Alexis Bellino is returning to Real Housewives of Orange County for Season 18. This time, she won’t have an orange. But she will have a “gem” of a friend in the form of Heather Dubrow.
Even though they’ve “known each other for a very long time,” they “didn’t always see eye-to-eye,” says Heather.
But now it’s a whole new ballgame for the former frenemies. They’ve put their issues aside and become reacquainted “through some of our older kids,” adds Heather. She and Alexis have bonded over love for their LGBTQIA+ kids.
Heather’s rainbow family
Heather has four children with Dr. Terry Dubrow: twins Max and Nick, Kat, and Ace. Of Heather and Terry’s four children, three of them are LGBTQIA+. That’s kind of amazing and shows what great parents the Dubrows are. Their children are free to be themselves.
Their eldest daughter, Max, came out as bisexual in 2020, while their youngest daughter, Kat, came out as a lesbian the following year. The Dubrow’s youngest child, Ace, came out as transgender in early 2023.
When Heather returned to RHOC in 2021, she realized that she could do some good in other people’s lives. “I thought, ‘Hey, we’ve got this great platform, they’re asking us to come back. Wouldn’t it be nice to show our very normal family and maybe start conversations in other people’s families?'”
“Our job as parents is to give our kids a safe and supportive environment so they can grow up as healthy, happy, confident, independent humans,” Heather wrote in an Instagram post for National Son’s Day. “All we can say is Ace, we love you so much, and we are proud to be your parents. Your brother and sisters love and support you too.”
Alexis’ transgender son
Alexis shares three children with her ex, Jim Bellino: James and twins Miles and Mackenna. One year before Ace came out as transgender, Alexis announced in her own Instagram post that she was also “extremely proud” of her son Miles, who came out as trans in October 2022.
“Hey world, this is Miles. My transgender son,” Alexis wrote, alongside a photo of her and Miles. “Miles … has asked me to do this post … I cannot imagine the strength and courage it took for my baby to do this, but I’m extremely proud of him, and I want everyone to understand that love doesn’t change in these situations. It’s unconditional love.”
Regarding her newfound friendship with Alexis, Heather told The Daily Dish, “Having LGBTQIA+ kids definitely brought us closer.”
All episodes of Real Housewives of Orange County are now streaming on Peacock.
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