How Season 3 of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ Takes the Drama to New Territories

This is especially true for Carolyna Hutchings, a beloved cast member who left after a tumultuous first season and whose return has been highly anticipated. "When I left the show, I realized that being true to yourself is the best way to live," Hutchings tells OkayAfrica. In her time away, Hutchings says she gained a deeper perspective on how the show works and why she, with a background in acting, was struggling with being herself. Most importantly, Hutchings says she realized how inspiring she had become to many viewers, even without meaning to.

"Taking a step back from the show opened my eyes to how much of an inspiration I am," she says. "When I left, many women came into my DM to share how much I inspire them by standing up for myself regardless of my circumstances, which gave me the courage to return."

New faces

Joining this new season of the RHOL (now streaming on Showmax) are Sophia Momodu, an entrepreneur and social influencer; Dabota Lawson, a cosmetics mogul; and Adeola C. Adeyemi, a beauty entrepreneur. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, these women share a common goal of joining a franchise known for revealing a new and sometimes unflattering side of well-known personalities in the Nigerian pop culture scene. Their decision to participate stems from a desire to try something different and to expand their rapidly growing social capital.

"It was an opportunity for me to showcase myself as a strong woman who is business-oriented and values family," Lawson says of the reason why she joined the show, adding, "Also [as] a social experiment to see how far I can go outside my comfort zone, especially with [other] strong-willed women with big personalities."

On friendships

A major plotline and source of unending brawls in the RHOL series is the friendship and the pursuit of community. It's why Hutchings left after the first season and can be correctly assumed to be one of the reasons three original cast members, actress Iyabo Ojo, entrepreneur Chioma Ikoku and Fashion Designer Toyin Lawani, exited the show after their second season.

For Lawson, her experience on the RHOL offered her a fresh perspective on friendship, reinforcing the idea that not everyone can be trusted and that forgiveness takes time. "What I came to experience with the ladies is that people are stuck in their ways," Lawson tells OkayAfrica. "Building a community of people, especially women, requires a lot of patience and empathy."

The management of trust — who to give it to and how to withhold it — is also an important lesson Hutchings has learned on the show. "The show has taught me that the only person that can hurt you is the person closest to you."

This season, Hutchings says viewers will see her vulnerability alongside her true self. "I've healed from many things, so you'll see a full-blown woman who knows herself and her boundaries. But this is [also] me being a happy-go-lucky woman and enjoying the beauty of the world."

Viewers can expect to see a jovial, professional and stylish side of Adeyemi. "I am just chilling, minding my business and having fun," she says.

As for Lawson, she will reveal her more unpredictable side. "They'll see a goofy side of me because many people on social media often see me in work mode."