Bravo fans, get ready to “whoop it up” because Vicki Gunvalson is making her triumphant return to The Real Housewives of Orange County for the show’s historic 20th season. The announcement happened in the most dramatic way possible—live on stage at BravoCon in Las Vegas on Friday (November 14, 2025) night.
During a taping of “The Bravos” awards show, executive producer Andy Cohen surprised the audience by presenting Gunvalson with an orange (the ultimate symbol of full-time housewife status). Cohen asked the question everyone’s been waiting years to hear: “Vicki, would you join us as a housewife for Season 20?”
The emotional moment had Gunvalson in tears as she accepted the offer, with the crowd erupting in cheers. While sources say no formal contract has been signed just yet, negotiations are expected to begin soon. Still, the public offer marks a significant turning point for the reality star who’s become synonymous with the franchise itself.
For those who need a refresher, Vicki Gunvalson isn’t just any Real Housewives cast member—she’s THE original. As she famously declared in her Season 10 tagline, “I’m the OG of the OC, and everyone else is just a copy.” The insurance mogul was part of the inaugural cast when RHOC premiered back in 2006, essentially creating the template for what would become a global phenomenon spanning multiple cities.
Gunvalson held her orange for an impressive 13 seasons as a full-time cast member before being relegated to a “friend of” role in Season 14. After departing in 2020, she made occasional guest appearances in later seasons. Many fans thought her 2023 Wifetime Achievement Award at The Bravos was a farewell moment, but clearly, Bravo had other plans.
The timing of Vicki Gunvalson’s return couldn’t be better. Real Housewives of Orange County is wrapping up its 19th season with the reunion finale airing November 20th, and Season 20 represents a major milestone—it’s the first Real Housewives series to hit two decades. The network is pulling out all the stops to celebrate, and bringing back the OG is the ultimate gift to longtime fans.
What makes this comeback even juicier is the recent reconciliation between Gunvalson and her former bestie Tamra Judge. The two had a very public falling out that played out across social media and various interviews. Now that they’ve patched things up, Season 20 could see the reunion of the legendary “Tres Amigas” trio—Gunvalson, Judge, and Shannon Beador—navigating their complicated friendship dynamics once again.
Let’s be real: RHOC has felt different without Vicki Gunvalson’s larger-than-life personality, her insurance business storylines, and her knack for getting involved in the most memorable drama the franchise has ever seen. Remember the Brooks Ayers cancer-faking scandal? That was peak Real Housewives television, and it happened on Gunvalson’s watch.
Season 19 featured a core cast including Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and Katie Ginella, with Gretchen Rossi appearing as a friend. How Gunvalson will shake up this dynamic remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain—her presence will definitely bring a fresh energy (and probably plenty of drama) to the landmark season.
The business owner and mother of two has built an empire with her insurance company while simultaneously entertaining millions of viewers with her personal life’s ups and downs. From her divorce from Donn Gunvalson to her engagement and split with Steve Lodge, she’s shared it all with cameras rolling.
Bravo is clearly banking on nostalgia and star power to make Season 20 unforgettable. After what’s been described as an inward-focused 19th season filled with arguments about off-screen drama and blogger controversies, the network seems ready for a cast shake-up that brings back some of that original magic.
For fans who’ve been begging for Vicki’s return on social media for years, this is basically a dream come true. The woman who helped define what it means to be a Real Housewife is coming home to her orange. Whether she’ll be a stabilizing force, a source of fresh conflict, or a bridge between the old guard and new cast members, only time will tell.
Right now, though, all that matters is that the OG of the OC is officially back where she belongs—holding her orange and ready to reclaim her throne when cameras start rolling for The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20.
