Roxanne 
Kathy Hilton is teasing some major changes to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills dynamic, revealing that newcomers Leah Remini and Tracy Tutor have already made quite an impression on the longtime cast members.
And according to Kathy, the two women aren’t afraid to challenge the Housewives who have been on the show for years.
During an interview with Us Weekly on November 6, Kathy opened up about the upcoming sixteenth season while hosting her annual holiday pajama party at her Bel-Air mansion alongside daughter Nicky Hilton.
The event, presented by Hunky Dory Cocktails, brought together guests for Kathy’s annual holiday celebration, but it was her comments about RHOBH that offered an interesting glimpse into what viewers can expect from the new season.
“First, with the new girls — I have to tell you, I admire them,” Kathy said.
She went on to praise Leah and Tracy for the confidence they’ve shown since joining the cast.
“They came in strong,” Kathy explained. “They’re not intimidated by these girls that have been there for years, and I think the girls are kind of, like, they really like them.”
The comments suggest that Leah and Tracy aren’t taking a back seat to the established Housewives simply because they’re new to the franchise.
And while Kathy believes the women generally like the newcomers, she also hinted that their confidence has caught some of the longtime cast members off guard.
“I think they’re a little shocked,” Kathy admitted.
She then offered an interesting comparison to explain why the arrival of two outspoken women might be unsettling for an established group.
“You have to know it’s like coming into a charity group — if you just come into the charity group and you’re starting to raise your hand at meetings and trying to fix something that’s not broken, people are not going to like you.”
Kathy made it clear that the new additions have already disrupted the group’s usual dynamic.
“Let’s just put it this way — every single person’s feathers are ruffled [and] tied.”
Although Kathy didn’t identify which Housewives have been the most affected, her comments suggest that Leah and Tracy aren’t simply blending into the background.
However, Kathy also made a point of explaining that she isn’t present for every interaction.
The socialite, who returns as a friend of the Housewives, said she personally loves the newcomers and believes the rest of the cast feels similarly.
Still, she acknowledged that she’s “not around all the time,” meaning her perspective is based on the interactions she’s witnessed rather than everything that has happened during filming.
Kathy’s comments come after Bravo confirmed some major casting changes for Season 16.
In August, it was announced that actress Leah Remini would be joining RHOBH as a full-time Housewife.
Best known for playing Carrie Heffernan on The King of Queens, Leah is also recognized for her outspoken criticism of the Church of Scientology, which she left in 2013.
She later became the face of the Emmy-winning documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, where she interviewed former members about their experiences.
Leah has never been someone who shies away from expressing her opinions publicly, making her addition to the Beverly Hills cast particularly interesting.
Her casting also marks a return to reality television after previously starring in Leah Remini: It’s All Relative, which followed her personal and family life.
When Leah confirmed the RHOBH news in August, she kept her announcement simple, writing, “It’s true.”
Andy Cohen appeared especially excited about the casting, commenting, “AT LONG LAST!!!”
Leah’s arrival generated significant attention because she entered the franchise with an established Hollywood career and a public reputation for being outspoken.
Unlike many first-time Housewives, she is already accustomed to navigating media attention and discussing personal issues publicly.
And according to Kathy, that confidence has carried over into filming.
Tracy Tutor, meanwhile, is already familiar to Bravo audiences.
The luxury real estate agent became a recognizable personality through Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, where she built a reputation for negotiating multimillion-dollar deals and holding her own in a competitive industry.
Tracy confirmed her transition to RHOBH in August, expressing excitement about showing viewers more of her personal life.
“Well … the secret’s officially out,” Tracy wrote at the time.
“I’m joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and I could not be more excited for this next chapter.”
She also emphasized her longstanding connection to Beverly Hills.
“Beverly Hills is home. I’ve raised my girls here, built my career here, and now apparently I’ve decided to let you all even further into my life.”
Although Tracy has years of reality television experience, RHOBH presents a different challenge from the real estate-focused format of Million Dollar Listing.
Instead of negotiating deals with clients, she’ll be navigating complicated friendships, group dynamics and the personal disagreements that have become a defining part of the Housewives franchise.
And Kathy’s latest comments suggest that Tracy has already shown she’s willing to speak up.
For Season 16, Leah and Tracy join returning Housewives Kyle Richards, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Sutton Stracke, Bozoma Saint John and Rachel Zoe.
Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly are also returning as friends of the cast.
The new lineup follows another round of changes for the Beverly Hills franchise, including the departure of Amanda Frances after Season 15.
With multiple established personalities returning, the newcomers are entering a group where many of the women already have complicated histories with one another.
Kyle, who has been part of RHOBH since its debut in 2010, remains the show’s longest-serving cast member.
Erika and Dorit have also spent years developing relationships and navigating conflicts within the group.
Sutton has become one of the franchise’s most recognizable personalities, while Bozoma and Rachel have brought their own perspectives to the cast in more recent seasons.
That makes Kathy’s description of Leah and Tracy particularly noteworthy.
Rather than approaching the longtime Housewives cautiously, Kathy says the two newcomers arrived ready to participate and express themselves.
And although she believes the cast likes them, she also suggested that some women may not appreciate having their established way of doing things challenged.
Kathy’s charity group comparison is especially revealing because it suggests that some of the tension may come from newcomers asserting themselves rather than simply reacting to existing conflicts.
However, she stopped short of revealing specific arguments or identifying who has been clashing with whom.
Interestingly, Kathy admitted that she hasn’t actually watched much of the show she’s been appearing on for years.
Despite her connection to the franchise through sisters Kyle Richards and Kim Richards, Kathy revealed that she has only watched approximately two or three episodes of RHOBH across its entire run.
But that is apparently about to change.
Speaking about Season 16, Kathy joked, “I’m not gonna miss one of these.”
The admission suggests that even Kathy is intrigued by the interactions unfolding between the returning Housewives and the newest additions.
