RHOC: Where the Cast’s Friendships and Relationships Stand Ahead of Season 17

The wait is over — The Real Housewives of Orange County is set to return for a juicy Season 17 on June 7.

The new season welcomes the return of Tamra Judge, who appeared on 11 seasons of RHOC before departing ahead of Season 15. Additionally, Tamra's pal from The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club, Taylor Armstrong, who was a also cast member on the first two seasons of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, will pop up on Season 17 as a friend.

Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Emily Simpson, and Gina Kirschenheiter are all returning to the cast, and Season 17 will welcome the Real Housewives debut of new addition Jennifer Pedranti.

Ahead of the June 7 premiere, we've gathered up everything you need to know about the upcoming season — including who's getting along, who's not on the same page, and what to expect from the California girls.

Tamra Judge

Several years after she last appeared on RHOC, Tamra is going through a period of change. She and husband/business partner Eddie Judge have decided to close their gym, CUT Fitness, nearly 10 years after they first opened its doors. 

Tamra is also dealing with a few shifts in her personal life as well. She looks to get her friendship with Shannon back on track after a few hiccups in their relationship, but things don't go as she planned. Plus, after introducing Jennifer Pedranti to the group, Tamra begins to question a few things about her, which leads to some "explosive confrontations" according to the press release.

Shannon Storms Beador

Once Tamra and Shannon manage to get their friendship back on track, it means that it's time for a Tres Amigas reunion. That's right, Vicki Gunvalson will also be appearing on Season 17, nearly four after she last popped up on RHOC. 

Though she's in a better place with Tamra and Vicki, Shannon's relationship with John Janssen comes under fire on the new season. When her friends question her relationship, Shannon wonders who she can really trust (she announced her break-up from John in January 2023 after about three years of dating).

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Heather Dubrow

With two of her children off at college for the first time, Heather and Dr. Terry Dubrow find themselves ready to make a change in residence. The spouses ultimately decide to buy a swanky penthouse pad in L.A., and Heather dives back into her acting career.

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Meanwhile, when Shannon and Tamra reconcile, Heather wonders where she fits in with the two.

Gina Kirschenheiter

Gina and her boyfriend, Travis Mullen, are mixing business and pleasure on Season 17. The pair sets out to become a top-selling real estate duo, and the only thing standing in the way of their success is Gina passing the real estate exam.

After one of the ladies opens up about infidelity, Gina must confront the residual effects from her ex-husband's past indiscretions for the first time. Plus, her friendship with Heather isn't in the place that it once was, and her bonds with the other ladies shift as a result of Tamra being back in the group.

Emily Simpson

Now that her husband has officially passed the bar and he is practicing law in California, Emily is staying at home full-time with her kids. Her daughter, Annabelle, wants to become a model, and Emily is also continuing her work with the California Innocence Project.

In a surprising turn of events, Emily and Tamra become close, and she finds herself clashing with Heather and Shannon after asking a few tough questions.

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Jennifer Pedranti

Jennifer is introduced to the ladies through her friendship with Tamra — and the two have a love for fitness in common. The Season 17 newbie owns a yoga studio.

Jennifer is a mom of five, who is passionate about fostering animals and children. She recently adopted her youngest son, Dominic, and she's in the midst of a split from her husband, Will.

Will and Jennifer may be separating in their marriage, but they continue to work together and live together. Things become complicated between Jennifer and Tamra when a rumor begins to swirl that Jennifer allegedly had an affair with a CUT Fitness member named Ryan.

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Taylor Armstrong

Nearly a decade after she made the move to Orange County, Taylor has become close friends with Tamra. When she gets an offer to appear in a movie, Taylor seeks advice from Heather — which proves to be a bit of a mistake once the two begin to clash.

When exactly will RHOC Season 17 premiere? 

You can see all of the above go down on Bravo starting on Wednesday June 7 at 8/7c. New episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

Watch all past seasons of The Real Housewives of Orange County on Peacock and the Bravo app.

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