The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 promises to be an epic celebration. After all, RHOC was the show that brought viewers behind the gates, introducing us to “whooping it up,” the Tres Amigas, and champagne elevators. For 20 seasons, fans have watched the ladies of Orange County grapple with nasty feuds, hilarious cast trips, and serious life events, such as divorce.
Naturally, for this iconic season, Andy Cohen brought back the “OG of the OC,” Vicki Gunvalson. She exited the series in 2020 after being demoted to a part-time role. Of course, for this legacy season, she had to be holding an orange.
Most of the Season 19 cast returned for the upcoming season, except for Katie Ginella and Gretchen Rossi, who were shown the door. Last season became dark when Gretchen was accused of “liking” anti LGBTQ+ social media posts. She denied the allegations, but there were plenty of screenshots floating around. So, what can viewers expect from this landmark season? Read on for our predictions.
The Tres Amigas will finally reunite in RHOC Season 20
Is it time to whoop it up with our favorite trio? Vicki, Shannon Beador, and Tamra Judge made up the infamous Tres Amigas. These ladies embraced drinking, dancing on tables, and sometimes feuding. The fun-loving group ignited in Season 9 when Shannon joined the franchise.
Some of the most hilarious scenes in RHOC history involve this trio. They have pushed each other in the pool after one too many shots. And they have frantically tried to figure out the nearest place to empty their bladder. Good times!
However, following Shannon’s DUI arrest in 2023, Tamra decided to quit the Tres Amigas live comedy shows. She felt it was too soon, claiming that the shows allegedly heavily featured alcohol. Both Shannon and Vicki were furious.
Meanwhile, Shannon and Tamra’s rift continued during Season 19. While Tamra repeatedly tried to mend her relationship with Shannon, her former friend was not welcoming the olive branches. In Shannon’s mind, her life was better without Tamra and her drama.
Naturally, fans want to see the Tres Amigas in a good place for Season 20. After last season’s heavy content, fans need a feel-good escape. And watching Shannon, Tamra, and Vicki whoop it up again would bring viewers a sense of nostalgia.
Vicki Gunvalson and newbie Carmella Garcia won’t ever get along
Of course, Bravo added some new blood to this season. And let’s just say that newbie Carmella Garcia and Vicki won’t be dancing on top of any bars together. Carmella, who was a former Playboy Playmate of the Year, is a developer and realtor. In addition, she is a mom of four teenagers.
“Carmella, she’s funny, and she’s quirky,” Jennifer Pedranti, who introduced Carmella to the cast, noted in the Season 20 trailer. “And she’s sexy!”
Still, Vicki’s disdain for any new ladies attempting to join the friend group was well-documented. “I don’t like new girls,” Vicki told Jennifer in the RHOC tease. However, Carmella didn’t bat an eyelash about confronting Vicki. Later, Carmella told the “OG” during a group dinner, “But you’re new, too, this year.”
Vicki replied, “I started this franchise.” Once again, Carmela didn’t back down. “Everything has an expiration,” Carmella responded. WOW.
It’s obvious that this “OG” and the newbie will never be friends. Vicki is proud of her position on RHOC. The fact that Carmella jabbed at Vicki’s soft spot showed that the newbie has zero fear. And not being terrified of Vicki is a strike against Carmella. However, Carmella seemed ready to step into the spotlight, even if she needed to push Vicki aside.
Emily Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter will face their own relationship issues
Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson have been friends since they both grabbed an orange in Season 13. Some fans have criticized the duo for having weak storylines. However, it seems that Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 will show both ladies dealing with relationship problems.
During the RHOC Season 20 trailer, Emily teased that she could be tired of her marriage to Shane Simpson. The duo had a difficult Season 19, dealing with their son Luke’s newly diagnosed Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (also known as ARFID). Emily and Shane struggled with how best to parent Luke amid these challenges.
Meanwhile, Gina’s boyfriend, Travis Mullen, put a sparkler on her finger in 2025 during a family ski trip. Travis and Gina have a beautiful, blended family of six kids. One would expect that Gina would be over the moon during Season 20. Apparently, not so much.
“There is a part of me that is like, ‘Can I do this forever?’” Gina remarked in a confessional. That is probably not a great sign for the couple. Of course, both Travis and Gina went through difficult divorces, so having some jitters is understandable.
Overall, it seems that RHOC Season 20 is set to deliver the right blend of drama, fun, and chaos that fans deserve.
The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 premieres Thursday, July 9 at 9/8c on Bravo, and is available to stream on Peacock.
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