Let’s get one thing out of the way: The Culpos aren’t vying to become the next Kardashians. Yes, sisters Aurora, 33, Olivia, 30, and Sophia, 26, star in a new family-based reality show revealing their sibling dynamic, but to hear them tell it, the similarities stop there. 

“It’s so unbelievably different,” Olivia tells StyleWatch when asked about the Kardashian comparison that’s inevitably swirling around their new TLC/Discovery+ show The Culpo Sisters. “I definitely respect them as entrepreneurs, but this show is about the juxtaposition between our life in Los Angeles and our life in Rhode Island. Our parents are really quirky. We also have two brothers that are in the show. All in all, it’s a totally different story line.” 

“I understand the comparison because we’re three sisters, but that’s the only thing in common,” Sophia adds. 

“I think we’re a bit more relatable,” chimes in Aurora. As her sisters raise their eyebrows, Aurora doubles down: “What, do you have a private jet? I don’t.” 

“I’m working on it,” Olivia retorts. 

This nonstop banter is exactly what viewers see unfold on TV each week. “In our family, there’s no boundaries, there’s no filter, and there’s no personal space,” Olivia declares in the premiere episode. That’s more than clear after just five minutes of watching the trio on-set of our StyleWatch relaunch. 

There’s laughing, teasing and even a group sing-along as they model sequin outfits that make them “feel like Shania Twain,” a fitting comparison as they’re poised to step into the spotlight. 

“Just put some sparkles on us, give us a couple of beta blockers, and we can be anything you want us to be,” Aurora jokes.  

Below, we lift the curtain on the Culpos.

Growing Up Culpo

Collectively, the sisters use one word to describe their childhood in Rhode Island: “normal.” 

Their father, Peter, is a restaurant owner with businesses in the Boston and Rhode Island area. Mom Susan is a classically trained musician who plays viola for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Pops and Boston Symphony. There are also two brothers, Pete, 34, and Gus, 27, who will make their own cameos on the show. 

“We had a lot of extracurriculars as kids,” Olivia says of pressure from her parents to stay engaged. “I was in chamber music, took private cello lessons and went to band camp for eight weeks every summer. Our parents were really good at making us do all sorts of activities.” 

Adds Aurora: “My mom really wanted us to be well-rounded. She didn’t come from a lot of money, but she had a very cultural upbringing. Her mom was also an amazing teacher, so that’s how she raised us.” 

Olivia’s stacked résumé and skill as a cellist would catapult her into an unexpected beauty pageant journey. She swept the titles of Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA and Miss Universe in 2012. A year later she started dating Nick Jonas and moved to Los Angeles, where she remained after their split in 2015 to pursue her career in modeling and fashion. 

“I think subconsciously, we all have been molded by our birth order,” Olivia shares. “I was always the codependent middle child, and that’s why my career is basically striving for more attention—I didn’t get enough growing up. Sophia’s the baby. And Aurora is just really bossy—not in a bad way, in the way that you want to follow her.” 

Aurora quit law school, got her master’s degree in early childhood education and later stepped away from the 9-to-5 life after welcoming her two children, Remi, 3, and Solei, 1, with ex-husband Mikey Bortone. She’s now stumbled into the role of momfluencer, building a community around motherhood, wellness and being a “self-proclaimed beauty guru.” 

For Sophia, a B.A. in nutrition from Boston University led her to start sharing healthy-eating and self-care tips on social media. Most recently she’s following in Olivia’s footsteps, taking on modeling gigs and sponsored partnerships for brands like Savage x Fenty and Beautycounter.  

So are Mom and Dad proud? “They still have no idea what we do,” Olivia says with a laugh. “Gosh, explaining to them is so painful. It just will never register.” 

Closet Wars

Sisters fighting over clothes is not a new plot. Getting a padlock on your closet to keep them out, however, is what reality TV dreams are made of. 

“My closet is still padlocked and for good reason—it never goes unlocked,” Olivia shares of her tactic for keeping her sisters away from her things. She’s also established ground rules before lending out her clothes. “I need to be the first person to wear it, and you need to ask—that’s it.” 

The biggest culprit: Sophia, who feels she’s unfairly targeted.

“I’m definitely the first to blame, which is valid at times,” she says. “But when I’m being honest, she never believes me. And to be fair, I don’t steal things. I always put them back.” 

For our StyleWatch shoot, the trio coordinated in holiday-party-ready looks that show off their signature style personalities. 

