The OG of the OC is back in again.
Vicki Gunvalson will be a full-time cast member for Season 20 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. It was the show that put Housewives on the map, and now, she will be starring in the milestone season alongside her frenemy, Tamra Judge.
BravoCon brought a slew of announcements over the weekend, including the one about Gunvalson returning to where it all began for her.
Andy Cohen was on hand to welcome Gunvalson back by giving her an orange. This comes after Season 19 was filled with drama and backstabbing.
Interestingly enough, it seems that she and Judge are back in each other’s good graces. Where that leaves Shannon Beador remains to be seen.
As RHOC wraps up this week with the final part of the Season 19 reunion, filming is expected to resume in the next couple of weeks or at the beginning of 2026.
Vicki Gunvalson is back on RHOC
After 14 seasons on The Real Housewives of Orange County, Vicki Gunvalson walked away from the show she helped launch. She had been demoted to a “friend of” role and announced her departure in January 2020.
However, she appeared in a limited capacity in Season 17 and 18. That will change for Season 20 because Gunvalson will be holding an orange as a full-time cast member, alongside Tamra Judge.
Bravo typically doesn’t discuss casting moves, especially while a season is still airing, but this was a special occasion. BravoCon was the perfect place to reveal the news, and Gunvalson was excited about returning to where it all began.
What’s next for RHOC?
Vicki Gunvalson’s return is expected to raise the hype for Season 20 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Reuniting with Tamra Judge is also a big draw, mainly because they have been feuding since the Tres Amigas fell apart.
There are questions surrounding what this means for Shannon Beador. She and Judge weren’t on good terms during RHOC Season 19 reunion, which isn’t surprising given the tension between the two throughout the season.
Gunvalson and Beador were close for years, as they iced out Judge. However, it appears that it is no longer the case. Whether Beador is returning is unclear. The rest of the cast has remained mum, but it seems there may be a few changes on the horizon for the 20th season of the show that began it all.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Bravo.
