Tamra Judge Hints at an ‘Exciting and Unique’ Season 20 of RHOC
Tamra Judge has shared the first glimpses of what The Real Housewives of Orange County fans can anticipate from the landmark season 20.
“Season 20 is really exciting,” Tamra, 58, disclosed on the Wednesday, April 8, episode of her “Two Ts In A Pod” podcast. “Especially after season 19, which wasn’t great for me. I was in a pretty tough spot. Now, I feel much more balanced.”
Tamra expressed her gratitude for being part of season 20, making her the longest-serving cast member of RHOC as she prepares for her 16th full-time season.
“I can’t reveal too much because I’ll get in trouble,” she joked. “But I really believe it’s going to be an amazing season. It definitely has a different vibe. … I’m so much happier.”
Tamra mentioned that she’s been having “a lot of fun” with her RHOC co-stars, particularly now that the “OG of the OC,” Vicki Gunvalson, has returned as a full-time Housewife.
“I absolutely love having Vicki back. It feels like home when she’s on the show,” she beamed. “It brings back that early vibe we had back in the day.”
She implied that part of RHOC’s charm lies in her long-standing relationships with Vicki and fellow mainstays Shannon Storms Beador and Heather Dubrow.
“We truly have the core four from the early days,” Tamra noted. “The new girls aren’t really new anymore. [Jennifer Pedranti] has become pretty experienced now. … While it’s always fun to introduce new cast members, it’s great to have people who already know each other.”
Tamra has certainly evolved since her memorable declaration to quit the show during the tumultuous filming of RHOC season 19, where she found herself at odds with Shannon and Jen. She was also navigating her friend and podcast co-host Teddi Mellencamp’s cancer journey during production on season 19.
The Housewives icon stunned fans with an Instagram Story in March 2025 that stated, “It was a long run! When life gives you real problems, this reality stuff doesn’t make sense. Peace out … I’m out.”
However, Tamra later explained exclusively to Us Weekly in August 2025 that she had simply reached her breaking point and was lashing out. Producers ultimately permitted her to take a week off for some self-care.
“Everyone was reaching out to me. Andy [Cohen] was calling, and [Executive Producer] Alex [Baskin] was also checking in. They urged me to take a week off,” Tamra recounted. “They said, ‘We understand the stress you’re under, and we’d like you to take a week. If you still want to quit after that, we’ll respect your decision.’ They were incredibly kind to me.”
Tamra indicated that her RHOC castmates displayed less understanding, stating to Us, “I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m just a human being. I may seem tough, but I still have feelings.”
She continued, “It’s disheartening to hear people like Emily [Simpson] and Gina [Kirschenheiter] say such things about me without any compassion? Honestly, Heather is the only one who showed any real empathy.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs on Bravo, with past episodes available for streaming on Peacock.
