Jessel Taank and Her Husband Dominate the Spotlight on Season 14 of ‘RHONY’
Jessel Taank and her husband shined as breakout stars on Season 14 of RHONY, captivating viewers with their unbothered attitude amidst marriage rumors and questioning
Article Summary
Jessel Taank, a new housewife on RHONY, had a diverse cultural background and a posh British upbringing, making her one of the more exotic cast members.
Despite facing allegations regarding her husband's faithfulness and enduring unwarranted speculation concerning her marriage, Jessel remained unperturbed, steadfastly maintaining a robust bond with her spouse through lighthearted jests and playful exchanges.
Jessel displayed a remarkable openness on the show, willingly discussing a wide range of personal subjects including her health challenges, intimate life, the difficulties of motherhood, and the hardships she faced as a foreigner residing in the United States. Despite facing criticism stemming from cultural differences, she unwaveringly stayed genuine and true to her authentic self.
In Season 14 of Real Housewives of New York, six new housewives joined the franchise, making it a camera test for them. This cast group is arguably one of the most diverse in the Housewives franchise, with women who have a rich cultural background from their immigrant families. Jessel Taank stands out as one of the more unique members, with her Indian heritage and posh British upbringing. Despite facing allegations of her husband's infidelity, Jessel handled them gracefully and managed to avoid any negative consequences. With her British humor, Jessel and her husband remained unfazed throughout.
Typically, new housewives tend to be guarded about their personal experiences when first appearing on television. Topics like past abuse, childhood trauma, family issues, and insecurities are often off-limits. However, Jessel was an open book, openly discussing her health issues, intimate life, and struggles as a mother. She appears to have nothing to hide, despite the early doubts about her marriage due to her revelation that she and her husband had not been intimate for over a year since the birth of their twin boys.
This came as a shock and led to unfair speculation from other women, who used it as a way to question Jessel's marriage to Pavit Randhawa. However, this did not faze the couple. They have a unique relationship that thrives on innocent jokes and playful banter. Jessel expressed her carefree attitude towards the situation in one of her confessionals, stating that what they were going through was not new or scandalous, but rather a normal part of their relationship. At first glance, Jessel's bio could be mistaken for that of a second-generation Indian who grew up in the UK.
She has always had a strong sense of fashion and was mentored by her family's business. Before having her twins, she lived in LA with her husband, Pavit. Prior to their marriage, Jessel and Pavit were roommates and had decided to keep things platonic. They met at a bar through mutual acquaintances and maintained a long-distance relationship while Jessel worked for Michael Kors in New York and Pavit attended business school in Michigan. The couple tied the knot in Mexico nine years ago.
Jessel's Personality Didn't Land Well With All 'RHONY' Fans
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Image via Bravo
At first glance, Jessell appeared to be privileged and perhaps a bit spoiled. She hesitated to accept Jenna Lyon's lingerie gift during Erin's Hamptons sleepover, claiming that she resembled a "Christmas tree" and choosing not to join in the fun with the others. Nevertheless, she decided to stay. Later on, Jessell expressed her apologies to Jenna for her initial reaction, explaining that she simply didn't feel comfortable. In a more gentle manner, Jessell later addressed her behavior and conveyed her remorse. Additionally, as a foreigner, Jessell opened up about feeling disconnected from some of the comments made by the audience.
Earlier this year, she expressed to Variety that there was a significant cultural gap. Despite having lived in the United States for a considerable amount of time, she still maintains her sarcastic and dry sense of humor. However, she has noticed that not everyone shares her comedic tastes, which has led to some misunderstandings. One specific instance was in the first episode, where she humorously commented on the messiness of the table while interacting with Pavit and her mother. Unfortunately, some individuals interpreted this as a sign of marital discord, highlighting the importance of delivery and tone in communication. She believes that if a person raised in the States had made the same comment, it would have been received more positively.
Jessel was notably open throughout the season, even joking about her and Pavit being too busy for intimacy. Additionally, she candidly discussed her struggle with fertility issues and her journey with IVF from episodes one to 14.
