Ashley Iaconetti Opens Up About Motherhood, Marriage, and Life on Reality TV
Ashley Iaconetti is getting real about the challenges of balancing motherhood with a career in reality television. The 38-year-old Bravo star, known for Real Housewives of Rhode Island, shared her thoughts on the latest episode of The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast, co-hosted with her husband, Ben Higgins.
Iaconetti revealed that the past few weeks have been overwhelming for both of them, saying she felt “on the verge of a mental breakdown.” Higgins asked about a recent “big fight” on RHOI involving Iaconetti, Rosie DiMare, and Kelsey Swanson, which left her feeling “swirling.”
“It’s really hard to be a parent while going through all of this,” she admitted. “And now we can say filming for season 2, bracing for that filming. I can’t do it all myself anymore.”
Iaconetti and her husband, Jared Haibon, first met on season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise in 2015 and tied the knot in August 2019. Together, they are raising two sons — Dawson, 4, and Hayden, 1½.
Higgins asked if she ever regretted showing her life on television, noting that her current fame might eclipse her original Bachelor Nation story. Iaconetti said she doesn’t feel her Bachelor history would ever be overshadowed, but she acknowledged that she has changed since those early reality TV days.
“That was me at my finest reality TV,” she said. “I totally am a totally different person emotionally now. I only stressed out about romance.” She explained that now, she doesn’t get caught up in “fights over guys” or minor friend drama. Higgins noted that her calm approach is likely due to her “peaceful, loving house” and her family life.
“It’s getting older for sure,” Iaconetti reflected. “Perspective and experience make everything feel less intense. I’m less ignited.”
She also recently opened up about motherhood on Instagram, sharing that she has “no shame” in using a toddler leash to keep her kids safe. In early April, while Haibon visited a friend in a Boston hospital, she decided to take Dawson and Hayden to the Boston Aquarium. A smiling selfie captured the outing, along with a photo showing Hayden attached to a plastic leash connecting him to his mom.
“I have no shame in my toddler leash game,” Iaconetti wrote, adding a note of practical humor: “Dawson has an AirTag on. #safetyovershame.”
Between juggling reality TV, parenting, and family life, Iaconetti’s honesty offers a relatable look at the challenges of modern motherhood — and the wisdom that comes with experience.