The OG of the OC is back! After a four-year pause, Vicki Gunvalson made her triumphant return to Real Housewives of Orange County for its groundbreaking 20th season. Gunvalson feels very “blessed” to be asked back to the franchise she help start with Bravo boss Andy Cohen. Gunvalson still gets “emotional” when she thinks back to when Cohen offered her an orange and a chance to return to the show during last year’s BravoCon. “I think I cried all night and I slept with the orange,” remembered Gunvalson. “I’m still sleeping with the orange. It’s all rotted. It’s got hair on it, but it’s beautiful.”
During the Season 20 premiere, it was clear that Gunvalson hasn’t missed a beat. Balancing life between her beloved Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Coto de Caza, California, Gunvalson is still whooping it up at Andale’s while running her wildly successful business, Coto Insurance and Financial Services. She’s also still caught between her feuding friends, Shannon Storms Beador and Tamra Judge. Gunvalson now just tries to keep the peace. “They may never be friends like they were before, but if they could be kind to each other and move on… that is the best gift I could ask from them,” said Gunvalson. Luckily, Gunvalson teased that the two may be in a better place before the season’s end. “There will definitely be an evolution in their friendship,” said Gunvalson.
Gunvalson used her own friendship bump with Heather Dubrow as an example of how Beader and Judge could handle their issues. In the premiere episode, Dubrow was upset with Gunvalson because she felt that Gunvalson insinuated that the fortune that she and her husband have amassed was “inherited” rather than earned. “We were able to question each other, come to an understanding, and then we move on,” said Gunvalson. “I love Heather and Terry. They’re good people.” Gunvalson said finding a resolution “after a question or a conflict” is “the best part of this whole process.”
Gunvalson visited the DECIDER studio to talk about the new season, share how her boyfriend, Mike Smith, feels about her return to Bravo, and dish on what went down between Beader and Judge during Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.
DECIDER: Vicki, thank God you’re back on our screens!
VICKI GUNVALSON: I know! What was I doing for four years? Waiting for my phone to ring, waiting for an email. I got nothing.
How does it feel to be back on RHOC where you belong?
Oh, it feels great. I’m just so blessed and so happy. I did Watch What Happens Live the other night and had a blast. It feels really good to be back. I don’t take it for granted.
Has this outpouring of love you’ve received from Bravo fans been overwhelming at times?
It started at BravoCon. Andy and his team told me that I would be presenting the Wifetime Achievement Award to Kandi Burruss at the Bravos. While I was in my seat, I was surprised to see someone else do it. So, when they came to get me later to go on stage, I was really confused. They brought me to Andy, and he told me we were going to close out the show together.
He asked me to hold his hand. I’m like, “OK. I’ve never held your hand before, but it’s very romantic, Andy.” When we walked out together, I had no idea he had an orange in the back of his pants. When he asked me to come back for Season 20, it was like the world stopped. I was not prepared for it. I just had agreed to do the RHUGT: Roaring 20th. I kept thinking, “how am I gonna do both shows plus Coto insurance? Like, how am doing all this?”
Andy assured me that I would be taken care of. I just had to say yes. So, I did! All the girls stood up and started cheering. It was very emotional for me. I think I cried all night, and I slept with the orange. I’m still sleeping with the orange. It’s all rotted. It’s got hair on it, but it’s beautiful [laughs].
Well, let’s get into the Real Housewives Of Orange Season 20 premiere! I feel for you because you are clearly caught in the middle of Shannon’s and Tamra’s constant issues. How do you balance those two friendships?
I just try to keep the peace. They may never be friends like they were before, but if they could be kind to each other and move on… that is the best gift I could ask from them. I said, “you guys, we’re all going to be working together for the next four or five months. Can’t we just get along?” You’re going to see them go through a transition throughout the season. I think everybody’s going to be happy.
Should fans have hope that the Tres Amigas will rise again?
I don’t know if the Tres Amigas are going to do our shows anymore. Though, we had so much fun doing those events. You know, I just don’t know. However, Shannon and Tamra are realizing that it makes everybody uncomfortable when they have issues. It’s not just about them; it’s about us too. There will definitely be an evolution in their friendship this season.
I’d be interested to get your thoughts on the dynamic between Tamra and Heather. What’s your take on their friendship?
Because I haven’t filmed in four years, I don’t know their most recent friendship history. All I know is they both have been on this franchise a long time. I’m just catching up with them myself. We’ll see what happens, but what I can say is that Heather—as well as the rest of us— doesn’t want conflict with Tamra. She can be really mean. Though, I’m glad to say you’re going to see a softer side of Tamra this year.
I know Andy asked you about what went down between Shannon and Tamra at the Quiet Women during the filming of RHUGT: Roaring 20th. Were the other wives truly horrified—like Heather said—by their behavior?
It was really embarrassing at the Quiet Woman which is in the first city we stopped at. Then we went to Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Miami, and then finally New York. I was so excited about having the girls come to Orange County. Some of them have never been there. So, I’m like: “let’s go to the Quiet Women. It’s a really small mom and pop restaurant. Let’s have a nice dinner.” Tamra and Shannon ruined the evening. The night wasn’t supposed to be about their personal drama. We weren’t filming RHOC. We were filming a different show with a very special group of women. It was really disappointing for me.
That’s unfortunate.
It’s okay. We just moved on and went to the next city [laughs].
Well, on a lighter topic, I love that Mike’s daughter Olivia came with you to Heather’s Hearts and Heels party! What exactly was going on during that car ride?
So, I had a big cyst removed from underneath my armpit earlier that day, and it started bleeding through my pink dress. Olivia ran into a CVS and got a maxi pad and put it there to absorb all the blood. I’m like: “oh, great, okay. Don’t tell anybody I have a pad in my armpits.” We had fun with it. I didn’t want to not go, and I didn’t want blood pouring out of my body. So, it worked [laughs].
Mike and his family seem wonderful. What was his reaction to your going back on RHOC?
He was in the audience when I accepted the orange. He already knew I was doing RHUGT. I guess he turned around to Eddie Judge and said, “Oh, shit.” He knew I was going out a lot. So, I just said to him, “you know what? You can bail out now, but I’m doing this.” He said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Your love tank is full!
We just have a good relationship. He knows my sense of humor. Nobody’s going to tell me what to do anymore. I allowed that to happen—like Tamra said—years ago with Brooks [Ayres]. I know what I want in my life, and I’m going to achieve it. Mike helps me be me. He really is a good partner. I am a lot to handle.
But that’s why we love you! I know Emily Simpson and Jenn Pedranti were joking a bit about series newbie Carmella Garcia should bow when she met you, but I think it’s nice that they were alluding to the fact that she needs to respect you and what you have done for the franchise.
I want respect. I mean, obviously Carmella knows the show. She knows I started it all. In the trailer, she said that I have an “expiration date.” I’m like: “No, bitch. I’m not expired. I’m still alive. I’ve still here!” It was really rude comment. I think she came in way too hard. We’ll see how it turns out.
Heather has an issue with you in the premiere regarding your comment that the wealth she and her husband have amassed might be “inherited.” How does your friendship go this season?
Heather and I are fine. I just questioned something that she didn’t like and that’s okay. This is a reality show. We’re able to question each other, come to an understanding, and then move on. I respect Heather. I love Heather and Terry. They’re good people. I’ve known them for a lot of years now. You know, it is possible that you can resolve a question or a conflict. That is the best part of this whole process.
Tell that to Shannon and Tamra!
Well, I tried [laughs]. They don’t always listen to me.
Real Housewives Of Orange County airs Thursday nights at 8PM ET on Bravo.
