Shannon Beador is not sugarcoating anything. The Real Housewives of Orange County star attended the season 20 premiere party this week. She gave three interviews, each revealing more about her relationship with Tamra Judge.
Progress With Tamra, But Boundaries Still Stand
Speaking to PEOPLE, Beador, 62, described her relationship with Judge, 58, as a work in progress.
“It’s an evolution this season, but we’re at a point where it’s not a yelling and screaming match, which was a shocker to me,” she said. “There’s good pluses and minuses. It’s an evolution this season, for sure.”
That sounds promising. But Beador made it clear she is not rushing back into old patterns.
“The thing is, and sometimes I would get a little bit frustrated, is the push that I was getting to kind of rekindle this historic friendship that I had with Tamra,” she explained. “I can go to a certain point, but for me, I needed to create this boundary, and it’s kind of mocked sometimes and all that, but it is what it is.”
So Are The Tres Amigas Back Together? Not Quite
Fans have been curious all season if Beador, Judge, and Gunvalson will come together again as the Tres Amigas. Talking to Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea, Beador gave a clear answer.
“No. I mean, we’re, we’re okay,” she said. “You’ll watch as the season evolves, and there’s definitely, I’m in a much better place than I was last year. But for me right now, I just need to keep it at that place and, you know, I’m not being mean. I just know what’s best for me.”
She also explained what pushed her to keep her distance from Judge in the first place.
“I had to sit and analyze the history, and there were certain patterns that continued to repeat. And at some point, if you keep going back, the same thing is gonna happen, and you can only blame yourself,” she said. “So I took a hard look at certain things, and for my happiness, I’ve never been in a happier place, so I want to keep things the way they are.”
That’s a smart way to deal with ten years of Bravo drama. It shows Beador has really thought it through instead of just reacting.
A Lighter Season After A Rough Stretch
Talking to Zachary Reality at the same event, Beador said she is ready for a break from the heaviness.
“I get to do a lot of silly things, and I get to laugh, and it’s been a lot of fun,” she shared.
Shannon Already Loves The New Housewife
Carmella Garcia, 44, joins the cast this season, and Beador is already a fan.
“I was kind of a not-liking-new-girls person myself. I really like her, and we have a lot of things in common. Enjoyed her from day one,” she said.
Looking Back At The Fight That Got Her Banned
Beador also talked about the fallout from Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. A fight with Judge got them both banned from the finale.
“The ramifications were” the biggest fight, she said, even if the fight itself wasn’t. “It was upsetting to me,” she admitted.
Vicki Gunvalson’s Return Has Shannon Excited
Beador did not hide her excitement over Gunvalson’s return to the main cast. She called it “so much fun” and even teased her own tagline for the season.
“One has to do with the water, and one has to do with sucking it in,” she revealed.
Why Season 20 Feels Like A Throwback
In an interview with ExtraTV’s Bozoma Saint John, Beador shared why this season feels unique compared to the last ones. Her dog Archie passed away just weeks before filming ended. This makes her lighter tone this season stand out even more.
Saint John asked if Beador expected to enjoy herself at the premiere. She said, “I am, and I’m about to enjoy this season because it’s been a rough couple.” She added that fans will see her “silly” side and that she has been “laughing a lot.”
Saint John did not let her off easy, joking, “Some people told me that you’re 90% of the drama in the last 10 years.” Beador laughed it off and reflected, “Sometimes you walk in, you start a season, and you go, ‘It’s just gonna be light and breezy.’”
A Nostalgic Return To Her Roots
Saint John followed up by asking if the season felt peaceful. Beador’s answer went deeper than a simple yes. “It felt nostalgic for me before it’s my 12th year on the show, and it was reminiscent of when I first started and we just kind of had silly fun,” she said.
She also addressed how dark the show had gotten in recent years. “And in the end, we come back together. It got a little dark the last couple of years, so I’m grateful that it’s not that way anymore.”
Twelve years is a long time for any reality star. When Beador compares this season to her rookie year, it shows how much the show has changed.
Her Bond With Vicki Gunvalson Runs Deep
When Saint John brought up Gunvalson, Beador’s tone shifted immediately. “Well, she’s one of my best friends, so we talk every single day,” she said.
She explained what keeps their friendship fun on camera. “You can go in and think you’re gonna have a conversation about something, and it turns into something completely else.” Beador called their dynamic “a constant banter” and said it’s “always fun to film with her.”
Fans Are Split On The New Season
Not everyone is convinced season 20 will deliver. The show has faced criticism since Katie Ginella’s firing after season 19, and the new trailer did not win everyone over. Some fans embraced Beador’s lighter energy. One person wrote, “We love a silly Shannon!” Another simply said, “We love Shannon.” Others were less enthusiastic about the franchise overall. One fan admitted, “I’m kind of over the OC, which is crazy as I’ve been watching since the beginning. It’s just too contrived.”
The trailer itself took heat too. One viewer called it “the most boring trailer I have seen in a while.” Another pointed to a specific emotional moment, saying only Jennifer’s son crying about being treated badly “sparked any emotion.” A third fan summed up the bigger complaint: “It’s time for a new cast; it’s too recycled and forced at this point, too aware of cameras.”
That kind of fatigue is worth noting. Twenty seasons in, even loyal fans are asking whether the formula still works.
Shannon’s Dating Life? Nonexistent
Saint John also asked Beador about her love life. Her answer was blunt.
“No, I don’t date. I haven’t been on a date,” she said.
She said that her costars, Heather Dubrow and Gina Kirschenheiter, have tried to set her up before. When asked what she is actually looking for, Beador kept it simple.
“It’s not a long list. Someone with a kind heart that has good family values and is fun,” she said. She added that she wants someone who “believes in their faith” and is “decent looking.”
Season 20 of The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres on Bravo on July 9.
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