Newcomer Ashley Quai has exclusively shared with Us Weekly that she wouldn't have "finished" her first season as a "friend" on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City without the support of castmate Lisa Barlow. In an interview with Us, Ashley, 44, expressed her gratitude towards Lisa, stating, "I f*ing love Lisa Barlow. She is the baddest bitch out of this whole friend group. She supported me. She kept me alive. She had my back, and she's a baddie."

Ashley's comments come amidst reports of tension between Lisa and other members of the SLC cast. However, according to Ashley, there was never any issue between her and Lisa when she pursued friendships with the other ladies. "We're all big girls," Ashley stressed. "Put on your big girl panties and let's just do what we got to do. I can be friends with whoever I want."

Lisa's relationships with the other housewives have been a source of conflict in recent seasons, including during her stint on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th. There, Teresa Giudice had to physically separate Lisa and Heather Gay during an argument. Despite these issues, Ashley asserted that Lisa would always be there to support her.

"I knew Lisa would be there no matter what. She is the reason I made it through this season," Ashley insisted. "Lisa has always been a friend of mine. had my back when I needed it." This sentiment echoes Lisa's reputation as a loyal ally, even among those who may not see eye-to-eye with her.

The current season of RHOSLC has been marked by somber episodes, particularly after the death of Mary Cosby's son, Robert Jr., at age 23 due to addiction struggles. Mary, 53, returned to filming three weeks after her son passed away for a sit-down with the main cast. Speaking to Vulture last week, Mary suggested that Robert Jr.'s death might have been "for the good" because of his personal difficulties.

In contrast, Ashley chose not to discuss her own feelings about Robert Jr.'s passing. Instead, she focused on her developing relationship with Mary throughout the season. "Mary, I love her, love her," Ashley revealed to Us. "I just didn't know if she was gonna like me or not. We have growth and all that too, and so I'm just glad that we are where we are."

As RHOSLC continues its seventh season, fans are left wondering how these dynamics will play out. With tensions already running high, Ashley's loyalty to Lisa and her budding friendship with Mary promise to add more intrigue to the show.