The New Atlanta’s Alexandra Dilworth: “My mom inspired me to be a trophy wife”

The New Atlanta’s Alexandra Dilworth is a proud new graduate of Georgia State’s psychology program — and equally proud that she aspires to be a traditional wife and mom.

Which gets her into a little hot water with her costar Emily Lipman in tonight’s premiere episode.

Not that it bothers her a bit.

“I’m trying to change everyone’s view of ‘trophy wife,’” Dilworth explains. “I hate that people think that it’s a negative thing and a girl who just wants to sit around and look pretty and shop. Think about what a trophy is. Trophies are meant to be polished and adored; they’re not meant to sit on a shelf and collect dust. And when I say polished and adored, I mean you have to be ready to adapt to every situation and that you’re constantly improving yourself. If you do enough good things, people will just naturally want to adore you. And that is what I mean by a trophy wife.”

While she happily describes herself as a daddy’s girl, Dilworth says she’s actually a blend of both of her dad, an army colonel, dentist and missionary, and her stay-at-home mom.

“On my father’s side, he always taught me that it was important that I made sure I helped people, so that’s where I got my philanthropy traits — I’m a very hard, dedicated worker and I do a lot of mission work and I teach Sunday school,” Dilworth explains.

Alexandra DIlworth of Bravo's The New Atlanta

“And then from my mother’s side — she taught me how to be a diva! She’s so much fun and she is a housewife, so I have grown up always having my mother home and always being there ready to take care of me. So she taught me the importance of being a mother and being a wife, and she’s the one who inspired me to be a trophy wife. She said that that means more than just a housewife or a pretty face. You’re there to uplift your husband and you’re there to take care of your family and to make sure you help them with all of the household needs. She’s a really amazing person and I wouldn’t want to be like anyone else but her!”

We talked with the 24-year-old Atlanta native about blending her personal and professional aspirations, being on TV and why she’s proud to represent for girls with traditional values and the men who love them.

Channel Guide Magazine: So are you interested in the show not just representing a new side of your hometown, but also representing a new kind of Southern woman?

Alexandra Dilworth: Exactly! That’s exactly where I’m going with this. I’m into designing clothing, but I’m also into EDM, the new electronic dance scene, that has gotten so huge here in Atlanta and really in the United States and overseas. So I’ve actually made a clothing line that’s designed for hipsters and the people of my generation that has allowed me to make some money of my own and give me something to do.

CGM: What appealed to you about being part of The New Atlanta?

AD: This is something that I’ve always wanted to do. Growing up, everyone was telling me how I was such a character and how I should be on TV, so when I heard there was going to be a show set in Atlanta, I just made sure I could be on one [laughs].

CGM: You have some pretty interesting interactions with your costars right out of the gate. Did you know any of them prior to doing the show?

AD: I knew of most of them or had seen them around a couple of times, but most of them, no. So these are people I only saw every now and then, in and out, and of course everyone has their mask and what they choose to display to the rest of the world, but suddenly it was like, ‘Now we have to get really down and intimate! And you are not who I thought you were!’ [laughs]. But you also don’t know how the other person is feeling that day, and I also feel like that has so much to do with it!

The New Atlanta Emily Lipman Alexandra Dilworth

CGM: What else do we see you do throughout the course of the series?

AD: At the end of the day, I just did what I do on a regular day. You’re going to see a lot about my love life and me just trying to get my new company off the ground. I’m on social media and talking to people and having so many meetings. That’s mostly it!

CGM: About the part in the preview where you say that you sometimes use people for entertainment …?

AD: [Laughing] Well I am a psychology major, OK? I have a little bit of fun with my major!

CGM: What are you most excited for viewers to learn about you as a person?

AD: I’m very excited about people learning that I am a younger woman who is very into the traditional roles of a family. Because I think there are a lot of girls out there who are like me, and I think there are a lot of men who want women like me, but because of this movement that we’re going through, they don’t always speak up about it. So I’m very excited for people to see that I am strong about my stance and it’s something that I really want to do.

And I do understand that not everyone can have that and I am not mocking anyone. But for women who do have the option, I’m just saying, hey! Feel free to stay home!

CGM: So where do you see yourself five years from now?

AD: I hope that if I’m not married to be engaged at least! And hopefully working on my first child!

The New Atlanta airs Tuesday nights at 10/9CT on Bravo.

MORE FROM THE NEW ATLANTA:
• Meet Jevon Sims of The New Atlanta

• Africa Miranda welcomes you to The New Atlanta — and The Lipstick Lounge!
• Tribble Reese: From ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ to ‘The New Atlanta’
• Emily Lipman is The New Atlanta‘s business-minded beauty

Images/video: Bravo

 

About Lori Acken 1195 Articles
Lori just hasn't been the same since "thirtysomething" and "Northern Exposure" went off the air.