Now back on her own terms, Vicki is poised to make her triumphant return as the reigning Queen Bee of Orange County. Her journey has been anything but ordinary, and fans are eagerly anticipating how she will shape the dynamics of the show in its upcoming season.
After more than a decade of drama, laughter, and everything in between, Vicki Gunvalson is re-entering the spotlight of The Real Housewives of Orange County with renewed zeal. Having exited the show in 2020 following a demotion to a “Friend” role, the original Housewife has decided it’s time to reclaim her status, six years after leaving the world of Bravo cameras behind. Upon her departure, Vicki noted that this decision came after she was reduced to a less prominent position in the series that sparked the Real Housewives universe.
Vicki Gunvalson ‘cried’ when Andy Cohen invited her to return to ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’
The turning point came last November, during a much-anticipated BravoCon event. As Vicki took the stage to present the Wifetime Achievement Award at The Bravos, she was met with a surprise that would soon make headlines.
Amidst an air of excitement, Andy Cohen extended a formal invitation to Vicki, proposing that she reclaim her title as a full-time cast member for the monumental 20th season of RHOC. Asking, “Vicki, would you join us as a Housewife for Season 20?” he re-opened the door to the franchise Vicki helped build.
“Yes!” an emotional Vicki replied.
On an episode of her My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast podcast series, Vicki said she “cried” after Andy presented her with her orange.
“I was shaking because I didn’t know if it was real,” she said. “…Everything was kind of like a blur.”
“When [Andy] said, ‘We’d like to offer you season 20…’ Of course, I’m gonna say yes,” she continued. “I kind of lost my world. It just kind of got interesting, euphoric. It was an out-of-body experience.”
Vicki had made it clear over the years that she wanted to return to RHOC, but only if she could be a full-time Housewife.
“First of all, when they told me I was going to have a reduced role, I said, ‘I’m never a Friend. I started this franchise. I’m never going to be a Friend,’” she told ET in 2020. “They said, ‘We’ll never use those words.’ And they’ve been using those words,” Gunvalson said. “I will never come back part time. I’m either all in or all out. I’m not a part time girl.”
Vicki promises that she won’t let fans of ‘RHOC’ down
While Vicki has been away for RHOC for years, she’s said she’s more than prepared to jump back in and deliver the drama that fans want.
“I have a sense of responsibility to bring a really good show,” she said on her podcast. “I’m not gonna let you down. I’m really excited.”
A trailer for season 20 of RHOC hints at what’s in store for Vicki in the new episodes. The veteran Housewife clashes with new cast member Carmella Garcia, a real estate agent, former Playboy Playmate, and WWE wrestler, at one point dubbing her “Carmella DeVille.”
“I don’t like new girls,” Vicki adds in another scene.
The two women also get into it during a group dinner.
“But you’re new too this year,” Carmella says.
“I started this franchise,” Vicki fires back.
“Everything has an expiration,” Carmella replies.
The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 premieres July 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
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