Charley Manley is the latest blonde bombshell to grace the Southern Charm universe. As a former pageant queen, Manley—who now works in an art gallery—was introduced to Charleston’s favorite group of Charmers via her good friend Salley Carson, who joined the show in Season 10. While Manley had “no expectations” going into filming, she certainly didn’t expect to spark a romance with a newly single Craig Conover.
“I think that I could tell that we gravitated towards each other whenever we were in these bigger groups just because we do have a lot in common,” Manley told DECIDER. “So maybe I was starting to get the hint after maybe a month of knowing him.”
What started as innocent late-night hangouts in Conover’s hot tub quickly turned into a dramatic love triangle between the Sewing Down South founder, Manley, and Carson, who had been harboring a crush on Conover. When Conover friend-zoned Carson and instead opted to invite Manley on a date to the oyster farm, fans were sure that all hell would break loose—and it somewhat did when the guys brought up Manley and Conover’s impending date at Madison LeCroy‘s slumber party.
To the viewer, it seemed as though it was Carson’s first time learning about the date, but Manley told us that Carson was actually the first call she made after Conover asked her out.
“I called her right after he asked me on the date, actually,” Manley clarified. “It wasn’t on camera, but as soon as he left my gallery, I immediately called her and told her that he asked me on a date and that I was going.”
When Manley stopped by our studio earlier this week, she shared an update on her status with Conover, whether she thinks her situation with Carson can be compared to Carson’s drama with Venita Aspen, and who she’s rooting for on The Traitors Season 4. Check out the full interview below.
DECIDER: Southern Charm has been on for over 10 years now, so have you watched the show before? What was it like joining the cast?
CHARLEY MANLEY: I feel like people don’t believe me when I say this, but I really did not watch the show at all. People say I need to go back and watch the beginning seasons because apparently it’s really entertaining. I did watch a little bit of last season before coming into this group just to kind of get familiarized with what I was getting myself into. But I feel like I knew or had heard of everyone just from being in Charleston. It is a small town and everyone really does know everyone. I’ve been in Charleston for almost six years now. So I would see Craig, Austen and Shep out and about places. But this was my first time really hanging out with everybody.
I want to get into everything going on so far this season. First of all, when you first joined the show, Shep was sliding into your DMs. What made you turn him down? And did you ever think that you would end up in a little love triangle with Craig instead?
No, I never thought that I’d be in a love triangle. As for Shep, it’s hard because I really do love him. He is one of my favorite people. I find him so unintentionally funny. But when you know, you know. It was more of a friendship vibe for sure. With Craig, no, I didn’t foresee a love triangle. But in the beginning me, him and Salley were all hanging out the three of us as friends – also with Craig’s friend Kory whenever he was in town, too. I didn’t see it going south because it was so fun in the beginning.
You were there for many of those late-night hot tub sesh’s at Craig’s house. Did you feel like Craig was ever flirting with Salley? Did he lead her on?
Nothing too obvious because I didn’t feel like he was flirting with me either. We were really just hanging out after a night of drinking. It didn’t feel like it was like these romantic hot tub nights. We really were just hanging out.
At what point did you realize that Craig was actually into you?
I think that I could tell that we gravitated towards each other whenever we were in these bigger groups just because we do have a lot in common. So maybe I was starting to get the hint after maybe like a month of knowing him.
I think you were definitely put in an awkward position at the slumber party when the boys outed your date with Craig before you had a chance to tell Salley. Did you plan to tell her beforehand? Or were you going to see how it went with him before setting off any alarms?
No. Salley and I really are so close. We are constantly texting, talking on the phone. I called her right after he asked me on the date, actually. It wasn’t on camera, but as soon as he left my gallery, I immediately called her and told her that he asked me on a date and that I was going. I wasn’t planning on having a whole discussion about it at the slumber party. But I knew that that would happen because it always happens in this group. Nothing is private.
I think you handled it well – even when, as a viewer, it looked like you hadn’t told her yet.
To the viewer, it looks like Salley had no idea. But at the same time, everyone in the group is also wanting to hear Salley’s opinion and how she feels about it, too. I knew why it was brought up.
Did you feel like you had to downplay your feelings for Craig to keep things smooth-sailing with Salley?
No. I honestly felt like I was very much pressured to be like, “Yes, I like him. No, I don’t like him.” I was really living in the gray and wanting to find out on my own. That’s why I wanted to go on this date. I wanted to spend time with him one on one away from the group. It wasn’t like I was downplaying it. I honestly felt like it had to be a yes or a no. And if it had to be yes or no, it was going to be a no until I changed my mind and it’s a yes.
In this week’s episode, we see you get emotional over the date because you feel bad for Salley – and Molly basically tells you that she’s putting you in the same position that Venita put her in. Do you agree with that?
