As the highly anticipated new season of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” approaches its September 18 premiere, viewers are buzzing with excitement. The show’s cast members have become household names, captivating audiences with their luxurious lifestyles, dramatic friendships, and personal struggles.

In fact, Google Trends data reveals that search interest for “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” has surged by a remarkable 666.7% over the past three months, highlighting the immense popularity and anticipation surrounding the upcoming season.

But which housewife is the most popular?

To find out, trends experts at Wethrift calculated a Housewife Popularity Score (HPS) and ranked the housewives based on social media and search data to gauge the popularity of each cast member:

1. Heather Gay

Heather Gay is the most popular housewife, with a Housewife Popularity Score (HPS) of 275. Heather shines on Instagram with 576,687 followers and X with 115,641. Her search volume metrics further support her popularity, with 15.03 per 100k residents in the US and 6.39 per 1 million globally.

Aside from her medical spa and bestselling book, Heather Gay also generates an estimated earning of $1,843 to $2,765 per sponsored Instagram post.

2. Monica Garcia

Monica Garcia ranks second, with an HPS of 262.5. She has 443,098 followers on Instagram and 19,370 on X. Her search volume is 15.31 per 100,000 residents in the US and 6.39 per 1 million worldwide.

Despite Monica appearing in just one season, her popularity with viewers elevated her ranking.

3. Meredith Marks

Meredith Marks is in third place, with an HPS of 250. Meredith has 576,625 followers on Instagram and 86,866 on X. She also has a search volume of 15.04 per 100k residents in the US and 6.34 per 1 million globally. 

Alongside her jewelry line, Meredith Marks generates an estimated $1,835 to $2,752 for each sponsored Instagram post.

4. Jen Shah

Jen Shah is in fourth place, with an HPS of 237.5. She has 235,305 Instagram followers and 78,213 on X. Her US search volume is 15.18 per 100,000 residents, and her global search volume is 6.39 per 1 million. 

Jen Shah was part of the original cast but was only on the show until Season 3. She is currently serving her sentence at FPC Bryan in Texas for her involvement in a nationwide telemarketing scheme.

5. Lisa Barlow

Lisa Barlow ranks fifth, with an HPS of 225. She has 385,244 followers on Instagram and 135,426 on X. Her search volume is 15.04 per 100,000 residents in the US and 6.28 per 1 million worldwide.

In addition to running a marketing firm and tequila brand, Lisa Barlow earns an estimated $1,229 to $1,844 per sponsored Instagram post.

6. Mary Cosby

Mary Cosby ranks sixth, with an HPS of 212.5. She has 144,877 followers on Instagram and 46,215 on X. Mary has a US search volume of 15.18 per 100k residents and a global search volume of 6.39 per 1 million. 

Mary, who operates her own chain of restaurants and salons, also earns an estimated $460 to $691 per sponsored Instagram post.

6. Whitney Rose

Whitney Rose tied in sixth place with an HPS of 212.5. Whitney has 459,527 followers on Instagram and 101,541 on X. Her search volume metrics are 15.03 per 100k residents in the US and 6.33 per 1 million globally.

With her ventures in the beauty industry contributing to her wide appeal, Whitney Rose earns an estimated $1,462 to $2,193 per sponsored Instagram post.

8. Angie Katsanevas

Angie Katsanevas secures the eighth spot with an HPS of 37.5. She has garnered 54,976 followers on Instagram and 5,652 followers on X. Her search volume metrics are 14.87 per 100k residents in the US and 6.21 per 1 million globally.

On top of earning from her salon, which has expanded to over 10 locations, Angie Katsanevas also makes an estimated $280 to $420 per sponsored Instagram post.

9. Jennie Nguyen

Jennie Nguyen ranks ninth, with an HPS of 12.5. Jennie has a following of 45,768 on Instagram and 18,890 on X. She has a search volume of 1.56 per 100k residents in the US and 0.71 per 1 million worldwide.

Jennie only made an appearance in Season 2. She is now focusing on her family business ventures.

The Most Popular Housewives of Salt Lake City:

Rank	Housewife	# of Followers on Instagram	# of Followers  on X (Twitter)	US Search Volume  (per 100k)	Global Search  Volume (per 1M)	Estimated Earning  Per IG Post	Housewife Popularity Score (HPS)
1	Heather Gay	576,687	115,641	15.03	6.39	$1,843 – $2,765	275
2	Monica Garcia	443,098	19,370	15.31	6.39	$1,409 – $2,113	262.5
3	Meredith Marks	576,625	86,866	15.04	6.34	$1,835 – $2,752	250
4	Jen Shah	235,305	78,213	15.18	6.39	$753 – $1,130	237.5
5	Lisa Barlow	385,244	135,426	15.04	6.28	$1,229 – $1,844	225
6	Mary Cosby	144,877	46,215	15.18	6.39	$460 – $691	212.5
6	Whitney Rose	459,527	101,541	15.03	6.33	$1,462 – $2,193	212.5
8	Angie Katsanevas	54,976	5,652	14.87	6.21	$280 – $420	37.5
9	Jennie Nguyen	45,768	18,890	1.56	0.71	$242 – $363	12.5

Nick Drewe, trend expert and CEO of Wethrift, commented:

“The housewives of Salt Lake City are known for their extravagant wardrobes and luxurious lifestyles but their looks and style choices often cause a stir. They are not afraid to make bold fashion statements, often incorporating big designer logos into their looks, from the likes of Loewe and Fendi. Last season, their oversized sunglasses became a signature accessory, dividing fashion focused fans as to whether the oversized look was stylish or a complete fail.

The influence is further seen in Lisa Barlow’s recent comment at the Daily Front Row’s 11th Annual Fashion Media Awards, where she suggested that real fur is back in style. Her casual assertion exemplifies how the housewives’ fashion choices and opinions can spark conversations and divide fans. 

As the new season premieres, viewers can expect to see more of the housewives’ daring fashion choices alongside plenty of drama! While their wardrobes may not be accessible to everyone, their bold style and confident approach to fashion continue to capture attention, be it in a good or bad way!”