Joyce Giraud may have only been on a single season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but the former Miss Puerto Rico made an indelible mark. And she has one of the best heads of hair Bravo has seen to date.
She exclusively told TheThings all about her new clean beauty brand and her thoughts on how 'real' the Beverly Hills cast truly was.
Joyce Giraud Beauty
Joyce Giraud Beauty recently joined the QVC Clean Beauty lineup (congrats!!). How involved are you with the development of products?
"Thank you, I'm super excited as I am entirely hands-on. It’s our line that we created from scratch so I’m not just “the face” of the line. It’s all inspired by my upbringing in Puerto Rico and my grandma who always taught me about ingredients from Mother Nature."
"The whole line is Nature & Science at its best! It’s all Clean Beauty & made right here in the USA. We have clinically tested products that show results. If you want to read about it or check it out go to joycegiraud.com or follow our beauty page on Instagram for tons of hair and beauty tips @joycegiraudbeauty."
While Giraud knows the glamour of expensive beauty products and their market, she's kept her company accessible and of high quality. Her multitasker bronzing stick has five-star reviews across the board and her "Ultimate Hair Strength Supplements" have noticeably helped women with hair loss.
Speaking of beauty: what are your top 3 must-have beauty products that you can't live without?
"That’s a tough question because I have so many products for different needs but if I can only pick 3... I can’t live without my Pure4! It’s the base of my entire line. It’s all-natural, 100% organic. It’s the combination of the best oils from around the world; combined you get the very best vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s a head-to-toe oil and I use it religiously as my face serum."
"I also can’t live without my supplements (Ultimate Hair Strength Supplements) because everything starts from within. You can’t possibly eat the jam-packed nutrition that is in our supplements. They are clinically tested and proven to show results so I’ll never be without them."
"And as the third, I think I would pick my 'Leave-In Miracle Treatment' because not only does it deliver the much-needed nutrients to my hair; it also protects and primes it. And most importantly; it helps me not pull it when I’m trying to detangle."
Family & Love First
A couple of her most memorable traits from RHOBH were her positivity and appreciation for family. While that genuine confidence may have rubbed some cast members the wrong way, Giraud still stays true to those life mottos.
We absolutely love your genuine positivity and zest for life. Where do you get it from?
"Thank you! I grew up very humble in the mountains of Puerto Rico but my grandma and my mom taught me that the best things in life are love and nature. I remember always waking up happy even if we were 'poor'."
"I always kept everything they taught me very close to my heart. I always believe that if you wake up with a grateful heart, everything else falls into place. Even if you are going through a tough time; somehow it reminds you that every single day is a gift from God that we simply should not take for granted."
Her faith has also bolstered her passionate and fulfilling marriage with producer husband Michael Ohoven. They remained a united couple during some of those insanely stressful dinner parties. Michael won't let anyone tell Joyce she's not part of a 'dream team' and we'll raise a glass to that.
Your husband is German, you are proudly Puerto Rican – was it ever difficult to overcome cultural differences between you two?
"My husband is really my soulmate. With him, there are simply no cultural differences. I do have to admit that the first time he met my entire family in Puerto Rico, he couldn’t believe they were ALL related to me because it was about 50 people between cousins and extended family."
"I was also kind of shocked the first Christmas we spent together with his family because they have a tradition where they stand in front of the Christmas tree and literally sing to the tree. So, I guess you could say that on both ends we were slightly different but that’s what makes it so beautiful. I love his culture and he loves and embraces mine."
You and Michael have been getting ‘married’ every year, for 11 years, proving all unfounded accusations wrong! What is the secret to your relationship?
"We love and respect each other. We make each other a priority. He’s my number 1 and I’m his number 1. We love parenting and waking up together. We are each other’s best friends. I always tell my girlfriends (to) never ever settle because if you settle you might miss out on your soulmate and what a waste that would be."
"I believe the secret to a great relationship is being unapologetically YOU! Whoever loves you will accept you just the way you are, with all your flaws and all your uniqueness. Sometimes I see girlfriends who try to become someone they aren’t so they impress whatever guy they are dating and that is a recipe for disaster because at the end of the day if you can’t be YOU then you won’t be happy."
Looking Back On 'Real Housewives'
You appeared on Season 4 of 'RHOBH.' Andy Cohen recently said he felt you didn’t have a connection with the group. Are you in touch with any of the ladies, or do you ever run into them in LA?
"Of course! I love Lisa. She’s one of my best friends. My kids call her auntie Lisa and they adore Uncle Ken. I did connect with Kyle while filming but after filming I didn’t hear from her much. I do see Mauricio at our golf club and he’s so sweet. We love him. Kim is super sweet! The rest of the ladies... well I guess Andy is right about the connection not being there."
Interesting regarding Kyle's fizzled friendship after filming. It's been whispered that Kyle Richards doesn't keep friendships around that are made on Bravo. Specifically, if the other women in said friendships leave the show.
Regardless, we'll take a note from Giraud's book and focus on the bright lights after a confusing time. She took the respected route of keeping shade to a minimum and only focusing on those who bring joy to her life.
Do you regret appearing on 'RHOBH?' What’s the best thing to come out of that experience?
"I have no regrets because everything happens for a reason. I do regret not doing my research properly as I didn’t want to be 'tainted' and wanted to meet the ladies with an open heart. So I didn’t really watch the previous seasons to understand how conniving a show like that can be. I thought the fights were fake and the friendships were real. Turns out it was the opposite."
For those wondering if Giraud's down-to-earth nature is as real as it seemed on TV, it surely is. She ensures that her children remain grounded in the hectic Hollywood scene and reminds them of how fortunate they are.
Compassion has stayed in her back pocket since her childhood and led her to even open a school in Senegal, Africa. It's refreshing to see that cameras and forced cocktail hour interactions couldn't dilute her inner voice.