Lara Sophia 
OG of the OC Vicki Gunvalson says in order to return for season 18 of RHOC, it has to be “all or nothing,” or she is not interested.
Real Housewives of Orange County alum Vicki Gunvalson tells Access Hollywood’s Housewives Nightcap that she will ONLY return for season 18 if she’s a full-time Housewife as she has no interest in being a guest or a friend.
“It’s all in or nothing. It would have to be on my terms, and that means financially, too. I’m not gonna go back down. I left at a certain number. Either you bring that number back, or what’s the point?” Vicki Gunvalson asked.
“I don’t need them as much as they need me. There has to be a voice of reason and a strong, successful businesswoman that can still have fun.”
“[Season 17] wasn’t right. It was something I created, and I’m coming in like a has-been old lady? I’m not gonna do that,” she added. “It was like, ‘Why am I not on full-time?’ You want to use me for things.” Vicki said.
RHOC premiered on Bravo on March 21, 2006, and launched what would become the multi-city and uber-popular Real Housewives franchise.
Vicki Gunvalson was an original cast member and starred on RHOC for 13 seasons before being demoted to a friend for season 14. She remains one of the longest-running OGs in Real Housewives history.
Following season 14 of RHOC, Vicki was let go by Bravo alongside Tamra Judge. In 2022, Tamra returned to RHOC for season 17 after a two-year hiatus from the show.
While Vicki was NOT an official cast member or friend for season 17, she popped up several times throughout the season, including the cast trip to Mexico.
Amid Tamra’s return to RHOC, Vicki admitted that she was devasted she didn’t receive an offer from Bravo as well.
“She [Tamra] said, ‘I want you to be the first to know.’ I started crying immediately,” Vicki spilled to OK! Magazine in August 2022. “There was a buzz out there [about her return], but there was also a buzz out there about mine.”
“I thought my phone’s gonna ring next,” she confessed. “Then I asked her if she was asked for a friend or full-time role, and she goes, ‘They want me back full time.’ I thought, ‘Okay, well, I have to be happy for it,’ she really wants it really bad. She’s so good on TV.”
“I’m gonna miss filming with her,” Vicki said of her longtime BFF. “It was tough. It was good that we both got fired at the same time, but then I thought we’d be hired back at the same time. I don’t really know what [Bravo’s] long-term goal is. I just have to take it as it comes.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County will return for season 18 in 2024.
