I’ve always enjoyed watching Emily Simpson on the Real Housewives of Orange County. She was strong within herself and often spoke with conviction when dealing with some of her shady co-stars. Thanks to her legal mind and blunt observations, Emily has always added to the group dynamic. While she hasn’t always gotten along with some of the women, she does her best to see both sides of an argument.
Emily isn’t just another super-thin housewife who drinks. She is trying her best to promote a healthier lifestyle and openly discuss her insecurities, which is a breath of fresh air for many Bravo viewers. But Emily’s health kick hasn’t come easy. Luckily, the Bravoleb has been great at keeping followers up to date.
Emily Simpson shows off her strength
It’s not every day that a Real Housewives star can flip another cast member and make it look easy. Season 18 shows Emily on her transformation journey, which hasn’t been the easiest road. For the last year, Emily has been posting about her gym routines and other activities to keep fit. Since starting her journey, Emily has lost 40 lbs, which is no small feat. In an Instagram video, Emily shared, “Around age 42, I gained 40 pounds, and it wasn’t until now (age 47) that I was able to finally get it off and feel like my old self again.”
Emily added, “Just to be clear though, I rocked a bathing suit on TV for 5 years and never felt ugly or not confident in myself or my body. Not once.” This sentiment rings true in a recent post that showed her showing off those muscle gains. Emily, Jennifer Pedranti, and Gina Kirschenheiter all participated in the Partner Cartwheel challenge. And even though they didn’t nail it, the video showed just how far Emily has come.
Emily Simpson is still self-conscious
Sometimes, no matter how hard a person works, they don’t always see their successes. Sadly, viewers have had to watch Emily struggle during Season 18. The Real Housewives of Orange County star was triggered when she was told she would be wearing the same dress as Alexis Bellino. The fashion show was all about charity, but Emily couldn’t shake the feeling that Heather Dubrow still saw her as a big girl. It didn’t help that Heather told her friend she looked like a “Snuffleupagus in a good way.” In what world is Snuffleupagus a compliment, Heather!?
During Season 17, while at the pool, Emily joked that she didn’t look her best. But Heather seemed to take it an extra mile as she added, “It’s not your best look, but it’s not your worst either.” At that time, Emily had already lost 15 pounds. Sometimes, others don’t understand the impact words have on their friends. We are now watching the fallout of those harmful jests coming back to haunt Emily. And it isn’t pretty. This season has shown Emily breaking down more than once over her weight. Instead of rallying around her, some costars add insult to injury.
Emily Simpson isn’t giving up any time soon
Even though Emily was very upset by the recent charity event, she isn’t letting anyone get her down. Living a healthier lifestyle is all a balance, as she spoke about with her husband. Shane Simpson voiced concerns that his wife might be obsessed with the gym. Emily did admit she feels a lot of shame if she misses a day of working out. But she also shared that she was worried for her husband’s health. For Emily, it is all about setting a good example for her children. She wants to work as a united front to show their kids that working out and eating right is a lifestyle change and can be fun.
I love the example Emily is setting for viewers. We no longer hear ‘fat talk’ as much. The days of women complaining about their carb intake are slowly slipping away, and I am here for it. Even though I know the journey has been hard for Emily, I, as a loyal viewer, appreciate her being so vulnerable. Without knowing it, she has probably encouraged more and more fans to start making healthier decisions in their own lives.
Real Housewives of Orange County is streaming on Peacock.
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