
AG: The director of the show had heard about me through the grapevine, and reached out to me through Facebook. I was reluctant at first, but after some coaxing I decided to take a chance, and here I am!
TT: How long have you known Reza? Where did you meet? Tell me something juicy about him!
AG: I have known Reza for years! We met through a mutual friend and felt an immediate connection. He is a loyal friend and we have each other’s backs. As for juicy.. I PLEAD THE 5th! LOL! I will tell you that Reza is super ticklish, and becomes powerless if you get him in the right spot!
AG: I’m currently in transition right now. Up until recently I was working for an humanitarian organization called OmniPeace. My background is in fashion merchandising and that’s the environment I am most comfortable in. I also have a paralegal degree. I do occasional modeling work when I’m not training as a triathlete. I am also currently working on a side business with my little sister, but it’s still a secret–details soon to come! In a nutshell, I know how to keep busy.
TT: What is your religious background?
AG: I am Sephardic Jewish which means that I come from a long line of Middle Eastern Iranian Jews. Some of our customs are different from European Jews, including foods, prayers and some of the ways that we observe holidays.

AG: Having been born and raised in Ohio, I did not attend high school or college with the group, so I definitely don’t have the kind of history that, for example, Reza and MJ have together. I would say my relationship was overall good with the cast before going to Vegas although I definitely felt the closest to Reza. I have spent the most time with Reza and through him have spent time also with MJ . My relationship with GG is the most recent.
TT: Were you surprised by GG being so confrontational with you? As a viewer it seemed to me that GG felt you had done something to threaten her in some way. I understand we don’t see everything. Was there anything that you feel you may have said or done to cause the argument? GG did not seem to own up to the things we witnessed her saying and doing on the show and yet you accepted her non-apology and gave her a clean slate. What is your relationship like now?


AG: I LOOOVE the stache, as does the rest of world. It gives him character and suits him very well. He has been compared to Freddie Mercury a lot, which is awesome since he was also a fellow Persian. Reza has had the stache since I’ve known him, and I don’t think I would recognize him without it.It’s become his trademark and I think it’s here to stay.
TT: What has been the best thing and the worst thing about being on the show so far?
AG: I’m glad that I can help shed light on a part of the world that doesn’t always have the best reputation. I think our culture and country is beautiful and has an amazing history that we can help share. I like the friendships and camaraderie that our group has, however, it makes me sad and embarrassed that the world witnessed the ugliness demonstrated in Vegas.
TT: What is the craziest thing Reza has dragged you into other than Shahs of Sunset? Does he get you into mischief?
AG: Reza is like the brother I never had. While it’s more him that seem to get into crazy shenanigans, he helps me kick back and enjoy myself while witnessing his crazy stunts.

