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Vicki Gunvalson is making her return to The Real Housewive of Orange County on her own terms. 

In 2020, the OG Housewife announced that she was leaving the Bravo series after 15 seasons. At the time, Vicki said she was walking away after the network demoted her to a “Friend” role on  the show that kicked off the Real Housewives phenomenon. Now, six years later, she’s back and ready to resume her role as Queen Bee of Orange County. 

Vicki Gunvalson ‘cried’ when Andy Cohen invited her to return to ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’

Last November, Andy Cohen surprised Vicki with an invitation to return as a full-time cast member for RHOC’s landmark 20th season. 

“Vicki, would you join us as a Housewife for Season 20?” he asked when she stepped onstage at The Bravos during BravoCon, where she was supposed to present the Wifetime Achievement Award.

“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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