Bravo’s Hit Show Southern Charm’s Impact on Charleston
Noooooooooooo! I didn’t want to write about this! Don’t get me wrong—I’ve tuned in to the show since Day One. In fact, I’m a proud Bravo fan.1
Why I don’t like talking about Southern Charm2 is because as much as I love it, I’m also mildly frustrated by the slightly-off representation of the city because this group of very good-looking, charming people is not from here.3 They’re discovering what Charleston already had before they arrived: a lot of fun, spirited residents who love to have a good time in gorgeous surroundings—but who are not on a TV show showing everyone.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate the cast at all. In fact, I’ve had long conversations over several days with a couple of the OGs and gotten to know them pretty well. They’re nice, smart people. And they’ve done wonders advertising the Lowcountry to people who might never have known how fantastic it is to live here.4
In fact, I’ve got to give them the credit they’re due—this little show-turned-juggernaut has made a huge impact on this town. Look at what’s happened to Charleston since Southern Charm started filming here:
A Surge of Visitors
Fans of Southern Charm can’t get enough of the Holy City, and they’re flocking to experience the Lowcountry for themselves. From the iconic Rainbow Row to the peaceful Waterfront Park, visitors are snapping photos at all the spots made famous on the show. The tourism boom has breathed new life into local businesses, with trendy restaurants and historic tours gaining more traction than ever. Think you’re eating where Cameran, Shep, and Kathryn once dined? You’re probably right.
The Changing Vibe
Before the show, Charleston had a more traditional, quiet Southern charm. After Southern Charm, though, the city’s gotten a little bolder, a little glitzier. It’s a mix of genteel elegance and high-society drama, from fancy cocktail bars to eye-catching mansions. The show introduced a younger, wealthier crowd to the city’s social scene, and it’s definitely changed the way people see Charleston—though some locals might roll their eyes at the drama!
The Buzz That Keeps On Giving
Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, there’s no denying Southern Charm has left a lasting mark on Charleston. More visitors, more businesses, and a new layer of conversation about the city’s history and culture make it clear: this reality show put the Holy City even more on the map than it already was.
- Warning: this post is riddled with footnotes. Of course it is! We could go off on tangents all day about reality TV! I’ve watched three Real Housewives franchises and Vanderpump Rules since their inception, too. Now I’ve added on Summer House, all because the deft marketing team at Bravo introduced crossover cast members like Craig Conover and the two Toms. I’m also a big Andy Cohen fan and Watch What Happens Live person, even though some sleazy things have happened at Bravo, and some cast members have been yanked around. Overall, though, I am pro-Bravo because it got a lot of the country through Covid. I’ll be forever grateful. ↩︎
- I’m sorry—I just can’t mention Southern Hospitality in this post. It’s too much. My head would explode. I don’t watch it, but I hear it’s doing really well. ↩︎
- Well, Thomas Ravenel is from here, but he’s gone. Kathryn is also gone, but she’s from up the road, a sleepy far-away suburb of Charleston called Moncks Corner. Shep’s from Hilton Head, and Craig is from New Jersey! I wasn’t born here, either, so I can’t talk, can I? But that’s what’s so fabulous about these reality TV shows…they bring out the petty gossip in us, the one that helps us forget real-world problems for a few minutes of harmless snark. ↩︎
- It’s specifically because of Southern Charm that Charleston is now a wedding destination and we see bachelorette parties everywhere we go. ↩︎
