Gina Kirschenheiter’s Real Housewives of Orange County journey has been anything but easy.
On the Bravo After Show, Gina and her castmates reflected on how far she has come since joining RHOC, from being dismissed by the OGs to building real friendships with women who once wanted nothing to do with her.
Gina and Emily Simpson both admitted that their friendship started because they came onto the show at the same time and immediately felt like outsiders.
Emily explained that they were basically thrown into a group of women who did not like them.
“You put us with everyone who doesn’t like us Shannon, Tamra, Vicki,” Emily said.
Gina agreed, adding, “And no one would talk to us really and if they did it wasn’t very nice.”
Vicki Gunvalson admitted she does not even clearly remember Gina and Emily first joining the group, but she definitely remembers Gina going through a rough time.
“I really don’t remember them coming on,” Vicki said. “When I met Gina, she got a DUI, she filed for divorce. She was a hot mess.”
Gina pushed back on the idea that there was ever a real reason for the women not to like her, and Vicki made it clear that her opinion of Gina has changed.
“I do like her now,” Vicki said, explaining that she sees Gina as “very refined.”
Vicki also praised Gina’s personal growth and the way she has come to her for advice over the years.
“She’s got a great boyfriend or husband or fiancé,” Vicki said. “She’s come to me with questions and advice, so it solidifies who she is and how she wants to grow. I like that, she respects me.”
Gina’s relationship with Shannon Beador has also changed dramatically.
Gina admitted that she and Shannon did not like each other at first, while Shannon agreed it was not exactly the greatest start.
“That relationship with Shannon for sure is the most that’s dramatically different,” Gina said.
Shannon agreed that they have come a long way.
“We’ve come a long way and I do like Gina,” Shannon said.
Jenn Pedranti also gave Gina credit, saying the two have gone through things but were able to get through them. Jenn described Gina as a great friend, while Tamra Judge said she is proud of how far Gina has come.
But not every relationship is fully settled.
Heather Dubrow said she initially bonded with Gina over their shared New York background. However, Heather also said she sometimes feels like Gina wants to have a problem with her.
Tamra agreed and said she sees a similar pattern with both Gina and Emily.
“Emily and Gina are both like that,” Tamra said. “They are looking to have the next big problem.”
Gina, however, explained that her issue with Heather is not about wanting drama. According to Gina, the problem is the way Heather handles conflict.
Gina said Heather often needs to have what she described as a “wrap up moment” after an argument.
And according to Gina, that wrap up moment is usually not about mutual understanding.
It is about Heather being right.
Gina explained that Heather’s version of closure often feels like “her being right and you being wrong.”
That dynamic has been at the center of Gina and Heather’s tension before. While the two have had moments of genuine friendship, their disagreements often become bigger because both women can be stubborn, direct and unwilling to let things go.
For Gina, the frustration seems to be that Heather does not just want to resolve the issue. She wants to define who was right, who was wrong and how the conversation should end.
After years on RHOC, Gina has managed to turn several rocky starts into real relationships. Shannon now says she likes her. Vicki respects her growth. Jenn calls her a great friend. Tamra says she is proud of her.