Tyna Edwards, the standout cast member on Bravo‘s newest real estate series, Sold on SLC, isn’t who most would expect to see representing the housing market of Salt Lake City.
But to her, that’s a selling point.
“I’m not the norm. So clients say, ‘I want to work with her because she’s different. I’m working with the cool Black agent,'” she jokingly said in a recent interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act.
As a divorced, Black lesbian in a religion-led city, Edwards has turned what some would consider disadvantages into advantages. Since the premiere episode of Sold on SLC, the mother of two has been dubbed a force to be reckoned with at Presidio Real Estate, one of the top brokerages in Salt Lake City.
Edwards began her real estate career when she realized her salary as a state accountant wasn’t cutting it. With encouragement from family members already in the industry, she sat for her Utah real estate exam. To date, Edwards has sold over $100 million in real estate, solidifying her name in one of the nation’s most competitive markets.
“We needed more representation of successful women of color doing the damn thing,” Edwards said. She chronicled her journey of being a single mother who was overcoming living on government assistance, constantly struggling, and being at the bottom.
“It was really important for me to show that, as a woman of color, you can make it. You can be successful. You don’t have to subscribe to the stereotype,” she said.
Another stereotype that Edwards defies is the notion of being the “angry Black woman” after her strained relationship with a fellow realtor becomes a central storyline early in the show.
“I feel oftentimes people are bothered when you’re unbothered. And I feel like being a Black woman in a corporate setting, where you are the minority, you’re expected to ‘shuck and jive’ all the time and have a smile on your face,” Edwards said.
She continued, “It’s always assumed that if I’m not happy-go-lucky all the time, being normal, or I don’t want to smile all the time, then it’s a problem. Like, ‘Oh, she’s mad. She’s angry.'”
Regardless, Edwards doesn’t miss a chance to confront her castmate unapologetically about his microaggressions or passive-aggressive backstabbing and clarifies how he overstepped her boundaries.
“You have to face it head-on. I don’t like to sweep things like that under the rug,” Edwards said, explaining how defaming her could be detrimental to her livelihood. “They’re never going to understand. And it might be a conversation that you have to have two or three times, but it’s important for people who aren’t in my shoes to understand.”
She added, “As much as I don’t love to have to be the teacher, it’s just a constant education. It’s constantly bringing it to their attention and drilling it in. You might not understand. I don’t expect you to 100% understand, but I would expect you to empathize.”
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Viewers will also learn that Edwards is an open book about getting divorced, leaving the Mormon church and choosing to be open about her sexuality.
Her girlfriend, BJ, is introduced early in the season when Edwards reveals her love will be moving to Salt Lake City.
“I wanted to shine a light on Salt Lake’s LGBTQ scene,” Edwards said. “You think of Utah, and it’s like, you just think of Mormons, but we really do have a really great big LGBTQ community here in Utah.”
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Although Sold on SLC breaks down the walls between the professional and personal lives of Salt Lake’s highest sellers, Edwards still hopes viewers will gain some knowledge if they are in the market for a new home.
When asked her top three tips for anyone looking for a new home, the seasoned expert advised, “Find a realtor you trust and connect with, be financially prepared and try to stay at the low end of your budget. ” She emphasized, “Keep some money to live life and do the things you love.”
New episodes of Sold on SLC return to Bravo on Jan. 8, at 9 p.m. EST. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
