After several seasons on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” Brooks Marks is stepping to the forefront on the new Bravo sensation “Next Gen NYC.”

With a hybrid of “Housewives” children and fresh new characters, “Next Gen NYC” is not just garnering buzz for the cast, but for the stories they’re telling as well. Brooks is already diving into the drama defending his sister Chloe, but also embracing new and existing friendships, continuing to build a brand, and spending time with his parents. I caught up with Brooks to dish about the inaugural season of “Next Gen NYC,” what it was like making the leap to showcase his own life, and offers some sage words for the community this Pride season.

“Next Gen NYC” is splashy, amazing, and really showcases both you and your family in an amazing way. What is it like to be now pivoting to be the focus instead of being in a supporting role on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” with your mother Meredith Marks?

It’s a totally different experience and I am so grateful to not just be in that position, but for the support that I have received, it means the world to me. It’s definitely a fun table-turning situation!

Your father Seth has always been wonderfully supportive of you, and your mother is a beloved ally of the community as well. Now seeing how supportive they are on “Next Gen NYC,” it must give you such a sense of pride to have parents that are standing by your side.

I mean, I could not imagine having parents that were more supportive in any way.

What was it like defending your sister Chloe almost it seemed, as quickly as the cameras went up and being such an amazingly defensive big brother?

It definitely gave me a lot of respect for my older brother Reid who has always played that role, I was like, “I wish I could hand you that baton back!” I have an extremely close bond with my sister, that’s something that I am super grateful that viewers get to see the ins and outs of, that relationship with my sister.

When you were made aware that the opportunity for “Next Gen NYC” was upon you, were you apprehensive or did you jump right in? You are someone who speaks softly, but definitely has impact with the words that he uses.

Well, first of all thank you, that is literally such a compliment. I feel like I am so soft-spoken so it could be easy to just not hear what I have to say. I honestly didn’t have any hesitation, not at all. I felt like since my mom’s start on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” and my intro into the public sphere, I feel like I have changed so much in ways that viewers can’t even comprehend. I was really excited to get to show the ins and outs of the work that I do at my clothing brand Brooks Marks and what I do with my mom at Meredith Marks and my modeling career and personal and relationship life; all of these facets of my life that people have not seen before. I was getting really tired of being judged off of a 15-minute complication of my appearances on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.” It was like, “You guys think you know me, but strap in, that is just a scratch of the surface.”

How do you think you have changed the most from initially appearing on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” to now showcasing your own life and career on “Next Gen NYC?”

Being thrust into the public sphere definitely had its fair share of humbling, so there is that. I think that at this point in my life I am the happiest that I have ever been. I don’t think that I am hiding any parts of my life in any way and it’s a very humbling experience.

What do you think one of your favorite parts of being an actual New Yorker is and what have you fallen in love with the most?

Apparently I’m not allowed to classify myself an “actual” New Yorker, apparently it’s very territorial but I have lived in New York for about eight years now. I just sort of love the care free vibe in New York, of everyone just doing what they want. There is so much individuality, but such a sense of community. I feel like that sentence could make no sense, but if you’re a New Yorker you get it! Everyone is totally their own person, but we all come together and support each other at the end of the day.

I think there is a common misconception is that is someone is decked in the face in New York City everyone is just going to walk by like nothing happened; that’s not true. People help each other in the city all the time. I drop something, people hand it back to me, it’s not every man for themselves in the city at all.

Where are you finding the areas of the city that you love the most when you want to dive into Manhattan’s nightlife?

I definitely have my fair share out on the town. I love The Nines, it’s a really cool cocktail place with a piano bar vibe. Bond Street is a classic, they have a cool downstairs vibe that I like and the best lychee martini in the city. Definitely a little bit of everywhere, I feel like everyone on Next Gen, we have a lot of nights a The Box.

Emira D’Spain is one of your cast members and friends and she is the first full-time trans cast member on a Bravo show. What is so wonderful is that she is treated simply as a cast member and not a “trans person” only. What is that like for you to have such a close friend that is also shattering stereotypes simply by existing?

I think we don’t even realize how monumental it really is because to me, having someone around me that is doing that is just not out of the ordinary. No one views Emira any differently because of who she is or anything, she is just our friend. I don’t think we really realized how monumental that situation really was.

What can you share about what we may see on this season of “Next Gen NYC?”

I think the drama you would expect on a show like this is not what you are gonna get. Everything that we experienced during filming I could not have predicted literally in any way. Whenever I thought that I understood where things were going they went in a completely opposite way. It’s not the typical points of contention that you would expect from a group of friends, I’ll tell you that.

What does summer in New York City bring for Brooks Marks?

The Hamptons are flooded with tons of New Yorkers for a reason. It’s so much better being in 10 degree cooler weather! My business and my work is all based in the city, so I do have to stay in the city to continue the pursuits with my clothing brand.

What do you think you want to take the platform that you have on Bravo and expand on it?

I want to keep being an advocate for my community and an activist for my community; it’s crazy to me that there is an even a conversation about sexuality in 2025. Whether its someone who is not into women or someone that is a young entrepreneur, I just want to be an activist and advocate to show people that you can pave whatever road you may not think is in front of you.

Have you ever had a conversation where someone stopped you in your tracks and you had a true a-ha moment? If so, what was it?

Yeah. Actually the executive producer of “Next Gen NYC” gave me a line of advice that I have always kept with me: “The only power you have is the power you give me and I give you none.” Whenever you are in your feels about a hate comment or a relationship woe or whatever, that thought is so strong to me and something that I always come back to.

Follow Brooks Marks on Instagram @brooksmarks

“Next Gen NYC” airs Bravo on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. EST