The new cast member of 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' grew up in Wisconsin and attended law school at Madison

Nneka Ihim is a bigtime lawyer, a former Badger — and the newest cast member on "The Real Housewives of Potomac."

The show's eighth season premiered Sunday night on Bravo.

"I think I really bring something to this dynamic group," Ihim told the Journal Sentinel. "I'm just excited for everyone to get to know me as a Nigerian, as a person that grew up in Wisconsin, and I have a completely different background. So, I think I definitely add a special touch to the group."

For Ihim, it's all about what she calls the five Fs: Faith, family, friends, fun and funds.

"My daddy is a rich b----, and he made sure his daughter was a rich b----, too," Ihim said in the show's "first look" video.

After growing up in Beloit, Ihim moved to Los Angeles to make her big-city dreams come true. Years later, she married a Maryland doctor and moved to his neck of the woods.

But with Ihim's parents still live in Beloit, she said she's a regular here in Wisconsin. Her first stop when she arrives: Culver's.

While in town, she visits with family and friends from high school. Depending on the season, Brewers and Bucks games are often on the agenda, too.

"Wisconsin is just everything," said Ihim, who's in-house counsel for a global technology company. "Most of who I am comes from growing up in Wisconsin. I really have a lot to attribute to growing up there."

Growing up in Wisconsin, attending UW-Madison for law school

Ihim, who was born in Massachusetts, lived in Virginia before her family moved to Beloit when she was going into second grade.

"It was one of those places where someone could knock on your door and ask for sugar or ask for eggs," Ihim said. "It really instilled the whole aspect of community. I really enjoyed growing up there."

Without a big mall nearby, Ihim recalled Walmart being the hot spot to hang out with friends and run into neighbors.

"Walmart really brought the city together," she said. "It was just funny that people would go to skating rinks or the movie theaters — we would go to Walmart."

After graduating from Beloit Memorial High School in 2005, Ihim went to the University of Michigan to study English. She thought journalism and communication would be the best backdrop for her law school aspirations.

"I always just had a bubbly personality — and still do — and I like to communicate and interact with people," Ihim said. "I thought that would put me in the best position to really pursue anything I wanted to do."

Upon graduation, Ihim attended the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison. She "loved being a Badger," from football games to Friday fish frys at the former Madhatter.

"I just knew that literally the sky was the limit," Ihim said. "Whatever I wanted to do, I could achieve. And that's the mentality that my parents have instilled in me. And, that's what helped them achieve their level of success as well."

Ihim's parents, who grew up in Nigeria, have "very strong work ethics" and "go-getter" attitudes, she said. Ihim's dad is an interventional cardiologist and her mom, a homemaker, is "the anchor" of the household.

Their goal was to "create more opportunities" for Ihim and her three older siblings, according to Ihim.

Less than a week after getting her Wisconsin law license, Ihim was off to LA. She got her law license there and launched her legal career.

"I felt like, 'I have arrived, honey!" she said. "That's what it was for me. I remember stepping off the plane — it was a United Airlines flight — and I just remember saying, 'I am never leaving this place.' "

That is, until she unexpectedly fell in love.

Met her match, had a 'fairytale wedding'

In 2018, Dr. Ikenna Ihim — who came to America from Nigeria in his teens — slid into Ihim's Instagram DMs. In addition to being a medical doctor who does travel medicine, he also has an MBA.

At that time, Nneka was working as an employment law litigator for law firm Shenoi Koes.

"I wasn't really focused on love," she said. "I was focused on reaching my goals, providing the life I wanted for myself ... I just wanted to get things done. So, when he came in my life, it wasn't really what I was looking for. But, he just checked all of those boxes."

A "risk-taker," Nneka flew across the country to meet Ikenna for the first time on Christmas Day 2018.

Since her flight got in early that morning, Ikenna took her to IHOP for their first date.

"I was like, 'Wow, this is not going to work out,' " Nneka laughed.

Oh, but it did.

In 2021, the two had "the most lavish, phenomenal and expensive" wedding at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., with just under 500 of their closest family members and friends.

"It was a fairytale wedding for sure," Nneka said.

The couple's roots were represented throughout their Big Day. The celebration kicked off with the breaking of the kola nut ceremony and musical artist Tiwa Savage flew in from Africa to perform.

The Ihims are planning their traditional Nigerian wedding, which was originally derailed by the pandemic, Ihim said. It'll be held on her father's compound in Nigeria.

Moving to Maryland

With Ikenna and most of his family living in Maryland, Nneka moved there. And, after Nneka got the lay of the land, the newlyweds decided to move to Potomac.

Nneka knew a few women in the area and "it just made sense for our life and the future we're trying to build," she said.

In the Season 8 preview, Nneka is shown thanking her hubby for buying her a $2 million house.

"One thing about me: I enjoy the finer things in life," Nneka said. "I love affluence because that's how I was raised. So, I wanted to find a community that was befitting similar to how I was raised. And then also, good school districts. Because I want to have a community for my future children."

Nneka's sister moved with her family to the area, too. And yes, Nneka has tracked down the closest Walmart.

How Nneka Ihim ended up on 'The Real Housewives of Potomac'

"I ended up being on 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' because I am one of the dynamic individuals who live in this community and I have a prior relationship with (cast member) Ashley (Darby)," Ihim said. "They're always looking to highlight some of the dynamic, successful, intelligent women — and I happen to be among that group."

Returning cast members this season include Darby, Gizelle Bryant, Karen Huger, Robyn Dixon, Wendy Osefo — who appears to get into it with Nneka, per the show's preview — Candiace Dillard Bassett and Mia Thornton.

"I've really enjoyed my time and I'm just really thrilled and honored to be a part of this cast," Ihim said. "I just really plan on bringing my own sense of humor, style and just my outspoken nature to the show."

Was Nneka Ihim familiar with the 'Housewives' franchise before being on 'Potomac'?

Yes. Ihim watched "The Real Housewives of Orange County" in college. And, when she moved to California, the Beverly Hills edition was many of her friends' "guilty pleasure."

"I knew I would fit right in, that's for sure," Ihim said.

Ihim is "really grateful for the opportunity" to be on "Potomac," but it's been an adjustment — both an exciting and nerve-wracking one.

She said she's learning to balance her husband, their move, getting the new house in order, other things going on in their lives and getting to know her castmates.

"It was chaos in the best way possible," she said.

According to her show bio, Nneka is also an entrepreneur who founded an alcoholic beverage company and spearheaded the development of a dating/social app called Hello Africa.

How to watch 'The Real Housewives of Potomac'

"The Real Housewives of Potomac" airs Sundays at 7 p.m. CT. on Bravo. Episodes will also be available on the Peacock streaming service the next day.

For more info on the show, visit bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-potomac.