‘Summer House’ star Lindsay Hubbard reflects on ‘authentic’ reality TV career at Cannes Lions

“Summer House” star Lindsay Hubbard is all authenticity. 

The OG cast member of Bravo’s hit show said she doesn’t know how to be any other way. 

“I am a very authentic person. I don’t know how to be anything other than,” Hubbard said at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France on Monday.

“I mean you guys all watched me for 10 years in my entire 30s growing up on TV. That’s when you start learning how to become an adult.”

Hubbard, who was part of 3CV’s panel called, “More than a Moment: Inside the Franchise Ecosystems Defining Culture,” moderated by Page Six Executive Entertainment Editor Melanie Bromley, added that her background as a publicist gave her a unique perspective on how to connect with viewers. 

“I was a brand publicist … working on the back end of brand PR and then on the front end of the camera with brands, it’s just a really special way to really connect with our fans,” she added.

Hubbard was joined by NBCUniversal President of Advertising & Partnerships Karen Kovacs, Chair of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted Frances Berwick, and Target’s Chief Brand Officer Michelle Mesenburg.

Berwick shed light on how the network created a wildly popular show like “Summer House.”

“We actually don’t approach it as we’re trying to create a cultural phenomenon. We don’t ever think of it as we’re trying to create a franchise,” Berwick said. “We just go into it thinking, ‘Is this a great show? Do you think it’s going to resonate, are they relatable, are they authentic? Are our fans going to want to really get to know them?’”

The exec said that the Bravo and Peacock audiences are “much more engaged” than the average audience and tend to view the casts of the shows as if they are “friends” or “family.”

Kovacs, whose company sponsors “Shop What Happens,” a shoppable Bravo digital series, added “Summer House,” in particular, is “so relatable” that Target had to be part of the cultural moment.

“People feel like they’re part of the show. They want to participate. We dream of summer in the Hamptons, so we look at that in relation to our audience and our guests, we call our shoppers guests,” she said, before turning to the shoppable digital series featuring Bravolebrities who have recommended products curated by Target.

“We see what’s going to connect for them. Bravo in general … the content is incredible, the talent is incredible, and the opportunities you’re creating for us allow a unique way in, but also a very natural way in.”