When Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18 premiered in July, a new unofficial cast member joined the ranks. Though she wasn’t holding an orange, Tamra Judge’s youngest daughter, Sophia Barney, returned to the show after a 13-year absence.
Sophia seemingly disappeared from the show when she was just five years old. Due to Tamra’s contentious divorce from Sophia’s dad, Simon Barney, he refused to sign the release that would have allowed her and her siblings (Spencer, 23, and Sidney, 24) to appear on camera.
“Hiding in the shadows”
Sophia, who was living in the house with Tamra and her second husband Eddie Judge the whole time, said it was hard for her, too. “It was frustrating hiding in the shadows,” she told People. “I had to tiptoe around the cameras all the time. And seeing my mom do it my entire life, it seemed like there was something happening in my life that I was kind of a part of but always an outsider to.”
Tamra continued to film the show while Sophia and her brother Spencer, remained off camera. Only Tamra’s adult son Ryan Vieth, her son from her first marriage, would make an appearance now and then. But he was an adult and could make his own decisions. Sadly, Tamra’s still estranged from Sidney, who took her dad’s side in the divorce.
“As a mom, I felt horrible,” Tamra said. “I’d even say, ‘Can you just shoot them from the back walking up the stairs so people know that I have children?’ Because it was really hard for me. We’re supposed to be fully transparent on the show, and here was this whole part of me I could just never show.”
When Spencer had his 18th birthday during Season 13, the celebration was shown on RHOC. But for the most part, he’s chosen not to be in the limelight, preferring to keep a low profile.
For her part, Sophia’s just happy to finally be 18 and able to make her own decisions. “As I got older, I wanted to be part of it, so I’m happy,” she gushed. “It just seemed a lot easier, like I didn’t have to feel like a stranger in my own house.”
Tamra’s just “Mom”
So far, her experience on TV has been mostly positive, but she’s seen the darker side of fame. Sophia’s seen the backlash her mom has gotten from fans and co-stars alike over the years.
“I just don’t see Tamra Judge that everyone else sees,” Sophia noted. “I see my mom. These people … only see her through the TV, and it’s not the person that she is. The life we have together, she’s nothing like that. So I just think they’re uneducated, and the stuff they say online, they’re the ones who look like idiots.”
Tamra insists her family just lives “a very mellow life.”
“I’ve always separated that world from them,” the Vena CBD owner stated. “We don’t walk red carpets, we don’t have paparazzi taking our pictures, [and] we don’t act like we’re a big deal by any means.”
“We’re very normal,” Sophia added. “We just go to HomeGoods, to the mall, to thrift stores. It’s very chill.”
“I have been blessed with the best kids ever,” she concluded. “You know, I went through a very public divorce, and I think they felt very put in the middle at the time. But they’ve all grown into very strong-minded, grounded people who all have their values in the right place. So I consider myself very lucky.”
Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
TELL US – ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF SOPHIA THIS SEASON? DO YOU THINK TAMRA AND SIDNEY BARNEY WILL EVER RECONCILE?
