Two decades ago, Vicki Gunvalson joined the cast of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” setting a benchmark in reality television. Few could have predicted that she would rise to prominence as an essential reality TV figure.

Throughout her first 13 years on the show, Gunvalson was unreserved. She took part in activities like keg stands and renewing wedding vows, which were soon followed by divorce. She also had her share of physical mishaps, including breaking a leg. Known for exclaiming “I have never been with multiple partners in my life!” while skiing, Vicki made her mark through a mix of emotional openness and clumsiness.

Gunvalson’s role as a foundational cast member of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” was significant. Her track record was the longest among debut-season participants, earning her the moniker “the O.G. of the O.C.” Overseeing an insurance business from her gated California community, she was one of five original cast members selected by producer Scott Dunlop. He described the series as a “social experiment” and “a documentary of [their] life.”

When Scott Dunlop said, ‘This is going to be a social experiment,’ “we have no idea what’s going to happen.”

The television series chronicled the social dynamics of affluent women in suburban California. It launched not only ten American spinoffs but also various business ventures. “The Real Housewives” helped redefine the notion of reality TV stardom. Gunvalson, who left in 2019 and made a part-time return in 2023, is now back on the show. At BravoCon last November, Andy Cohen, the show’s executive producer, invited her to rejoin the 20th-anniversary season, which premieres on July 9.

Cohen noted in a video interview that initial expectations did not predict Vicki’s enduring presence on the show. Despite dramatic shifts in her personal life, Gunvalson has remained the same at her core.