While Aurora’s everyday wear is “elevated, earthy chic,” she also loves to dress up and isn’t afraid to wear a poofy skirt: “I like to feel like a princess sometimes.” 

Olivia usually gravitates toward a “chic, modern and sleek vibe,” while Sophia rocks a jumpsuit or pantsuit best thanks to her “crazy long legs.” 

But when they’re off duty, comfort is critical for the sisters. Olivia rarely takes off her Uggs, Aurora loves her baggy jeans and Birkenstocks, and Sophia is all about “cozy streetwear,” an aesthetic that’s become the cornerstone of Gen Z dressing. 

“I’ve leaned into being comfortable as much as I can,” Olivia says. “I’m the person that used to wear heels to the airport, but I’m not like that anymore. I don’t care enough.” 

They also all agree that thirst traps are slowly fading out of relevance. 

“There’s so much pandering because everybody knows that the more sexy you look or the less amount of clothing, the more people are going to engage with your photo,” Olivia shares. “And it takes an awareness to be like, ‘Okay, I’m going to dress for myself,’ not for the external validation or for the shock factor. That’s not creative, and it’s not style or fashion to me. But you have to remind yourself.” 

“It’s old,” Aurora adds. “We all know a boob shot will do well, but do we really want to have our boobs out in every picture? No.”

Breast Lifts and Botox

Between their brows and bone structure, the Culpos possess the photogenic DNA that has become synonymous with influencer superstardom. They aren’t shy to admit they invest in their appearances. Aurora recently had a breast lift, a mommy makeover she’s proud to talk about. 

“I really felt uncomfortable with the way I looked after I breastfed both my children for over two years,” Aurora tells StyleWatch. “My breasts were deflated, they were uncomfortable, and I didn’t feel good in my clothes.” 

In the end, she was “really happy” with her result. 

As the oldest, Aurora’s often the guinea pig for cosmetic procedures—like Botox and filler—a charge she’s happy to lead. 

“Aurora tries pretty much everything first, and then if she likes it, we do it,” says Olivia. 

“I’ve definitely had Botox before, and I don’t like it in certain spots,” Aurora shares. “One time I tried it in my lip, and I couldn’t drink out of a straw, so I won’t be doing that anymore.”

For Olivia, it’s all about boosting your confidence. 

“Whatever makes you feel good—I don’t judge anybody for doing anything that they think is going to make them wake up and feel happier,” she shares. 

The pressure to project a certain image on social media is something the sisters grapple with, at times taking pause from their feeds to prioritize their own mental health and block out negative comments. 

And while they don’t deny enhancing their social media photos (“We all do it”), they have collectively deleted the FaceTune app from their phones. 

“Here’s the thing: Everybody’s going to see what you look like on video,” Olivia explains. “We’re not ones to change our appearance and trick people.”

Adds Sophia: “I don’t want to be a catfish; that is my worst nightmare. I don’t want somebody to see me and be like, ‘Oh, you look different; what’s up with you!?’ ”

Ballers, Breakups and Baby Fever 

Olivia and Sophia are both dating NFL players: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and New York Jets wide receiver Braxton Berrios, respectively. As proud “WAGs,” they are often seen on the sidelines—likely in a pair of over-the-knee boots—supporting their guys in style. Sophia recently moved to New Jersey to be with Berrios, which left her posting as Olivia’s roommate vacant—and Olivia’s closet safe, for now. 

In April Aurora filed for divorce from Survivor season 16 alum Bortone, 48, a story line that will continue to play out on the show. 

“When we started filming, I was not getting a divorce, and then when we went into the six remaining episodes after the pilot, I was in the middle of a divorce,” Aurora shares. “We went into this show knowing that we were going to be 100 percent vulnerable and open. I think I did a pretty good job of sharing my truth from my perspective while being courteous to the people who were also involved in my life that were not on the show.” 

In the pilot Aurora reveals that she and Bortone had a “hall pass” arrangement while he was away on business, something that later led to larger infidelity and a fractured relationship. 

“I’m not ashamed of the 25-year-old that made that choice,” Aurora maintains of her open-marriage agreement. “I think that it’s important for people to hear somebody talk about decisions that they made 10 years ago that they’ve grown out of. It’s not part of your identity forever. It was an opportunity for me to show other people you have no reason to be ashamed of any choices that you made in the past. There’s always an opportunity to grow and to change your mind.” 

