RHODubai's Chanel Ayan Reveals the Housewives Rule She'd Add on The Traitors

The Real Housewives of Dubai’s Chanel Ayan had no idea what she was getting into when she signed on for The Traitors. After all, she thought many of the players competing on the show – some of whom were on Survivor – were actual survivors and didn’t know who Alan Cumming was. Despite having an early exit from the castle, the Bravo reality star has since become a lover of the game, watching each episode weekly like a true fan. “I’m obsessed,” Ayan said.  

Recently, she hopped on Zoom to dish on her Traitors experience, why the Housewives were being targeted at the beginning of the season, and the one rule she’d want to introduce to the game. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Have you been watching the season? What are your thoughts so far? 

I've been watching, I've been tweeting, and I've been loving it! Every single person in the cast is playing the game. It's all new to me. And I'm like, but I've been there in that kitchen, I've been there to that room, I've been there, but it's brand new. I'm a big fan. 

When you entered the castle, you weren't familiar with the game or the people you were playing with. What was the experience for you diving into The Traitors not knowing much in the beginning? 

I never watched the show because it doesn't air in Dubai, so I just saw clips online but that's not the whole show. So, when I arrived in Scotland, I only knew the Bravo people and Wells [from Bachelor in Paradise], and I was so excited to be there. But I was looking at them, like who are these people? And then when Alan [Cumming] came, I was like, "Who is the man that they want us to shake their hand with?" And Rob is like a legend from Survivor, you know? It was interesting, I got to make a lot of friends, and I got to learn new things about different people. But then later on, I found out there's a show called Survivor because I just thought Carolyn was a survivor, telling me stuff about her life, and then Danielle was telling me about her children and her whole entire life. So, I was just like everybody is a survivor like me. We're all the same. I didn't know it was a game until I left the house, which was really fascinating. 

What do you remember about your time in the castle? 

I was there for a while, but it was definitely brief. I really honestly had the best time. I made good friends that I talk to every day and I'm happy that I was part of it, even if I died earlier. I know that I didn't die because of anything except I was really funny, and somebody was threatened by it. If you have someone like Bob the Drag Queen, who's a funny comedian, being threatened by somebody like me, that's an honor. Because I was the best, get rid of the best.  

If you lasted longer, who would you have wanted to team up with? 

I had good alignment already with Dylan, and I had a good [relationship] with Wells. I wasn't worried about the Bravo people because I'm very good friends with Dolores outside the show. Dolores was always looking out for me. When Wells left, I was only left with Dylan, and I decided to build my friendship with Britney. I was like, OK, Wells is gone; I was so emotional, I was so sad, I was so heartbroken because he didn't deserve that. I told everyone he was a Faithful and they didn't believe him. And I talked about it at roundtable. Dylan would have been the person that was left. I trusted Gabby. I trusted Chrishell and Britney. 

Would you want to play The Traitors again? How would you do things differently? 

I would do it differently by not being so funny. I'd be a good Danielle, or I would be Carolyn. I would definitely play better than the Traitors have played. The only Traitor that I have mad respect for is Rob and Carolyn, and I actually do have respect for Danielle too. It bothers my heart that she's getting a lot of negativity. At the end of the day, she played the game. The game is The Traitors, you are there to take somebody out that's your competition. 

Why do you think her gameplay is rubbing some the wrong way? 

Watching it, Carolyn did not play the talking [part] well on-camera. Her words were not great. Danielle planned to take her out, but also Carolyn was coming for Danielle. They were both coming for each other, trying to get each other out. But I think the reason why Danielle is getting so much hate is because she outshined the person that the people want to see win. She took somebody out. That's what my opinion is. Personally, they both didn't have good [arguments] at the roundtable about why they deserved to stay but I feel like they both came for each other, and I know there's beef between them. 

How do you think you'd fare if Alan chose you as a Traitor?  

I'd be a great Traitor! I would not have killed fun people, no. I would have started with people that I don't know. I've never seen Tony before, but I love him now. I would have kept every Bravo [person]. I think I would have killed people by how they behave towards others more than anything else. And the funnier you are, I would have kept you alive because you're bringing fun. You're working 15, 16 hours; it's exhausting just to think about the game, the game, the game. It's gotta be fun. Let's take some shots. Let's play a game. Let's run around. I would have created more games that were fun. Maybe acting situations. Oh my god, I would have even taken Alan's job. I would have just had fun.  

Anything that surprised you about how the season has played out?  

A lot of things surprised me when I was watching it. One of the things that really surprised me is how no one was listening to Carolyn. Carolyn was like, "Don't kill Dorinda," "Don't kill Ayan," "Let's not kill this person." If they had just given her a bit of grace to listen to her, I think most of us that were fun, exciting would have stayed in. And also, the other thing that surprised me was Ivar. When I was in the house, Ivar was very outspoken [and in the episodes he's] so quiet. why is he so quiet? Rob surprised me with how strong he was at the roundtable to take out Bob [the Drag Queen]. I loved it. 

Housewives were getting knocked out early in the season. Do you think there's value in a Housewives-only or Bravo-exclusive version of The Traitors?  

Oh, that would be amazing. That would honestly be amazing. I feel like The Traitors should come up with a rule where it's like in the first four episodes, don't kill a Housewife. But then it cannot be because what if a Housewife is a Traitor? Keep all the Housewives in because the Housewives bring fun, light, and energy. They are good at spying [on] things because [some] of the Housewives have been in broken marriages — they found that the husbands were cheating — like we always know what's going around. I'll be like, are you OK today? And you'll be like, something is wrong. They should keep Housewives [in the game]. That would be my rule. 

Was there anything that we didn't see in the episodes? 

At one point, I was chasing Ciara down because she was eating grapes a lot. And I thought she was a Traitor because she was eating grapes. She was like, “Girl, I just love grapes." 

Who are you rooting for?  

For my friends. I'm rooting for Dylan. I'm rooting for Dolores. I'm also rooting for Danielle. I hope she wins, no matter how crazy she was. She went too far with her craziness, so craziness works. 

Stream the Season 3 finale of The Traitors on Thursday at 9p ET on Peacock.