In its nearly 20 years on air, Bravo's Real Housewives franchise has been everywhere from the pristine coasts of Orange County to the glittering high-rises of Miami and the gilded penthouses of Manhattan. So when the juggernaut landed in Salt Lake City in 2020, the first question on many viewers' minds was: Why? No shade to the Beehive State, but what could these landlocked Mormons possibly have on the former soap stars of Beverly Hills and the walking catchphrase factories of Atlanta? The answer, as it turns out, is everything. From the moment in episode 1 when Mary Cosby said Jen Shah smelled "like hospital," it was clear that The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Bravo, streams next day on Peacock) was a different beast: a heady mix of drama, religion and federal crime that is unmatched in both hilarity and heart. For every moment of pure reality-TV id - Angie Katsanevas calling Meredith Marks a "trampoline with eyes," for example - the women of the Mountain West have countered with tear-jerking scenes that are relatable even if you've never lost a $60,000 ring in an airport bathroom. "The snow, Mormonism and their unique history with each other make them their own universe," Bravo bigwig and Housewife whisperer Andy Cohen tells Us. He calls the RHOSLC season 4 finale, in which Heather Gay unmasked erstwhile costar Monica Garcia as the mastermind behind gossip account Reality Von Tease, "one of the best single episodes of television in Bravo history." For our annual Reality Stars of the Year issue, we asked all seven current SLC stars - OGs Lisa Barlow, Cosby, Gay, Marks and Whitney Rose, plus newer additions Katsanevas and Bronwyn Newport - to do a sizzling parody of Vanity Fair's iconic 2005 Desperate Housewives cover and spoke to them about what it's like to be part of the best Housewives iteration on offer. (Mary opted to wear a dress, explaining she has a "moral compass" that leads her and doesn't want her "cheeks out," as she needs to set an example for "younger girls" in her church.) Giants Among Women PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD KIRKLAND. PROP STYLING BY HILLARY KIRKLAND. SHOT AT WEST MAIN STUDIO, SLC. CGI BACKGROUND BY JUSTIN METZ. On a network full of characters, the ladies of SLC are in a class by themselves. Mary Cosby: Salt Lake City is kind of just a place, but we put it on the map. Lisa Barlow: We all have very strong personalities, and we're all very different. I think we fill voids for each other in different ways. As ugly as things can get, we still, at the end of the day, remember we're friends and want each other to win. We keep choosing each other, even when it's ugly, even when it looks like you can't recover. Heather Gay: We go low, but we bounce back high, and we all have really good senses of humor and enjoy each other when we're not fighting. Whitney Rose: You may not always see it, but we really do love each other, and there's a sisterhood that's unexplained. Even when someone's coming after you or you're going after someone else, there is an indescribable bond. Meredith Marks: We've been through so much together that even when I'm really angry at some of them, which happens a lot, I still care. If any of them called me, even at my worst point with them, and said, "I need help," I would be there in two seconds. I think that's true of all of us. Meredith Marks Credits 'RHOSLC' With Saving Her Marriage to Husband Seth Going the Distance Not everyone has what it takes to make it multiple seasons, but SLC has had far less cast turnover than other cities. What's the secret to their staying power? Meredith: It's really just mainly being true to yourself, whoever that may be, and having your own take on things, your own authenticity. Heather: Someone who's not afraid to show up, is exactly who they are and expresses their opinion and doesn't cower when challenged, [who's] able to represent what they think and believe in a group of really powerful women when the stakes are high and the tempers are heated. Lisa: I just like to be myself 100 percent. I don't like people telling me what to do, how to change. It's what makes me a good Housewife, because I am not malleable to opinions and other things. If I do something, it's authentic. If I have compassion, it's authentic. If I am your friend, it's authentic. Angie Katsanevas: When the viewers are able to see your real, authentic self through the TV, when they can feel that and really know you, if it's able to translate onto television, I think you're winning. Mary: It's when you're able to open up your door, your home, and invite people in and really tell people the truth of what you're going through behind the scenes. When you offer that, I think it creates a bond. Whitney: Well, since no one else is willing to say it, you have to be wild. You have to be fun. You have to be willing to drink maybe a little too much and have a sharp tongue. If you dish it, you better be able to take it. Money definitely helps, because design