Everybody’s favorite workaholic Housewife, Vicki Gunvalson, is promoting a natural eyelash growth product she helped develop called Cilea Lash and now she is trying to convince us we need to buy it. In a new interview with radio station 97.9, Vicki talked about the upcoming season of Real Housewives of Orange County, her divorce, dating Brooks Ayers and of course, Cilea Lash!
Speaking candidly, Vicki admits that being the OG of the OC makes her “feel old” as each new cast member comes “a little younger and prettier.” Although she is happy with new Housewife on the block Heather Dubrow, who she describes as genuine and “very, very sweet,” Vicki also appreciates that at 41; Heather is “a little bit older,” instead of a “32-year-old that’s never had children.” (I wonder who that could be referring to, ahem… Gretchen Rossi!).
As for dealing with new Housewives Vicki, who describes the Housewives franchises as “like a sorority”, doesn’t hesitate to participate in a little OC Housewives Hazing! “It’s all the way they approach the seasoned cast members, which is Tamra [Barney] and I,” Vicki says of newbies joining the show. “We try to bring ‘em in with open arms and sometimes they come in with claws.”
“Sometimes you have to go ‘Really girl? Step back a little bit!’ and put them in their place and then everybody fights!” It’s nice to know Vicki and Tamra are still BFF. Apparently Heather got off on the right foot because Vicki reveals filming together is a “great experience.”
This season she says the ladies are a little older and a little wiser and there is less bickering (thank goodness!), but lots of “interesting things” happening, including a cast camping trip! “We don’t really know what our reality is from day to day. Every day is a new day,” she says of participating in a reality show.
Apparently Gretchen and Tamra are <gasp> actually getting along! “Gretchen is realizing there’s two sides to every story and I see Gretchen and Tamra trying to resolve some of their issues,” Vicki reveals.
“They are never going to be best friends, but we’re growing up and maturing on TV and nobody wants to see women fight. And if you do [fight], do so in a respectful manner. Not name calling, not hurt people,” she declares, perhaps sending Bravo a message! “I’m hopeful everyone can get along and be class acts. My goal is try to get everybody to help each other.”
When asked about last season focusing on her divorce from ex-husband, Donn Gunvalson, Vicki describes that having the end of her decades long marriage play out on camera was “obviously very, very difficult.”
“I never really wanted any of my marriage demise to be on camera,” Vicki explains, adding that she “pretended everything was fine” to the producers to avoid the drama being included in the show. Unfortunately, the production company “saw right through the film” and confronted her about the state of her relationship with Donn because otherwise her only storyline was insurance! Vicki shares that while pretending to be happy, she was actually filing for divorce and eventually confessed that her marriage was “done.”
Despite her protests, Vicki says the producers said “we have to film this” and she relented allowing it be included in the show. As for the accusations that her addiction to work contributed to her marriage falling apart, Vicki insists that’s not true. “They don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Donn and I are very private people,” she explains. “We will never disclose what happened.”
“It takes two to get divorced. If Donn wanted to still be married to me, we would still be married.” Although, Vicki assures us that despite rumors of infidelity none took place and the split was “amicable.” “I never cheated on Donn the entire time we’ve been married – absolutely not,” she states, insisting she’s never heard “that rumor,” because she doesn’t read the tabloids or blogs anymore.
“That’s the kinda stuff that really makes you throw up. It’s like really? Everyone can just sit there and say anything about you and you have to defend yourself all day long,” Vicki scoffs of tabloid gossip.
Finally, Vicki talked about her new relationship with OC deadbeat dad 2.0 boyfriend Brooks, who she revealed via Twitter will be making an appearance on Housewives this season! As for their relationship, they are taking it slow since she is a “damaged soldier.”
“I’m a hopeless romantic and Brooks and I have a wonderful relationship, but I’m taking it slow,” she reveals. “I’m gonna be 50 this year. I deserve to be loved and he loves me, I deserve to be happy and I am happy with him, but I am also not rushing into anything.”
Refusing to answer any questions about Brooks’ arrest for not paying child support, Vicki became very defensive snapping “You know, what I thought we were talking about Cilea today? Brooks’ business is Brooks’ business;” insisting he has no troubles with the law!
“I am not on the radio to defend my boyfriend. He’s a great guy or I wouldn’t be with him. Period. I really, really don’t want to discuss Brooks’ personal stuff,” she added. “He fell behind on child support and it’s all cleared up now. We all have a past and that’s past.” And there you have it. Slade Smiley’s child support woes are free game and Brooks Ayers’ are not! #Hypocritemuch?
As for what’s next for the insurance hawker, besides planning daughter Briana Wolfsmith’s upcoming nuptials, Vicki reveals she is “slowing the train down a little bit”, but has hopes of writing a finance book about saving for retirement.
She is also undecided about whether or not a season 8 of RHOC’s in store for her just in case Bravo fires her. “From year to year I have to evaluate it. Have to take it day by day and year by year. It’s so hard to predict,” she says of returning next season. “At the end of the day I still have my job, I still have my family” which is more important to her than Housewives. As well it should be!
[Photo credit: Vicki Gunvalson]
THOUGHTS ON VICKI’S INTERVIEWS AND HER COMMENTS ABOUT THE PRODUCERS BASICALLY INSISTING SHE FILM THE DEMISE OF HER MARRIAGE? DO YOU THINK THIS SEASON OF RHOC WILL BE BETTER? ARE YOU SURPRISED VICKI IS STILL DATING BROOKS?
