It was a night filled with emotions as Vicki Gunvalson, the original cast member of The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC), took the stage at The Bravos to receive her Wifetime Achievement Award during BravoCon 2023.
Vicki Gunvalson became a household name after breaking out on the Bravo reality series. Now, 18 years later, she’s still in the mix and being honored for her contribution to providing entertainment for audiences.
Hosted at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas by Andy Cohen, The Bravos was a pre-taped show expected to air on Sunday, Nov. 5. Gunvalson’s best moments on RHOC were also showcased during the event, highlighting her ups and downs. Her signature catchphrases “Woohoo!” and “Whoop it up!” were included, along with her complaints about getting a family van to take her family to the airport.
Gunvalson was pleasantly surprised when some of her former RHOC co-stars from the show’s inaugural season appeared on stage to hand her the award. Jo De La Rosa and Lauri Peterson, as well as Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino, were there to congratulate her.
“If you would’ve told me back in 2006 that Vicki Gunvalson would still be on TV 18 years later, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Lauri Peterson.
The audience gave Gunvalson a standing ovation as she made her way onto the stage.
“I’m thrilled to be here at the third BravoCon,” Gunvalson said. “I want to thank all my Housewives sisters, friends, and the cast members that we filmed with during season one 18 years ago. I love you all.”
Vicki Gunvalson became emotional while thanking the producers of Real Housewives, Andy Cohen and Scott Dunlop. She expressed gratitude for seeing something in her that she didn’t see herself at the time. Gunvalson also thanked her fans for their support throughout the ups and downs of her life.
“When I started this show in Season 1, my children Mike and Brianna were 18 and 19 years old. Now, they are 38 and 37 years old. Brianna has four children of her own. And I want you all to know that I did not take a family van to get here,” Gunvalson shared, ending her speech with a reference to one of her iconic lines, “And I’ve never been with multiple partners in my life.”
To further signify her desire to return as a full-time housewife on RHOC, Gunvalson brought out an orange and handed it to Cohen.
The night ended with Andy Cohen bringing out the shotski and asking Gunvalson to choose two other Bravolebrities to celebrate with. Gunvalson selected Austen Kroll from Southern Charm and Phaedra Parks, the newest star of Married to Medicine and former cast member of Real Housewives of Atlanta.
