The Real Housewives of Orange County is back for its 12th season in a few days and it may just be Bravo’s most popular season yet.
Housewives Most Popular Season Ever?
The Real Housewives of Orange County returns for Season 12 on Monday, July 8, 2017. The Bravo series pioneered the way for multiple other Real Housewives city spin-offs.
Vicki Gunvalson, also known as the “O.G. of the O.C.,” is the only cast member to have been on the show from day one.
Several other veterans will be joining Vicki this season, including Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Meaghan King Edmonds, and Kelly Dodd. After a four-year hiatus, Lydia McLaughlin will be returning to the reality show for Season 12.
The Real Housewives franchise will be welcoming its 100th “housewife” this season on Orange County : Peggy Sulahian.
The series ratings throughout Season 11 were at the highest they’ve ever been , averaging a total of 3 million viewers an episode, according to the Orange County Register.
Audiences have been watching the ladies of Orange County on Bravo for over a decade now. Bravo producer Kathleen French attributes the success to the cast saying that they were “tried and true housewives.”
She added that viewers watched The Real Housewives of Orange County and could relate to what the women were going through in their lives, experiencing “love, loss, success, failure, acceptance, and fear.”
Vicki’s Story Is Not Over Yet
Season 11 of RHOC featured plenty of drama surrounding the housewives’ relationships.
During the season finale, Vicki suggested to Kelly Dodd that Shannon Beador’s husband, David, may have been physically aggressive towards Shannon.
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Gunvalson also insinuated that Tamra’s husband, Eddie, was gay in an earlier episode.
Regardless, Vicki said she is returning for Season 12 because her “story is not over yet,” according to Blasting News.
At this point, the Coto Insurance founder said that The Real Housewives of Orange County has become a “big part of my life.”
The 55-year-old said that she is not thinking about retirement yet, adding that she was “still in growth mode.”
Vicki Gunvalson has been divorced twice. Her marriage with Donn fell apart on camera on the Bravo series.
The mother-of-two is currently dating retired Santa Ana law enforcement officer Steve Chavez Lodge. Vicki said that she loved that her new boyfriend had never seen her on an episode of Housewives prior to dating her.
The reality star, known for saying she likes to “whoop it up,” wants to be “friends with everybody” this season.
The Plot Thickens
Other Real Housewives of Orange County star’s storylines include Shannon Beador’s struggle with her recent weight gain, along with Meghan King Edmonds new experiences being a mother.
Happy Independence Day! (Shorts by @houseoffiveboutique)
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Bravo producer French said that Lydia has a “great story to share” since fans last saw her on Season 8.
“She now has three little boys, a new business with her husband and a new role in her marriage. She’s matured and truly found her voice.”
Lydia said that she thinks Season 12 is “very interesting,” especially considering Judge and Beador’s friendship which turned sour rather quickly.
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McLaughlin said that it would be obvious to Bravo viewers that the drama was real because “the first time I meet Shannon, it doesn’t start out well.”
The First Armenian Housewife
Bravo’s 100th housewife is also the network’s first Armenian housewife. Peggy Sulahian is a Crystal Cove resident and a mother-of-three.
Peggy’s storyline will follow her journey of undergoing a double mastectomy after a lump is found in her breast, along with her prep for reconstructive surgery.
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Producers claim to look for “personality” first when casting a new housewife. French said that they would need to be “willing, ready, and able to live their life in front of the camera.”
Basically, the more “honest” the women are with the audience, the more their “stories” appeal to the Housewives viewers.
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Will you be tuning in for The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 12 premiere this Monday on Bravo? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Featured Image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Staff/Getty Images]