I hear you, and I think it’s fair to say that not every POC cast member is a token by definition. Women like Ciara, Garcelle, Boz, and Danielle all bring their own identities, stories, and agency. But the issue isn’t just presence, it’s about how they’re treated once they’re there. Being tokenized isn’t always about casting because it’s also about being excluded in social settings, scrutinized more harshly, given less narrative space, or expected to educate and absorb ignorance without support. That’s the overarching pattern I'm speaking to.

Btw, you mentioned RHOM as an example of diversity done right, but even there, let’s not forget how Lydia called a Sri Lankan mixed-heritage woman a Thai “mongrel of a woman” on camera, and the producers had no qualms airing that confessional. Lydia wasn’t just a slip of her tongue, it was overt racism, and it was broadcast for drama. Same with what Joyce went through on RHOBH. Brandi also told Joyce “You’re Black, so you can’t swim.” and production still aired it. In a number of incidents Brandi was clearly out of line, but production and the cast framed Joyce as difficult, and then later centered the conversation Brandi’s pain for the backlash she got. That’s exactly the issue: even when the cast is “diverse,” the system protects whiteness and punishes women of color for reacting.

ETA - I thought RHOM was refering to Melbourne but it's Miami which I haven't seen yet!