Lifetime is looking to redefine conventional television programming with their newest reality show venture, The Sisterhood, featuring five young women who are considering leaving their bad habits behind in exchange for good habits — as in nun habits!
From the Lifetime press release:
For the first time ever, cameras were granted access to three convents where the women live and work together alongside nuns during the discernment phase, the process wherein they decide if they want to formally continue on their holy path.
In observance of the sacred vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, they leave behind everything they have come to love – boyfriends, family members and all their worldly possessions – to see if they have what it takes to become servants of the church and brides of Christ.
In other words, the show will turn the very ubiquitous Breaking Amish format, in which young people leave behind conservative communities to try life in modern American urban culture, on its head as these young people try to decide if they want to leave modernity behind! (It should be noted that The Sisterhood is made by Hot Snakes Media, the same production company that brought us Breaking Amish as well as other similar shows such as Breaking the Faith and Escaping Alaska.)
Convents to be included on The Sisterhood, which is set to premiere Tuesday, November 25, at 10/9c on Lifetime, include The Carmelites for the Aged and Infirm in Germantown, New York; The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence in Chicago, Illinois; and The Sister of St. Joseph the Worker in Walton, Kentucky.
So who are the potential nun-to-bes? Lifetime released some basic bio information, but I’ve tried to dig up some more info and find at least one non-promotional photo of each:
Francesca DiPaola (above) is a 21-year-old aspiring actress from New Jersey who “is a recent graduate and die-hard believer from New Jersey who struggles with church positions on hot-button issues.” Francesca has a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College where she studied singing, dancing (club), film editing, cheerleading (stunting), and dialects (British, Irish, Southern). Her current occupation (assuming she is not a full-time sister now) is listed as Jr. Real Estate Broker at Best Apartments Inc. as well as Fundraising Coordinator at Homes For Veterans and Head Camp Counselor at The Children’s Acting Academy. Her most recent film credit on IMDB is 2014’s Bongo: Killer Clown.
Eseni Ellington is a 23-year-old aspiring model and beauty pageant contestant from the Bronx who “rebelled against the church as a teen, but has returned to Catholicism in search of her true calling,” according to the Lifetime bio. Eseni most recently competed in the Miss New York USA 2014 pageant and has an AA degree in Early Childhood Education from Borough of Manhattan. She hopes to get a BA in Early Childhood Pediatric Nursing.
“Modeling was something I always wanted to do ever since I was a little girl,” Eseni explains on one of her online profiles, “but I just did not know where to start, so I was focused on school and work. Now that I am more determined on my modeling career and blessed with my pageant opportunity, I want to do it all! I want to be able to build up my portfolio and work with the best and professionals only! I am ready to shoot whatever concept, I am open to any ideas EXCEPT NUDITY!!! I am now trying to pursue acting as a career as well.”
Claire Halbur is a 26-year-old parish music minister from Joliet, Illinois who “was homeschooled throughout her childhood in a devout Catholic home.” Claire is quite the prolific writer, sharing her insights (and those of others that she finds of interest) on various Catholic blogs. She is refreshingly unafraid to tackle subjects such as sex, and she does so with the sensibilities of a modern 26-year-old. (She’s even a fan of 19 Kids and Counting!) Unlike Eseni and Francesca, joining a convent seems like it would not be that drastic a change for Claire.
Stacey Jackson is also 26 years old and “is a lifelong Catholic who lives in New York and has traveled throughout the country, performing in musical theater.” That’s pretty much all I know about Stacey.
Christie Young is the oldest cast member at 27. She’s also the only cast member from the West Coast, hailing from Glendale, California. According to her bio, Christie “likes to rock out with her country music band while still following all the traditional tenets of the church.” I looked, but I’ll be dig-nibbly-danged if I was able to find anything on Christie’s band online! (Yes, that was a salute to Ned Flanders. It seemed appropriate.)
As mentioned above, The Sisterhood premieres Tuesday, November 25, at 10/9c on Lifetime. Here’s a little theme music that I thought was a sort of appropriate outro. 😉
