By Xabiso Ngqabe18 January 2022

Jojo Robinson: The Real Housewives of Durban Season 2

News of The Real Housewives of Durban receiving a facelift in the form of a group of new cast members is the type of content we’ve been waiting for. And no one is more excited to let us into her life than Jojo Robinson!

Watch: Jojo Robinson The Real Housewives of Durban Best Moments!

Artist and tattoo fanatic Jojo is married to SA kickboxing champion Calven Robinson and is the mother of six-year-old Rocco.

Here’s what she had to say about her experience of being on RHOD Season 2.

What was it like filming the reality series?

It’s very different from what I initially thought it was going to be. It’s a lot of work: it involves a lot of late nights and early mornings. You’ll go from one side of Durban to the next on the same day. I’ve found that it’s a big commitment to be part of the show but it’s also been lots of fun. It’s been one hell of a ride!

What was your husband’s reaction to the news that you’d be joining the show?

My husband has been very supportive in everything I do. It took quite a long time for confirmation to come through: it was just sort of hanging in the balance and it was a situation of “Am I gonna get it or not?”. The whole time he was supportive and he just said that if it was something that I wanted to do, he’d be there for me.

My family is supportive. I haven’t really had anyone in my personal life who’s been against the show. It’s more the outsiders and people who aren’t too close to me that had bad things to say.

I think the viewers are going to see that I battled in the first episode. It was a combination of being nervous and because it was so new. So my personality was still very quiet and sharp.

As the episodes progress, I’ve got more comfortable and my personality is evolving into who I am.

I battled at first to justify how much I should give. Like, how much should I show? How much should I tell? Can I be myself? Will people like me? I was very worried to be myself because I thought, “Okay, maybe I’m going to be too much”, but then before episode 2 came along I decided to relax and allow myself to be me. That was the most challenging. I mean, it’s easy to be you in the comfort of your own home but to be you in the comfort of your home with 50 people around you, filming, is difficult. I think adjusting to the mentality of thinking that the cameras aren’t there and just trying to be myself was difficult.

So what does Jojo bring to this new season?

I’m bringing the realness! I say it as it is.

And I know the production team would laugh at my scenes because what I say ends up coming out really funny. I say things without meaning it, but then it comes out funny. So I think I bring a bit of humour as well.

I hope viewers can see the fun side of me. I’m sassy, very sassy, in a good way. I can have a fight with you and carry on, but the next day I will be over it and I’m not going to hold a grudge. I refuse to take sh*t, so if you give me sh*t I will dish it back to you. But if you apologise and it’s done, we can be friends again and we move on.

I’m also bringing a bit of luxury in as well. I have a beautiful life and a beautiful home but I think I am very different from the average person in my situation. Most people associate housewives with being wealthy and snooty but I’m coming in as an average Jojo. I’ve got the money and lifestyle and everything that goes with it, but I’m very down to earth.

I’m also younger than most people who have this lifestyle. I mean, most people who come to my house think that it’s my parents’ house.

I don’t know a lot of women who have the lifestyle I have and are heavily tattooed. People always assume people with tattoos have nothing. So I’m hoping to change people’s perspectives of those who are different from them, that we aren’t necessarily what you think we are. So I hope people can also just accept me for who I am and see that the tattoos don’t define who I am.

Who would you say you’ve learned a lot from and why?

I feel like I’ve learned a little bit from each lady because I think each woman brings something different to the table.

For instance, before I came on to the show, I had watched Season 1 and I was actually very nervous to meet LaConco. I know she’s a very pure woman and I thought maybe, me being so tattooed, she might not like me, and it was the total opposite. We’ve actually had such a bond and I just get on with her incredibly well. She’s never judged me; she’s so supportive and so loving.

Then Annie and her hard work – that woman just believes in hard work! I’m lucky I don’t have to work while doing the show. So I can’t understand how Annie is able to manage multiple businesses and still do the show. It’s inspirational that she’s able to do that.

And Sorisha and her big heart – she’s got the biggest heart in the whole world. And Londie with her singing – she’s such a beautiful family person and she’s very talented. And Nonku, I mean we have a similar past and I just admire her strength and how she dealt with it. She’s such a strong, independent woman.

Is there any lady that you didn’t gel with?

(Laughs) Not that I didn’t gel with.

Nonku and I have had a bit of a run in but we’ve resolved that issue already. Well, I feel like it’s resolved. Whether or not it’s resolved in her head, I don’t know.

She’s a strong personality. Sometimes it’s her way or the highway but I understand that because of where she comes from; she’s just very strong and independent. But we’ve got past the issue, I hope.

And we’ve connected on the fact that we have a similar past.

Have there been any cringe-worthy or unexpected moments from the show so far?

(Laughs) I can’t give away some of the secrets. There have been some cringe moments; some “Oh my word, she didn’t say that” moments. There was actually something that Londie said that will come out in the show. It’s a bit cringe, a bit funny, a bit shocking. And I mean, you know Nonku and the drama. She has been consistent in bringing the drama! I think viewers can expect a lot of drama and lots of fun. It’s definitely going to be a good season.

Any advice for women who are dreaming of becoming Housewives themselves?

Well, if you have a job, you need to put the job on hold because trying to work, do the show and have a family life is a lot altogether. If you can just focus on the show and family, the work situation for a few months will be busy. You need to be ready for the long nights and early mornings. You need a lot of patience if you’re going to do this show.

Catch Jojo on the new season of The Real Housewives of Durban from 28 January 2022, with new episodes following every Friday.

Want more Housewives? Showmax is also in production on the first season of The Real Housewives of Lagos, the 16th international version of The Real Housewives format and the third to be adapted in Africa.