It is hard to believe, but it is almost time for the Real Housewives of Orange County to return! Of course, the big casting news this year was that OC OG Vicki Gunvalson had been demoted to Friend of status. Everyone from last season is returning and one new cast member has been added.
Braunwyn Windham-Burke is the newest lady to receive an orange, which probably had to be pried out of Vicki’s clutching hand! So far, we know Braunwyn is married, a mother of seven and a mommy blogger. She recently shared more about herself and her role in the upcoming season. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the new addition and what she will add to RHOC.
In an interview with People, Braunwyn teases, “The dynamics on the show shift a lot. I think that friendships on this season are definitely tried and tested. And I think that a lot of old issues come up that need to be worked through.” As long as those issues don’t involve Gina Kirschenheiter age shaming her castmates or Shannon Beador having another dramatic breakdown, I am game!
Braunwyn, of course, will have conflict with the other ladies, a Housewife rite of passage. She shared, “If I had to pick the person I had the most friction with it would probably be Tamra [Judge].” OK–no one is surprised by that!
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Braunwyn went on to clarify, “But, it’s also the person that made me face a lot of issues myself and kind of brought the best out of me.” Tamra “bringing out the best” in someone is surprising–and might be an OC first!
Additionally, Braunwyn states, “She [Tamra] didn’t give me an easy time, but we came…you know…but she really brought the best out of me even when I didn’t want it to be brought out.”
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It sounds like amateur life coach Tamra has evolved from her days of bringing out the worst in former castmates like Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino. Go Tamra!
Being real with her co-stars was key for Braunwyn. She says, “I think a lot of it had to do with me just opening up and being honest and really just letting everyone sort of know who I was.”
Newbie Braunwyn also credits both Tamra and Shannon for drawing her out after telling her, “We want to get to know the real you.” Braunwyn further explained, “They were really great at pulling it out of me and making me confront some uncomfortable truths about myself.” Now that is a statement you don’t hear from many Housewives! Uncomfortable truths are best left to other cast members, as all Housewives eventually learn.
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One of the uncomfortable truths Braunwyn has confronted about herself is that she doesn’t like to make waves. She admits, “I avoid conflict, which sounds hilarious going on to a show that’s known for conflict. I am a people pleaser and I hate conflict. And I learned that I run from it. Literally and figuratively, you’ll see as the season progresses.”
Braunwyn might be the blonde lady you see running across a lawn in the season trailer. Apparently fleeing from conflict. She will soon realize, you can run, but you can never hide from your co-stars–and conflict! No matter how hard you try. Disputes, accusations, and grudges make the Housewife world go round.
RELATED: Andy Cohen Wants Vicki Gunvalson On Real Housewives Of Orange County Forever Even After Her Demotion
Braunwyn has an interesting perspective on being a Housewife–using her status to challenge herself and growing as a person through the process. As I said earlier, I think Bravo might have found a keeper with Braunwyn. We will see what unfolds as the season progresses. The new season of RHOC begins on August 6th.
TELL US–WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BRAUNWYN’S TAKE ON BEING A HOUSEWIFE? HOW DO YOU THINK SHE WILL FIT IN WITH HER CO-STARS? WILL SHANNON AND VICKI GIVE HER A HARD TIME AS THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK?
[Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Bravo]
