Whitney Rose is opening up about her and estranged husband Justin Rose’s new dynamic since separating earlier this year, revealing they are “nesting” as a family.
“Everything that you see unfold this season happened in real time,” Whitney, 39, exclusively tells Us, noting that season 7 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City will pull back the curtain on her and Justin’s romantic downfall. “I didn’t hold anything back. I shared everything that I felt was safe to share and that would protect my children.”
Whitney, whose split from Justin, 58, first made headlines in July, notes that the pair actually separated “at the end of May” and their children have been “super supportive.”
“They have so much love and support around them that their life hasn’t really changed much because we’re nesting,” Whitney says of her and Justin’s daughter, Bobbie, 16, and son, Brooks, 13.
The reality star notes that she and Justin “share two places,” an apartment and a home, and they “rotate between the two” to better help their kids transition amid the split.
“The kids stay in our primary home, so their routine doesn’t change, their life doesn’t change,” Whitney explains. “They have their bedrooms, they have their friends. My house is the hub for all the friends, so their life hasn’t changed.”
The Wild Rose Beauty founder shares that she and Justin have been “switching on and off from the home,” but other than their living situation, their day-to-day is mostly the same.
“Justin and I work together. We coparent. We do everything together,” Whitney adds. “So, from the kids’ perspective, I would imagine, I mean, based on their feedback, it’s more peaceful. It’s better.”
Us confirmed over the summer that Whitney and Justin had split after 16 years of marriage.
“They haven’t taken any formal steps, like retaining attorneys or moving out yet, but they are currently separated,” a source exclusively told Us at the time. “They’re no longer functioning as a couple. The relationship has essentially come to a standstill, and they’re now trying to figure out what comes next.”
Whitney confirms to Us ahead of the RHOSLC premiere that she and Justin had a rocky start to the year, culminating in her moving into their guest bedroom by February.
“One might think that’s not a big move. That’s silly. But for Justin and I, that was a big move,” Whitney recalls. “I mean, we’re very codependent. We do everything together, and to me, that was a big move. Just stating that I need space, and that I’m going to take a step in the direction of creating separation and space, was a huge step for me.”
She notes that staying in the guest room “served its time and place,” and by May, she was able to “understand that I need to take the next step toward separation.”
Flash-forward to now, and Whitney tells Us that the estranged spouses are “working through next steps” both personally and professionally.
“For the business, Wild Rose Beauty, we got it back. We’re selling, and I have a huge announcement at the end of the year,” she says of her career moves. “I’m so excited, and Justin very much helped me do that.”
Whitney adds that the rebuild of Wild Rose Beauty, her skincare brand, was “very healing” for her and Justin, but they are still separated.
“Next steps right now, we’re just taking it day by day. We’re focused on the kids and the business and just putting a pause on our marriage,” she concludes.
Season 7 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premieres on Bravo Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
