Karen Huger Returns to Instagram Following Prison Release and BravoCon

Karen Huger has officially made her return to social media following her first public appearance since being released from prison at BravoCon 2025 over the weekend.

“Thank you @nbcuniversal and @bravotv for the incredibly warm and welcoming energy. My heart is full,” Karen, 62, shared on Instagram on Sunday, November 16, marking her first post since returning home from jail in September after her DUI conviction.

The Real Housewives of Potomac star expressed “a heartfelt thank you” to her team and her “new favorite person” Charles Elliott Harbison, the creator of Harbison Studio, who “thoughtfully crafted” her first look for BravoCon.

“He understood my vision, honored my light, and helped create a moment that feels both fresh and deeply aligned,” Karen praised, referring to her stunning white peplum dress adorned with white and black floral appliqués. “I’m truly grateful to have his artistry and brand as a part of my new chapter.”

Karen’s social media return coincided with her re-entry into the Bravo landscape, joining the star-studded lineup featured at the annual BravoCon three-day event in Las Vegas, which kicked off on Friday, November 14.

While Karen was noticeably absent from the RHOP panel on Friday, she later surprised fans by presenting the first award at “The Bravos” event that evening, where she received a standing ovation.

This warm reception followed the confirmation from Us Weekly on September 2 that Karen was released from the Montgomery County Detention Center in Maryland six months early.

She had been sentenced to two years in jail, with one year suspended, after being charged and found guilty of a DUI and DWI for her involvement in a March 2024 car accident in Potomac, Maryland.

“Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this very frightening experience. I am still in shock from last night’s incident but grateful to be alive today. With the passing of my beloved mother, grief comes and goes in waves; with Mother’s Day approaching, it has felt more like a tsunami,” Karen shared in a statement to TMZ at the time.

She described her emotional state during the accident, saying, “Last night I met with a friend for dinner, we discussed some very emotionally charged topics. I was crying on my way home when I saw a car heading straight for me. I swerved to avoid a head-on collision, hitting a divider and then a tree. I’m hurt, a bit bruised, but so thankful to be alive! I did receive citations, including one unrelated to the incident, but what surprised me most is that the car that nearly hit me just drove away!”

Karen emphasized the importance of being aware of your emotional state while driving, urging everyone to wear their seatbelts. “My mother may be my guardian angel, but the seatbelt saved my life,” she noted.

At the time of the accident, TMZ reported that Karen was driving her 2017 Maserati in an “aggressive manner” when she struck a crosswalk sign and a parking sign.

In December 2024, she was found guilty of charges including DUI, DWI, and several other driving offenses. She began her one-year jail sentence in February.

While she was incarcerated, filming for season 10 of RHOP commenced without her. During the “Potomac Takes Vegas” BravoCon panel on Friday, the network unveiled the midseason trailer showcasing Karen’s return.

“Here we are,” producer Andy Cohen states in the preview, featuring Karen in her first sit-down interview since her release. “You are a free woman.”

Karen responds, “It’s time to discuss my addiction.”

The Real Housewives of Potomac airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. You can stream past episodes anytime on Peacock.