There is something different about Erika Jayne this season and it’s not just the “good hormones.” After going through hell in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 12, Erika appears to have her sparkle back. She’s no longer cussing out her co-stars’ kids at parties or defending her diamond earrings in Aspen. She seems to have turned a new leaf.
Here are all the ways Erika is different in Season 13 of RHOBH.
Erika Is Less Defensive
Erika played a lot of defense last season. Her castmates continuously questioned her about her husband Tom Girardi‘s legal troubles and gossiped about her situation behind her back. It was a tough season for the starlet. Erika was living on her own and adjusting to the fact that the man she married might not have been who she thought he was.
Erika stood firm that she had no involvement in Tom’s business dealings, but sometimes, her defense came across as apathetic and insensitive. She wore $750,000 diamond earrings in Aspen, purchased for her by Tom, while victims of his law firm came forward about being denied their settlement money. It was not a great look.
Erika seems to have softened in Season 13. She’s focused on self-improvement and rebuilding her life after the scandal. In one episode, Erika invited viewers into her therapy session, where she asked her therapist how she could show more empathy. While it was shocking to see a grown woman basically ask, “What is empathy?” we are happy to see her trying.
Erika’s Calmer in Season 13
Erika wasn’t one to step away from an argument in Season 12. The “Pretty Mess” singer was always involved in conflict. Whether she was going toe to toe with Sutton Stracke or saying Crystal Kung Minkoff and Garcelle Beauvais were “f*cking b*tches” for urging her to have compassion for Tom’s victims.
However, Erika seems to take the high road quite often in Season 13. She laughed off Sutton’s Magic Mike blowup and chose not to engage after Denise Richards called her out at Kyle Richards‘ dinner party. We don’t know if it’s the therapy or the good hormones, but Erika has found her bliss.
She’s Feeling Creative Again
Erika was married to a superstar attorney but she is also a star in her own right. The Bravo star’s singing career earned her a Broadway role and a residency in Las Vegas. Erika’s connection to Tom became the focal point of last season, which meant her career took a back seat.
Season 12 made us wonder if Erika would want to continue performing. After all, her brand was based on living an opulent lifestyle. She sang about “Bentleys and Benz’s” and often compared herself to a diamond. After her life drastically changed, we wondered if she still felt connected to the persona of “Erika Jayne.”
Thankfully, Erika has no plans to put her alter ego to bed. In Season 13, we saw Erika talk to her team about how she misses performing and being creative. We’re so happy to see Erika flourishing on her own and planning for the future.
Erika Is Free
Since separating from Tom, Erika has opened up about how her marriage wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. In a Season 13 episode, Erika spoke about her difficult marriage with Tom, revealing they began to resent each other.
“[In] the end, Tom and I fought about everything. Nothing was harmonious,” she said. “We had both descended into resentment for each other, and that is when your marriage is over.” She also spoke about how the separation changed her, stating, “My life will forever be changed, and I will forever be changed. Going through something like this really shifts you inside, but, I think I can start to have some fun and some normalcy, because, for the longest time, I didn’t have any of that.”
Erika joined RHOBH as a married woman, so this is the first time we are seeing her as a single, independent woman. While she admitted independence can feel daunting, we think she’ll be better for it.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK ERIKA JAYNE IS DIFFERENT THIS SEASON? DO YOU THINK SHE’S CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
