When the opportunity arose to talk to Real Housewives of Orange County’s Shannon Beador about a new incontinence product she’s promoting, I jumped on it. If I’m going to listen to anyone when it comes to peeing your pants at inopportune times, it’s going to be one of the Bravo housewives. After all, it was the O.G. of the O.C. Vicki Gunvalson who peed her skirt on camera in Puerto Vallarta only a few seasons ago. At the time, it was actually kind of sweet how the women responded to Vicki’s televised faux pas—sure, they poked a little fun, but nothing cruel or unusual as is the familiar territory on these shows.
And when I spoke with Shannon on the phone—a highlight of my life—she kinda alluded to the fact that all the girls kinda pee their pants. On The Real Housewives of Dallas, Stephanie Hollman frequently jokes about peeing her pants. Is, as Billy Madison once decreed, peeing your pants cool? Or is it actually more of a pervasive issue we don’t talk about? After a conversation with Shannon, I was left thinking both.
First, Shannon told me the facts, “One in three women in the U.S. experience bladder incontinence.” Then, she explained that she’s had a stress incontinence issue since her first child (hi, Sophie) 18 years ago. Three kids and menopause later, her pelvic floor was essentially shot. Things as simple as running or coughing became dangerous activities.
If you don’t have a friend as candid as a Real Housewife, this may seem shocking. Rich people pee their pants? But it’s incredibly common. Pelvic floors go ignored and they ultimately fail us. Sure, we do a stray Kegel now and again during a boring meeting, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a pair of shorts that you could wear, say, 30 minutes a day, five days a week that does the Kegels for you while you FaceTime Tamra Judge?