It’s been 18 years since Real Housewives of Orange County first premiered on Bravo. The franchise has come a long way in two decades and so have the women. Many cast members have come and gone over the years but the show would be nothing without the 5 women who started it all.
Here is what the OG cast of RHOC is doing now:
Jeana Keough
Fans were first introduced to Jeana Keough as a high-end realtor and mother-of-three living in an exclusive gated community in Orange County, California. When the show first aired, Jeana was still married to her now ex-husband, Matt Keough, a former Major League baseball player. The couple’s separation was shown on the show.
Jeana left the show in Season 5. She appeared in the first three episodes before turning in her orange. The former housewife made a few appearances throughout the years but never returned as a full-time housewife.
The former Bravo star has stayed busy since leaving the network. According to her Instagram, she still works as a realtor and is a grandmother to four adorable grandchildren. She has also dealt with quite a bit of loss in the last few years. In April 2020, her daughter Kara Keough Bosworth lost her infant son McCoy. According to ABC News, the newborn suffered “severe brain damage” as a result of “shoulder dystocia and a compressed umbilical cord during his birth.” The following month, her ex-husband and father to her three children passed away at 64 years old. Jeana’s daughter has since given birth to another child.
Jo De La Rosa
Fans were first introduced to Jo De La Rosa as the girl who didn’t want to grow up. In Season 1, Jo wrestled with the monotony of domestic life as she prepared to wed real estate agent, Slade Smiley, In the end, Jo and Slade’s issues were too deep-rooted and they never made it down the aisle. She left the show after Season 2 to pursue a music career in LA.
Jo has kept a relatively low profile since she departed from the show. She married musician Taran Gray in May 2022. The two met on the dating app Hinge.
In April, RHOC star Tamra Judge shared a photo of her and Jo on Instagram alongside the caption, “And that’s a wrap #RHOC.” The photo led to speculation about Jo’s involvement in the upcoming season of RHOC.
“Omg YASSSS!!!!! Bring Jo back!!!!!” one fan wrote.
“Prepping for a full-time season 19 return for Jo,” another fan commented.
Kimberly Bryant
Kimberly Bryant helped kick off the show in 2006 but she only stayed for one season. She moved to Chicago after filming wrapped and has kept a low profile since.
Lauri Peterson
In Season 1, Lauri Peterson was divorced, raising three kids, and selling insurance under Vicki Gunvalson‘s thumb. She was the underdog of the group. In Season 2, she met George Peterson, who she described as the man of her dreams. The two got married and Lauri finally got her Happily Ever After. She left the show after Season 4 but made guest appearances in later seasons.
In April 2024, she lost her son, Josh Waring. She shared the news of his passing on Instagram, detailing the grief she was experiencing.
“It is with a shattered heart that I write this post to let you know that my sweet Josh left this earth Easter Sunday. No one can ever prepare you for this feeling of such deep loss,” she wrote. “Every fiber in my body hurts. [He] fought every single day for most of his adult life, for his life, but this past Sunday, the challenge was too great.”
Josh’s cause of death has not been revealed. The 35-year-old struggled with addiction and substance abuse issues.
Lauri and George are now raising her son’s daughter, Kennady.
Vicki Gunvalson
Vicki starred in the first 13 seasons of RHOC. She left the show after she was demoted to a “friend of” in Season 14. Her departure from the show hasn’t soured her relationship with the network. She appeared in Season 1 of the Real Housewives spinoff Real Housewives Ultimate Girls’ Trip.
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