Her uncle's alcoholism.
Her sexless marriage until she and Pavit made a commitment.
Her privileged life back in the UK.
Life in LA before moving to New York.
Being roommates for a long time with Pavit before they were husband and wife.
How having twins is a blessing but can also be a full-time job.
The hardships that come with being a foreigner in the US.
Jessel's Husband Is Basically Another Housewife
Image via Bravo
Halfway through the season, Jessel dropped a bombshell: her husband Pavit had to travel to Vietnam for a business trip, of all places. He insisted it wouldn't spoil the thrill of flying first class and indulging in Vietnamese cuisine. Predictably, everyone raised an eyebrow. Erin, in particular, found the timing peculiar, hinting that Pavit might be having an extramarital affair, especially considering the lack of intimacy between him and Jessel. Surprisingly, Jessel remained remarkably composed and brushed off the comments. By the time of the reunion in season 14, Jessel stood her ground and allowed her husband to fend off the petty accusations on her behalf.
Sai and Erin were the first to inquire. They had a FaceTime session where they discussed how strange it was for Pavit to suddenly leave for Vietnam. During a double date, Jessel brought Pavit along to a restaurant with a mini golf course. Sai's husband found it hard to believe. In order to validate Sai's opinion of Pavit's trip, he called her and asked how she would feel if he took her to Vietnam. Her response, "Who are you f-ing?" caused everyone to burst into laughter. When they confronted Jessel about her thoughts on Pavit's trip, she remained calm and composed. She explained that the reason for his frequent 24-hour trips was his love for bánh mì sandwiches and Vietnamese cuisine. Additionally, the long flights allowed him to accumulate credit points for future flying purposes.
Despite Jessel's explanation, they all remained skeptical. Social media was filled with jokes as well. One fan's post read, "Pavit isn't going to Vietnam just for a sandwich." Despite their seemingly perfect relationship, Pavit embarked on his journey alone, ensuring his safety by documenting it on Instagram. His posts became progressively sassy as he showcased his sandwiches and first-class meals, almost making it seem like the food was the main focus of the trip. It later became apparent that this was his humorous response to the hateful comments.
And he made some playful remarks about Erin and Sai's cheese plate issue. In his Instagram travel summary, he expressed high praise for Cathay Pacific Airlines and the food in Vietnam: "The highly anticipated recap of my Vietnam trip is finally here. Like Jessel, I kept detailed notes. The adventure began with a luxurious flight in Cathay Pacific's first-class, where I enjoyed champagne and caviar served with an exquisite mother-of-pearl spoon. No Pringles to be found here! Dinner was a delightful affair, starting with a soup appetizer, followed by a delectable main course, and topped off with a tantalizing cheese plate. Who doesn't love cheese, right?... Upon landing in Vietnam, I embarked on a mission to savor as much food as possible. Yes, folks, I'm talking about dishes that will make your taste buds dance. Nothing else matters here. With only about 30 hours to spare, I wasted no time in indulging myself with two heavenly bánh mì sandwiches from my first stop. The first was a classic mixed-meat bánh mì, and the second featured succulent pork meatballs. Forget about it, NYC! These flavors are out of this world. Vietnam, particularly Saigon, is truly a paradise for street food lovers like me. And the joy of exploring... Oh, it's simply unmatched."
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Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Jessel Taank and her husband's portrayal on Season 14 of RHONY. On the one hand, I admire Jessel's confidence and her ability to stay unbothered amidst the marriage rumors and questioning. She has a great sense of humor and seems to have a strong, genuine bond with her husband. On the other hand, I find it hard to relate to Jessel's privileged upbringing and her seemingly dismissive attitude towards some of the other housewives.
Overall, I think Jessel is a complex and interesting character, and I'm curious to see how her story unfolds on RHONY. I appreciate her openness about her personal life, and I think she brings a unique perspective to the show. However, I also think she could benefit from being a bit more self-aware and understanding of the other housewives' perspectives.
