Paige DeSorbo Is the Queen ofSummer House(But Her Mom Still Makes Her Empty the Dishwasher)

Mar. 15, 2025

She credits her past experience as a child model (she appeared in the Limited Too catalog, which is the middle-school version of landing the SeptemberVoguecover) for teaching her that “when it’s time to work, it’s time to work, and when it’s time to complain, that’s when I get home.”

DeSorbo, 31, grew up in Loudonville, N.Y., the daughter of Gary and Kimberly DeSorbo, in what she describes as a “very conservative Italian Catholic family” (she has an older brother, also named Gary).  After graduating from high school, she continued to live at home while attending the College of Saint Rose in Albany, where she studied broadcast journalism and had big dreams of being a reporter.

Rue Sophie jacket and skirt, Icon Denim corset, TOTEME pumps, Loren Stewart earrings, stylist’s own sockettes.Colette Aboussouan

Colette Aboussouan

She convinced her parents to let her move to New York City, where she landed a job as an assistant at ABC News. (She says she was totally unqualified for the role and credits the blue velvet TopShop suit she wore to her interview for getting her hired.) Her obsession with all things pop culture inspired her to start creating videos of the day’s top entertainment news stories, along with her outfit details to her 2,000 Instagram followers.

Then Bravo called.

Below, find out why her legions of fans call her a “relatable queen,” as she opens up about life in the spotlight, staying grounded and sticking to her own timeline (yes, she plans to getmarried . . . eventually).

“My mom taught me that you never walk into anyone’s house empty-handed.” — Season 3, Episode 1

Alaïa top, SIR. pants, JENNY BIRD bangles, hoops & ear cuff, Zimmermann sandals.Colette Aboussouan

“My plan this summer is to be nice and try to be friendly, and then when she does something to me, I will lose my mind.” — Season 8

Reality television thrives on drama, and while DeSorbo is known for her hot takes on her castmates’ endless interpersonal conflicts and relationship issues, some viewers have accused her of withholding the messier aspects of her own life.

“Since I was a little kid I’ve been described as mysterious. I don’t feel that I am mysterious, but I do have a very poker face. I’m not one to tell you exactly how I feel right in that moment, because most of the time, I don’t know either,” she explains. “So people think I’m a little bit, honestly, a little smarter than I am. I’m not someone that’s like, ‘I’m not talking about this.’ ” She adds, “If I’m going through it, and we’re filming, we’re filming it. I wouldn’t even have the option not to. So I think it’s just my demeanor.”

When DeSorbo needs to recharge, she gets into bed. It’s her thing. So much so that she now hosts an Amazon Live show calledIn Bed With Paige DeSorbo,where she interviews guests from a bed.

“I went to an all-girls high school, so I know how to give a backhanded compliment.” —Season 3

DeSorbo says there was a time when she read “everything” written about her online, but over the last few years, she’s learned how to manage the negativity.

“I think I’ve gotten better at coping with certain things. And you end up becoming, this sounds a little bit weird, closer to yourself because you’re like, ‘Oh wait, there’s a bunch of people online that don’t like me.’ And so you do feel like you have to reflect. And sometimes you’re like, ‘Was I in the wrong?’ But then there are a lot of times where you’re like, ‘Well, that’s me, and I love who I am.’ And so you have to check yourself.”

Sportmax top and skirt, Coach bag, AIRE sunglasses, JENNY BIRD bracelet, Cartier ring, Stylist’s own earrings.Colette Aboussouan

It also helps that despite her fame, her family and friends still treat her the same. “When I go home, I’m not Paige fromSummer House. I’m vacuuming, my mom makes me empty the dishwasher,” she says. “I am not the person people see online.”

However, she does feel a sense of responsibility to her fans, the majority of whom are young women. “I never thought of myself as, ‘Oh, and then one day I’ll be a role model.’ ” That was not something I was preparing for. And I think that’s probably the hardest. I don’t want to disappoint a 16-year-old girl who listens toGiggly Squadevery Tuesday and then watchesSummer Houseevery Thursday and then one day is like, ‘She did what?’ That would make me upset.”

“She’s my friend. When she’s done with you, I don’t know you.” —Season 8

Sportmax top & skirt, Coach bag, TOTEME pumps, AIRE sunglasses, JENNY BIRD bracelet, Cartier ring, stylist’s own earrings.Colette Aboussouan

She goes on to say that it’s all in how she approaches friendships as an adult. “In your 30s you literally get to choose your friends. It’s not high school where you’re all at the same lunch table. And so if you’re not a hundred percent rooting for your friend and she’s not doing the same for you, what is even the point?”

“I think that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so if Jules wears something after I’ve already worn it, I think that’s really nice. Annoying, but very nice.” —Season 4

Summer Househas given DeSorbo a stage to flex her fashion sense. Week after week, she brings just as muchoutfit inspoas she does hilarious hot takes, sending viewers down a Google rabbit hole to hunt down her looks.

She describes her style as “very feminine.” She says, “Anytime I hear someone say, ‘That’s so Paige,’ it’s so girly. It’s so cute. It either has a bow, or it’s a little set. It’s something like Madeline would’ve worn.”

In her first few seasons, she stuck to labels that she could “genuinely afford” like Zara and Forever 21, and she based her outfits on what celebrities like Olivia Culpo were wearing at the time.

She still loves crop tops and sets, only these days, it’s not unusual for her to roll up to the Hamptons in a $2,200 Prada minidress.

For the record, her mom thought she looked “phenomenal” in the undies.

“My name should be Crystal, because I couldn’t be any more clear on how to date me.” —Season 3

To recap, DeSorbo has appeared on six seasons and counting of a hit reality show, hosts her own show on Amazon Live, cohosts a popular podcast that’sgoing on tourthis fall and coauthoredHow to Giggle, a book of advice, which comes out in the spring.

Acler jacket, Longchamp pants, Reut earrings & ring.Colette Aboussouan

And yet, the question she fields most from Bravo fans is when is she going to marryher boyfriend of nearly three years, fellow Bravolebrity,Craig Conover.

Conover also accepts that when it comes to taking the next step, DeSorbo is on her own timeline, a topic that has been well-documented on both of their Bravo shows.

Zimmermann jacket. Sportmax skirt. JENNY BIRD rings. Saint Laurent earrings & bracelet.Colette Aboussouan

As for what’s next, she says, she’s open to anything, whether that means cameras will be rolling or not. “IfSummer Housecalled me today and said the show was canceled, and if I never got offered another one, I would say, ‘Okay, see you.’ And if someone called me right now and said, ‘Hey, we’re doing a spinoff with you and Craig,’  I would say, ‘Okay, when do we start filming?’ Either way, I feel like I would be content because that’s what was supposed to happen.”

The only thing she is set on, is that her engagement is a surprise. “Hopefully no one ruins it for me in terms of filming,” she says. However, in trueSummer Housespirit, she jokes that she will “one hundred percent be wearing shoulder pads,” when it happens. “It would be rude if I didn’t, and I think Lindsay would agree.”

CreditsPhotographerColette AboussouanCinematographerJosh HerzogHairMitchell RamazonMakeupSierra MatthewsStylistNatalie Cantell

Credits

PhotographerColette AboussouanCinematographerJosh HerzogHairMitchell RamazonMakeupSierra MatthewsStylistNatalie Cantell

PhotographerColette Aboussouan

CinematographerJosh Herzog

HairMitchell Ramazon

MakeupSierra Matthews

StylistNatalie Cantell

source: people.com