‘Southern Charm’ star Reba Bonaparte talks about new spin-off, Poutine’s plot and how fleeing Iran shaped her life

She owns Charleston’s hottest spots, runs a tight-knit staff of ‘it kids’, has a beautiful family and is currently starring in her own ‘Southern Charm’ spin-off series ‘Southern Hospitality’. . Popular “Vanderpump Rules”.

And it’s the Canadian chapter of her globetrotting youth, born in India and raised in Winnipeg and Bolivia, where Reba Bonaparte credits much of her success.

“My glamor side is Bolivian and Persian – I came out of the womb with heels and painted nails!” the 43-year-old entrepreneur said ahead of Monday’s “Southern Hospitality” premiere at Slice. , laugh while chatting with ET Canada. “But my political and social side is very Canadian. I grew up in so many different cultures, religions and diversity that I get along with all kinds of people.”

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It’s that social friendliness that helped Reba and her husband, Lamar, build a restaurant empire along Charleston’s famous King Street. There, they run places such as Bourbon N’ Bubbles, Metz, and Republic Garden & Lounge, “the crown jewel of their kingdom.” The focus of “southern hospitality”.

But while she may be the best in the local nightlife scene, eating out at a fancy restaurant, let alone running four restaurants, is far from Reba’s mind growing up. was. Instead, she reminded each day how lucky she was to enjoy a meal in peace.

Reluctant to start a family amid political and social unrest, Reba’s parents left Iran in 1978 and welcomed her to Trivandrum, India, where they were engaged in social development. After the Iranian Revolution she decided not to return to Iran and they eventually built a new life in Winnipeg.

“Everything that has shaped my life is based on our leaving for the Islamic regime,” says Reba, who spent time in Bolivia due to his father’s work. “Every time I sit down to eat, I’m like, ‘You’re lucky to be here. Your cousins ​​are still there. Or I didn’t know what it smelled like, it shaped every fiber of me knowing that I had family there instead of being there.

“It was hard to see what was going on,” she adds of the current unrest and turmoil in Iran, which saw an anti-government protester sentenced to death. I was lying in my bed crying and thinking, ‘What if I could be with my son?’ Many of us fled, but many of us didn’t.15,000 students were executed. and killing children, this is a big problem, but this has been going on for over 40 years, and that Islamic system is not Islam – it hides under the cloak of religion. Terrible people.”

Reba’s family escaped such horrors but kept Persian culture alive. It’s those roots that ignited her passion for cooking and hospitality. Her weekends were spent waking up at 7am to help her mother cook “beautiful food” for her Mehmooni (Persian gatherings). Today, Leva speaks Persian and continues to celebrate her Nowruz (Iranian New Year) with her Lamar and her four-year-old son. Lamar Jr.

Leva admits that coming to Charleston for the first time from “very diverse Canada” was a culture shock and she wasn’t sure where she fit in. They bought a property together. Following their wedding in 2013, they opened Republic, and after five years of “hugging” and the opening of her three more restaurants, Reba found the perfect spot in Charleston.

She also learned to juggle motherhood and business. “Being a career woman, I thought I could have a nanny by day and a nurse by night,” she says. “Then I met my child and said, ‘Nothing else matters.’ I was the front line in the republic, so it was hard to step back and let her husband do more, but I [wanted to] With my child, I was a full mother for the first two years, but I slowly came back. “

“But marriage can be tricky,” she continues. “I always say, ‘Marriage, work together and you’ll grow old like a dog.’ You have to learn boundaries and when to pick fights.”

Ultimately, she believes it’s the couple’s joyful company that makes Republic successful, and that’s reflected in the staff fans know. Southern hospitality.

“People can party anywhere, but the reason we were successful was because I was at a pretty good time. People came to hang out with me and Lamar.” It wasn’t like cows jumped over the moon after drinking, but we always try to make sure everyone has a good time and that’s the kind of people I hired. , charming, beautiful, a little bit naughty, and with big personalities, they’re the children of ‘it’.

Such cast elements sound reminiscent of “Vanderpump Rules”,, Leva’s favorite “Southern Hospitality,” she points out, is more of a cross between a real estate show (“In this business, if it doesn’t sell, you can’t stay”) and “Below Deck.”

“After 10pm it’s chaos,” she explains. “A hundred people drinking outdoors, carrying their egos and expecting a five-star night, while someone hangs by a chandelier. It’s like the proverbial perfect hostess. Like a beautiful swan on the water.” You can see it, but it’s paddling like crazy under water.”

Despite the turmoil, Leva hasn’t ruled out opening more restaurants, with a Canadian restaurant high on her wish list.

“I’ve been trying to convince my husband that I need a poutine spot,” she said, adding that she wants to host Justin Trudeau on The Republic. Let’s go! A place that only serves beer and poutine is heaven!”

“Southern Hospitality” premieres on Slice on November 28 at 9 PM ET and is available to stream on STACKTV.