The Real Housewives of Miami Season 7 Welcomes New Cast Member Stephanie Shojaee: ‘A Rollercoaster Ride’

There’s a new Housewife in Miami!

On Saturday, November 23, Bravo announced that new Housewife Stephanie Shojaee is joining The Real Housewives of Miami cast, which includes Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Alexia Nepola, Larsa Pippen, Adriana de Moura, Marysol Patton, and Kiki Barth.

Shojaee, a Miami native and real estate developer, told Bravo’s The Daily Dish that her experience so far has been a “rollercoaster ride.”

“Oh my gosh, I did not know what to expect going into this, but I’m blown away in every sense of the word,” she said.

Shojaee described herself as a “trailblazer in everything she does. “All my decisions and all of my choices are always surprising everybody.”

When she was offered the chance to join the cast, she said, “I was like, ‘I think I just have to take it. I think the timing feels right and here I am.’ And what better way to show who I really am than to do it on The [Real] Housewives of Miami.”

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She shared a taste of what’s to come, calling herself a “very tough cookie, but I’m a delicious cookie.”

“I’m the twist that no one’s prepared for in every setting: whether it’s in the office, whether it’s at a family dinner, wherever it is. Nobody really expects what I’m gonna say, and I’m just excited to show how much happiness and excitement.”

It was announced in September that cameras were back up and rolling for season 7.

The same month, Dr. Nicole Martin shared with PEOPLE that she experiencing severe postpartum anxiety in the wake of the birth of her daughter Genevieve and was stepping back from the series.

“I just don’t think that I am in the headspace to film a full season of reality TV,” the 40-year-old board-certified anesthesiologist said. “I love a lot of the girls that I film with, but we’ve got some strong characters and there can be a lot of tense drama, not to mention the long hours. It’s a lot to juggle and I’m shifting my priorities.”

She added, “That’s not what’s best for me at this time. I need to put myself and my family first right now.”

The news of Shojaee joining the crew occurred during Bravo Fan Fest in Miami. Her new costars Nepola and Patton were on-hand and teased what’s to come this season. According to Patton during the “Bravo Besties” panel, she’s getting along with de Moura this season and getting closer with Lemigova too.

According to Nepola and Patton, filming is still underway. During the panel, they shared that they’re preparing to jet off for a cast trip after Fan Fest ends.

Past seasons of The Real Housewives of Miami is streaming on Peacock.