AG: Thank you, Tamara! I must admit that I bought the suit without ever intending to swim in it–Vegas is all about how you look, and a wet, saggy suit just doesn’t fit the bill. Also, wasn’t too crazy about getting into a pool filled peepee and who knows what else (it is Vegas, after all). I admit that a non-swimming swimsuit is kind of silly, however, must observe that neither MJ nor GG got theirs wet either!
TT: Finally, I recently ran a story about the Kathy Salem lawsuit and David Golshan. In the court documents she alleges you called David your fiance. Is this true? (say it isn’t so!) Were you surprised to be mentioned? What’s the story there?
AG: No, David and I are not and never were engaged. We have never even dated. As we all know David is a comedian and is always messing with people. We were all joking around and I just played along. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, so being named in the lawsuit was a big shock to me. There’s really not too much more to it than that, and I haven’t really been following or involved in it since. I think you probably know more details than I do!
Thanks so much to Anita for giving me the scoop on everything before anyone else! I hope that we see her again in season two in an even bigger role!
EDITED TO ADD MJ’s comments on a Bravo blog about how Anita was treated in Vegas. I had not read it and am frankly SHOCKED.
Bravotv.com: Talk to us about GG/Anita’s confrontation. Why did you decide to get involved? Do you think they can move forward now and get along?
MJ: I still haven’t forgiven Anita. After investing so much time praising and empowering her, apparently, her eye’s only saw red. Why go behind our backs individually to gain false support? We all fell for it at one point or another.
The thing that disappointed me the most, was that after I made such a delightful fuss over her being a goddess in red, she accused me of talking ish about her. Yes, I was there, and I’m not innocent either, but I’m not that petty either. At the time, I felt like saying to her, “Grow up! Walk it off! State your case then let it go!” But she couldn’t, and Anita’s obsessiveness has time again only proven that sometimes beauty only runs skin deep.
Wow, that is even less of an apology than GG gave. We all saw MJ be just as ugly to Anita as GG was, and it certainly appeared she instigated the namecalling. You did talk shit about her, MJ. I don’t think Anita needs to get her empowerment from you or GG. She behaved with class and decorum the entire trip. You and GG cannot say the same. I can’t believe you would not apologize and move on. I’m really very surprised.
Awsome interview! I think I love her.
Zzzzzz…
Hi Tamara! I'm Tammera! 😀 Anyway, it's good to see someone blogging about my new favorite Bravo Reality series! Your questions and comments are courageous and fun. Reza is my fav but I love them all! Thank you. P.S. @anonymous: it must be easy to tell someone to fuck off and call them names when you're not willing to id yourself…boo on you! BWAK BWAK!
Hi Tamara, thank you so much for this Anita interview ! She looks just like my Iranian best friend when she was younger 30 years ago ! I enjoy the show, I think Anita's the prettiest and coolest gal on the series, and I WISH Bravo would make her one of the regulars ! I've been trying to find out what's her last name, since I first saw her on the show, but nada…until your blog ! Is there some way I can email her directly ? Please ask her if I can? THANKS !(please say Hi to her and tell her to stay the awesome way she is!)
Anita interacts with her fans on twitter from time to time. Follow her @anitagolhari. If you don't have a twitter account make one. It's NOT another time consuming thing like Facebook if you don't want it to be. You don't even have to tweet you can just follow people. Like me. 🙂 @tamaratattles So glad you like the interview. And Hi Tammera! I've never seen our name spelled like that! 🙂
Hi ANNIE!!!What's with all the fat cracks? Are you 12 or 13?Now, on topic…I like this Anita chick so far. She's gorgeous and doesn't seem to fit the 'princess' role.WD
Anita I think you are lovely and wonderful! You are a class act. YES! MJ and GG were being inane, disrespectuful and catty towards you. It was obvious they are jealous of you. All the money in the world cannot buy you respect and class. BRAVO FOR YOU BEING THE ADULT in the situation! Peace & Love!P.S. I am training for my first marathon.Sisley
I am sorry to report that Anita is not the only Iranian-American woman participating in triathlons. I am an Iranian-American woman and have completed more than 11 triathlons, including a full Ironman (140.6m), 3 half-ironmans (70.3m), several long and olympic distances (too many to count)…I have also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Mt Blonc, Machu Picchu, etc… Still a very Persian girly girl with long hair and heels when I am not doing sports..nice job on the Olympic triathlon…
Glad to see there are other Iranian-American Triathletes. I’m set up for my first Half IM in July.
Good Luck!
Don't be sorry. I think Anita was saying it's not a sport her Persian friends share with her. I'm sure she'd love to meet you sometime at an event. You sound awesome! Tweet her!
Really enjoyed the interview. Anita seems really nice and is a very beautiful woman. I could pay my rent with the price of the none swimmable swimsuit!
Thanks for the interview, T! Anita is by far my favorite girl on the show, hoping she is a full-time cast member for season 2. That may be part of the reason GG/MJ have a problem with her..worried about her 'stealing' their screen-time!
Freddie Mercury was a proud Persian just like Reza Farahan and I love their moustache!"Mercury, who died in 1991, was proud of his Iranian ancestry, and illegal bootleg albums and singles made Queen one of the most popular bands in Iran.".http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3593532.stm
Anita's boring…AND it's not a paralegal "degree," it's actually a certificate…big difference.
Whatevz…MJ is still by far more compelling than Anita.
I think the two comments above me that are anti-Anita are probably GG writing this. Who would go on here and differentiate between a degree and certificate. All for the sake of putting someone down. Really? Insecure. And you shouldn't be GG. You just don't love yourself enough.
[I can’t believe you would not apologize and move on. I’m really very surprised.]
Really? I wasn’t surprised at all, but I’m going to be watching the show.
Great interview glad to hear straight from her how she felt regarding season 1
I never like a mustache, but I love Rezas!
Great interview, thank you!