No, because Venita never had a crush on Craig. I think that Salley did have a crush on Craig. I will say, she also had a crush on Austen. She also had a crush on a couple other people at the time too. But I don’t think it’s the same situation, I really don’t. I mean, it looks very similar. I kind of feel like I’m going to hurt Salley’s feelings by hanging out with Craig, and then Salley feels like she’s going to hurt Venita’s feelings by hanging out with Craig. But I do think it’s different.
Obviously, Austen and Craig have been going through quite a bit this season. Was there any part of you that was ever turned off by the idea of a romance with Craig after seeing his arguments with Austen?
Yeah. I think that I voiced that too after, for instance, Whit’s birthday party, when Craig kind of blew up at Austen. I went to Craig’s house to show him some art, and we sat down and I was like, “It’s just not a good look, man.” It’s not like it just turns me off and I’m going to shut it down completely. But it is one of those things where, I mean, one like that shouldn’t happen all the time. And two, you have to take accountability. And I feel like he did after Whit’s party.
Next week, we’re going to see your date with Craig at the oyster farm, and based on the preview, it looks like the date goes well. Can you share where you and Craig currently stand?
We’re in a good place. Yeah, we’re in a good place. You’ll see. At the end of the day, we really were friends before we went on a date or two. But yeah, I think we’re in a good place.
This week, we see Austen get matching tattoos with his younger sister, Katie. He’s been in the news quite a bit recently because fans are really upset with the way Nick Viall and his wife questioned him about the passing of his older sister. I know Rodrigo and Cameran Eubanks have had things to say. Have you spoken to Austen at all? What did you think of the interview?
I haven’t spoken to Austen. I watched it. I don’t want to say anything because there could have been a private apology. I think that a private apology is even more sincere than a public apology. So, I don’t want to say anything. That’s for him and them to figure out.
I love that you’ve shared your love of art! What’s it like to share that passion with the world?
It’s so exciting. This is what I’ve been doing in Charleston for the last three, three and a half years. My gallery that I work at, the people that I work with are like some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life. And they’ve been so supportive throughout all of this. Knowing that it is such a big part of my life and a part of my story, they immediately jumped behind the idea of me filming in the gallery because they’re like, “Yeah, we want you to be able to show you doing what you love.” It’s been great though.
Has anyone slid into your DMs about finding art pieces?
No, I haven’t really looked. But I’ll let that happen through email correspondence. I’m gonna keep that professional. I’m not gonna be selling art through the DMs.
Was the experience of filming Southern Charm what you thought it would be?
I feel like I went into it really with no expectations. I just went into it knowing that I was going to be true to myself. I just feel like I’m not like a negative person. And even when there is drama, I do feel like I try to be like a mediator or someone that wants to reconcile pretty quickly. Looking back, I do wish that I was a little bit more outspoken at times. I do think that I definitely looked a little meek, I’d say. But yeah, next season.
You’re obviously still close with Salley. Is there anyone else you grew close with that surprised you?
Whitner. I love Whitner. We both came on to this show as new people. I don’t think that we really got close during the filming of this past season, but since we finished filming, we hang out all the time. I love Whitner – and Rodrigo, too. He’s just the best. I knew him before going on the show, but getting to know him has just been great. And Molly! I love Molly. She’s the best, and she’s so hilarious.
Salley had a very ominous response when asked on WWHL if she would ever date Whitner. What did you think of that?
I think people took that a little bit too negatively. I think that she just meant it in a way where we really haven’t seen a ton of Whitner on the show, and he’s the best. I mean, I’ll say it, I just feel like he’s like friend vibes. He’s one of my closest friends now, but you’ll see. [He’s] friend vibes.
You’re going to be on WWHL with Dylan Efron this week! Did you watch him on Dancing with the Stars and The Traitors?
Oh, my God. Both. Yes! I watched him on both. I’m a huge Traitors fan. I have not always been the biggest Dancing with the Stars fan, but I tuned in this past season just because everyone was. I mean, it was a global phenomenon. But I have just been the biggest Traitors fan. So I watched him on that. He did great, obviously, he won.
Who are you rooting for on Traitors this season?
I love it. I’m kind of rooting for the Traitors. I like them, I like them a lot. I’ve never rooted for the Traitors in the past, but I really like them. I also love Maura [Higgins], but I feel like they’ll just keep her around because she’s fun. They’ll wait to get rid of her because she’s the best. But yeah, I like the Traitors.
I imagine the reunion is just around the corner. What’s something you’re hoping to address?
I’m excited for the reunion because we’re filming it on my birthday, so that’ll be fun. It’ll either be really fun or the worst birthday ever. But we go to Mexico on our cast trip, and that’s so much fun. I mean, the rest of the season is really entertaining.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Southern Charm airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
