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Culture & Living
These series will give you a taste of what it's like to be a part of the one per cent
There is a reason why shows about rich people and their extraordinary lives are some of the most-watched shows of all time. It’s fascinating to see the display of extravagance through their multi-million dollar homes, exotic holidays, and the vicious catfights that may come with the assuring belief that at the end of the day, they’re just like us—only with fewer money problems and a designer wardrobe. While shows like Dynasty and Succession offer a darkly comic and exaggerated view of what it’s like to be a part of the one per cent, reality shows like Selling Sunset and Keeping Up with the Kardashians let us live vicariously through the real-life elites. And here are a few of these that you can binge-watch to get a glimpse into the world of the mega rich.
If you’ve been on the internet even once in the past decade, there is no way that you would have missed knowing about the Real Housewives series. It has resulted in numerous reaction gifs and mentions in pop culture. It’s a franchise of reality shows that document the lives of rich housewives residing in different regions of the United States, like The Real Housewives of Atlanta, or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and The Real Housewives of New York City. You get the drift, right? There are messy fights, big personalities, drinks thrown in people’s faces, and so much more—it’s a whole different world.
Streaming on Netflix
Internet royalty Kim Kardashian West and her dysfunctional family have given us an opportunity to follow them around and get an insight into their extraordinary lives. Whether you’re a fan of the clan or a critical observer, there’s no denying the huge impact they’ve had on pop culture, fashion and the beauty industry. The show has also launched many spin-offs, focussing on the lives of the many, many members of the extended family too. Love them or hate them, there is no ignoring them. They had announced recently that the show is coming to an end after 20 long seasons, so catch up with the Kardashians and indulge in some the guilty pleasure of escaping into their messy yet glamorous lives.
Streaming on Netflix
If you thought a show about real estate and the lives of brokers would be dull and boring, then you have another think coming. Centred around a well-known elite brokerage firm of Los Angeles, the Netflix series is a reality show about the employees and the drama surrounding the cut-throat race to sell prime real estate to the rich and famous. There are luxury, multi-million dollar estates and behind-the-scenes manipulations, aplenty. It’s also not without its fair share of controversy, with many questioning the authenticity of the show, including Chrissy Teigen, who is among the many who think it dramatises and hires actors to play the roles of real estate agents, in order to make the show more watchable. Judge for yourself.
Streaming on Netflix
If you love home makeover reality shows as much as you love getting to know the insides of a celebrity’s house, then this is the perfect match for you. Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, founders of The Home Edit, a company that is the Mecca of people who love anything related to organising, take on a host of celebrity clients and help them organise their homes. Watch celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Khloe Kardashian, Neil Patrick Harris, Retta, and more, declutter their households with the help of the duo.
Streaming on Netflix
It might have been a while since we’ve seen a good red carpet turnout, but there’s no reason why we should miss out on the high octane glitz and glamour of celebrity fashion. This unscripted reality series revolves around celebrity stylist Jason Bolden and his husband, interior designer Adair Curtis, as they dress and style the Hollywood celebrities, including Taraji P Henson, Yara Shahidi, Sabrina Carpenter, Ava DuVernay and Serena Williams. Throughout the series, you will realise the kind of effort and thought process that goes behind finalising a celebrity’s look on the red carpet, through the eyes of an expert.
Streaming on Netflix
Beverly Hills has come to be known as the home of the rich and the beautiful. So it’s no surprise that cosmetic surgery has become an intrinsic part of the culture. Plastic surgeons Dr Robert Rey and Dr Jason Diamond are joined by several other cosmetic procedures experts to feature in this reality series about the lives of the people who make the rich and famous citizens of Beverly Hills look perfect. From celebrity facelifts, to life-changing operations, the show delves deep into the kind of miracles these doctors perform daily.
Streaming on Netflix
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