When asked if she’ll jump on the athlete boyfriend bandwagon, the answer is an adamant “Hell no!”

“They got the last two good athletes out there, so there’s none left,” Aurora adds.

Olivia agrees McCaffrey is one of the good ones, especially after a previous relationship that made her feel “less than human.” (A teaser clip of that revelation on the show went viral online, prompting speculation about which ex was the subject of her teary confession.)

“I had never actually anticipated talking about that, ever,” she says. “It was prompted by a question, and I just started breaking down. It was a really weird emotional outburst, but I do think, ultimately, it’s something that a lot of people can relate to. I’m hoping that it will help people feel less alone. I look back and think, ‘I’m such a strong person. How did I go through that? How did I let myself go through that?’ ” 

These days she’s secure and happy. Even though long distance has its challenges during the NFL season, Olivia shares that their bond is built on a strong faith. 

“I think every single relationship teaches you so much about yourself, and I definitely have an appreciation for my relationship now that I would never have because of all of my past experiences, so you have to be grateful for the rough shit,” she says. 

And looking ahead, does she see a family in their future? She doesn’t deny the baby fever is real, but on the other hand, seeing Aurora parent two toddlers is a “really good form of birth control.” 

All jokes aside, both Olivia and Sophia have admired the way their sister has approached motherhood. 

“It’s amazing to see how much she loves them,” Sophia says. “You’re no longer No. 1  in your life. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not ready for that,’ so I’m going to push this till I’m 30, maybe 32.” 

Olivia applauds her sister’s openness about the tougher side of mom life. 

“Aurora talked a lot about the effects of postpartum, which is really inspiring and important for other women, not only myself,” she says. “How it can affect your mental health, respecting everybody’s journey and being really sensitive to people who have just given birth.”

A Quirky Culpo Christmas 

The Culpos gather together in Rhode Island for the holidays. Stevie Wonder’s Christmas album plays on repeat. They dine on the Italian tradition of “seven fishes” for Christmas Eve and exchange presents. (Olivia is unanimously voted the best gift giver.) 

“We have a huge Christmas party, and there’s always a bunch of people that we don’t know that my mom invites from God knows where and a stray animal that she somehow takes in,” Olivia shares of their hometown holiday traditions. “My mom’s usually on her fourth Christmas tree of the season because they’ve all died, and we only hang ornaments that we made in first grade. It’s just Popsicle sticks. Whenever I go home for the holidays, I’m always looking at everybody’s Instagram stories at their chic Christmases, and I’m like, ‘God, do I have to post her tree?’ It’s just not it.”

While these moments might not be ’gram worthy, it’s the kind of non-curated, behind-the-curtain view you’ll continue to see from the sisters on their show—along with a whole lot of sibling spats, something that’s remained consistent since they were making Popsicle-stick ornaments in elementary school. 

“We use bigger words now,” Olivia points out when asked how their bickering has evolved. 

“Bigger words, less blood,” Sophia adds. 

“And no more hairpulling,” Aurora concludes. “Extensions are expensive.”

____

Credits

Photographer: Amy Harrity
Hair: Justine Marjan
Hair: Hayley Heckman
Makeup: Jenna Nicole
Makeup: Liz Castellanos
Stylist: Rafael Linares/Art Dept

Wardrobe Credits

Olivia’s Silver Outfit
Top & Skirt: White Fox
Rings: Djula
Earrings: Candy Ice
Shoes: Anabelle via @tatalashop

Olivia’s Gold Outfit:
Jacket: Falguni & Shane Peacock
Boots: Alevi
Rings & Earrings: Vhernier

Sophia’s Silver Outfit:
Dress: Nicole + Felicia
Earrings: Djula
Shoes: Paris Texas

Sophia’s Gold Outfit:
Jumpsuit: Falguni & Shane Peacock
Shoes: Alevi
Rings: Le Vian

Aurora’s Silver Outfit
Top & Pants: Nicole + Felicia
Earrings: Candy Ice
Necklaces: Djula
Bracelet: Cartier
Shoes: Akira

Aurora’s Gold Outfit:
Dress: Nicole + Felicia
Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti
Bracelet: Cartier
Cuff: Tara Jewelry
Earrings: Ralph Masri
Rings: Le Vian

UP NEXT: Go ‘Behind the Glam’ of the Culpo Sisters’ Super-Sparkly Shoot!