In a franchise built on fake alliances, backstabbing brunches, and 80s Bingo parties gone mad meltdowns, The Real Housewives of Orange County finally delivered something that feels refreshingly real. A ride-or-die friendship that isn’t just for the cameras. We’re talking about Emily Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter. Together, these two are the most loyal, hilarious, and emotionally intelligent duo OC has seen in years.
While other castmates are busy plotting takedowns and orchestrating petty drama, these ladies are out here giving us a masterclass in what genuine friendship looks like. And in Season 19, as Emily faces one of her most vulnerable parenting moments and fights off newer cast tensions, Gina is right there beside her in full support mode. The rest of the cast might be fighting over who’s the queen bee, but make no mistake, Emily and Gina are the heart of the show.
In RHOC Season 19 Emily is struggling as a mom
This season, Emily has opened up about something deeply personal: her son’s struggle with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). It’s not the kind of issue you typically see on the Real Housewives of Orange County, where champagne-fueled screaming matches take center stage. But Emily’s willingness to be raw and honest about what it means to parent a neurodivergent child brought a new layer of vulnerability to the series and we’re here for it.
Watching Emily navigate opening up about the meal-time stress, and the emotional toll of feeling helpless as a mom has been heartbreaking and deeply humanizing. She’s not just the tough, sarcastic lawyer anymore. She’s a mom in survival mode, trying to hold it together while being pulled in a thousand directions. And this isn’t performative reality TV vulnerability. Emily isn’t crying for sympathy. She’s opening the door to a conversation so many parents are too afraid to have publicly. It’s brave, and it’s made even more impactful because she’s not going through it alone. Gina is right by her side.
Gina Krischenheiter has Emily Simpson’s back
While Emily is dealing with personal struggles, she’s also clashing with newer cast member Katie Ginella, and the tension is building fast. Katie came in hot this season, throwing around opinions like confetti and inserting herself into petty drama. All the women are questioning her character and relationship with bloggers, so Katie’s hackles are up. Enter Gina. Loyal bestie, voice of reason, and possible MVP of Season 19. Gina wasted no time shutting Katie down when she crossed a line commenting on the drama with Emily. During the group trip to the Golden Door, Gina stood firm and defended Emily with zero hesitation. Just pure, unwavering support.
That kind of loyalty is rare in the Bravoverse, and even more rare on RHOC, where friendships usually come with expiration dates and hidden agendas. Gina isn’t defending Emily because it’s a good storyline. She’s defending her because she knows Emily’s heart, and she’s not about to let anyone twist it. These two have weathered it all together. Whether it be divorces, weight struggles, mom guilt, career shifts, or even the occasional cast betrayal, the two have stuck together.
Everyone should want these two as a friend
Through it all, they’ve shown up for each other like it’s second nature. And honestly? That’s the kind of friendship every woman deserves. If you’re not rooting for Emily and Gina, you might be watching the show wrong. They offer the kind of emotional safety net that’s practically extinct in RHONC territory. They check on each other, laugh until they cry, and aren’t afraid to call each other out with love and respect, of course. When Gina was going through her messy divorce and navigating single motherhood, Emily was her rock. Now, as Emily faces her family challenges, Gina is returning the favor tenfold. It’s a friendship built on something the OC desperately needs more of: empathy.
They don’t compete, they don’t throw each other under the bus for a storyline, and they don’t weaponize each other’s trauma in confessionals. Instead, they show what it looks like when women lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. In a franchise where alliances shift with the wind, Emily and Gina are a breath of fresh air. They’re not just best friends. They’re the gold standard.
The Real Housewives of Orange County is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
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