known charm and sass to her return to reality TV.
If you think working for Lisa, 64, is intimidating, you would be right, at least at first! The cast shared that while the reality TV veteran can be intimidating, you’d be surprised at how she really is once you get to know her. “She’s a huge restaurateur. That comes with pressure,” said Gabriella, 26. “But she’s also incredibly helpful and puts a lot of trust in us.”
Hannah and Andre were quick to agree. “She gives great advice. I need a lot of advice!” laughed Hannah, who described Lisa as “a mother figure.” Mitchell added, “She cares. And I think that’s the understatement for even that.”
A major highlight of the season is Vanderpump Rules alum Stassi’s arrival at the villa — along with husband Beau Clark and their kids, Hartford and Messer. In true Stassi fashion, she had the cast in awe from the second she stepped out of the car.
“I was ecstatic,” said Marciano, 31. “They made the experience more enlightening for us. When we didn’t have Lisa to talk to, they were like our backbone.”
Anthony gushed about Stassi’s family as well. “Stassi and her family were like a breath of fresh air. I would rather deal with them than the rest of the staff!”
This marks Stassi’s return to reality TV after her scandal in 2020, where she and costar Kristen Doute had falsely reported their Black castmate, Faith Stowers, to the police for a crime she did not commit. The incident ultimately led to her firing on VPR, but Stassi has since moved on and recaptured the hearts of the Vanderpump Villa cast and audiences.
“She’s still sassy,” said Andre, “but she’s also evolved. They’re like extended family now.”
Some of the cast revealed they didn’t even know her before filming. “I didn’t really know who she was,” said Gabriella. “Now, I admire her. It was nice to have someone right there next to me that I could learn from.”
This season promises not just culinary challenges and VIP guests — but emotional fireworks. A $30,000 bonus on the line fuels both camaraderie and conflict. As Grace, 24, teased, “People definitely got busy this summer.”
Lisa Vanderpump and Stassi Schroeder
Lisa herself described the season as Vanderpump Matchmaker, hinting at a blossoming web of relationships among the staff. “Let’s just say there’s a lot of new relationships in the house,” Hannah said with a laugh.
As for drama? The cast isn’t putting up with much! “We’re nipping shit in the bud this season,” said Gabriella. Andre added that viewers can expect “raw emotions” throughout.
Still, beneath the clashes and confessions is a desire for growth. “We try and come in as a family and leave as a family,” Marciano said. “Families fight, but families also forgive.”
