Lindsay Hubbard has a question about the mood for her StyleCaster photo shoot. “Is it soft? Is it hard? Is it pregnant and now I’m not? Is it I’m two months postpartum?”
Hubbard’s journey as a first-time mother quickly becomes a theme on our photo shoot set. By 11 a.m., she had already swapped out her “leaky, milky” bra for a fresh one. She brought a pair of portable wearable breast pumps to put on immediately after the shoot. And she wore at least three pieces of jewelry with her baby’s name on them. “My life is so different, it’s insane,” she says.
Hubbard—who’s best known as an original cast member on Bravo’s reality TV show Summer House—welcomed her first child, a daughter named Gemma, with her boyfriend, Turner Kufe, in December. She announced her pregnancy in July, almost exactly a year after her ex-fiancé and Summer House costar, Carl Radke, ended their engagement two months before their wedding date. Their breakup was filmed for millions to watch in the Season 8 finale of Summer House, with viewers wondering how the next season would play out with both Hubbard and Radke a part of the cast—not to mention living under the same roof.
As Summer House Season 9 premieres February 12, Hubbard, who was 18 weeks pregnant at the start of filming, suggests Bravo fans will see a new side to her this season—despite her being at the center of the drama last season. “This is the first season in a couple of years where I’m not in any big fight with somebody,” she says. “Last year was a very difficult season because it was the ending of my relationship with Carl. This season, I’m happy I get to finally show a different side of my personality that has always been there but I haven’t necessarily been able to show because I’m so busy playing defense. I’m excited for viewers to be able to see the funny, goofy, silly, giggly side of me.”
Let’s start at the beginning. Did you always know you wanted to come back for Season 9?
It’s always a yes. It still is always a yes, no matter what. I’m a yes person. Why would I not come back? Because my ex is in the house? No, he’s boring. I’m fun.
Congratulations on your new baby daughter, Gemma. The Season 9 premiere sees you announce your pregnancy to the cast. I know the season just started, but have you thought about how Season 10 would work now that you have a daughter?
Obviously, I’m not gonna live in the summer house with my baby every weekend. Because that would be fucking crazy. We did a lot of filming in the city the last couple of years. I live in the city. I’m also planning on being in the Hamptons. Maybe I’m not living at the house every weekend, but let’s stop by the house or let’s meet up at the beach or let’s go to the park in the city. That’s the natural progression of how life goes in New York. I’m not the first person who’s had a baby who used to be in the crazy party share house. I’m just the first one on the show who has done that.
Well, a lot of fans want you to join The Real Housewives of New York City. Have there been any conversations about that?
It is top of mind for a lot of people at Bravo right now what to do with me. I’ll leave it at that.
Breakups are hard, no matter which way you slice it, but to do it publicly is even more difficult.
The Season 9 premiere also sees you talk more about your boyfriend and daughter’s father, Turner. Were there any conversations for him to film this season?
We started dating a year ago. At that point, you’re trying to see if you like each other without the world having an opinion. When the summer hit, of course, we started having conversations as I went into filming about whether he would participate. The response was he’s a very private person. He has a job in finance. We’ve always had this thing with New York reality TV shows. A lot of guys in finance sign these non-publicity clauses in their contracts that prevent them from being able to do press and TV shows.
Would you want to film with him?
This is an interesting, unique dynamic I’ve never experienced before. I’ve dabbled in the reality TV guy world. It has not gone over well. I have dated guys who I had to worry about their intentions and if they were using me for fame, social climbing, or clout chasing. This is the first time I’ve ever dated someone who is like, ‘No, I am just private.’ It’s challenging because I’m a public person, and I get a lot of joy out of openly sharing my life with the world because I know I can help other women.
You previously said you weren’t planning to get married or engaged anytime soon. Are you still feeling the same way?
I’m just worried about poopy diapers and having spit-up on me at all times. I’m adjusting to becoming a new mom right now. Engagement and marriage are absolutely even further down the list at this point. We have a new baby. There’s a lot of learning, newness, and adjustments. I am postpartum, and my hormones are shifting. My body is changing. I’m trying to get used to being a mom, first and foremost, more than anything else.
So it’s safe to say you’re not thinking of baby number two.
Give me a little bit. I live in New York City, and it’s very expensive here. Also I’m still just enjoying my baby right now. It’s been less than two months. So I’m not thinking about another kid right now. I’m so in love with Gemma and going through all of these new experiences with her every single day—hitting all the milestones and soaking up all the love, smiles, playtime cries, laughs, and everything that comes along with being a new mom.
The Season 9 premiere also saw some of your castmates comment on how soon you got pregnant after your breakup with your ex-fiancé, Carl Radke. What was your reaction to that?
That was one thing I couldn’t really control. It was definitely sooner than I had wanted to get pregnant in a new relationship, but there we were.
Your Summer House costar, Paige DeSorbo, announced her breakup from her boyfriend, Craig Conover, a couple months ago. What was your reaction, and were you surprised?
I don’t know if I can say I was surprised because there has always been the back and forth of where they would live and if someone would move. Long distance only works for so long, but then decisions need to be made. I really feel bad for anyone who has to go through a public breakup. No matter who was right or wrong in the situation, it’s a tough time. Breakups are hard, no matter which way you slice it, but to do it publicly is even more difficult. Obviously, there’s been a lot of information that has come out and rumors swirling around, but I’ve known Paige for so long, and I feel like she is moving forward in the way that works best for her, as she should.
It is top of mind for a lot of people at Bravo right now what to do with me.
What was your reaction to Craig’s Southern Charm costar, Austen Kroll, seemingly claiming Paige already has a new boyfriend on Watch What Happens Live?
We filmed all summer. Then this girl launched straight into her podcast tour for four months from September through December. She was gone every single week. She doesn’t have time. She’s already struggling making time for her current boyfriend. She doesn’t have time to then go have another boyfriend. I don’t believe any of that. I don’t know what Austen said exactly, but Austen has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, and I know that from personal experience. And he had an audience in front of him while he did it.
You recently gave an interview where you discussed a rumor that Dorinda Medley from The Real Housewives of New York City leaked your pregnancy. Have you and Dorinda talked at all since that interview came out?
Someone asked me if they could give my phone number to Dorinda. This was back in the summertime. I said, “Yes, absolutely. If Dorinda is asking for my number, give it to her.” And then she never called. I just don’t know why she was talking about me so much. There were all these rumors about Traitors, and I’m not going to comment on if they were true or not, but her name was wrapped up in those rumors. There’s got to be a reason for that. Simultaneously, I was hearing from a lot of other people about this party she attended, and my name was coming out of her mouth nonstop.
Speaking of Traitors, what are your thoughts on how your Summer House costar Ciara Miller is doing this season?
Ciara has a good strategy. She’s a sneaky good player that no one suspects.
Would you ever do Traitors in the future?
It depends if I can bring my baby. I’m still breastfeeding and pumping. I know around the time they film. I also know what’s involved. I won’t tell you how I know those things, but it is difficult. There’s a lot of isolation and zero communication. That does prove to be difficult with a newborn.
Would you be a traitor or a faithful?
I have a hard time lying. The only time I’ve ever been good at lying in my life was hiding my pregnancy. But any other time, I wear my emotion on my face, so if I’m lying, I’ll just wind up slipping up if I’m a traitor. I would have to be a faithful, but people would think I’m a traitor, because I have an outspoken personality.
Photographer: George Chinsee
Art Director: Stephanie Cui
Makeup: Megan Lanoux