Gretchen Rossi is set to return to The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 19, Deadline has learned.
The reality TV personality will join the cast as a “friend” in a part-time role as filming for the new season begins.
Rossi first joined the Bravo franchise in Season 4, where she held an orange as a full-time housewife for five seasons, leaving the show after Season 8 in 2013.
RHOC is the longest-running Real Housewives franchise, having premiered in 2006. Season 19 is expected to bring all its main stars back, including Tamra Judge, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Storms Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and Katie Ginella.
Alexis Bellino, a former RHOC star featured as a “friend” in Season 18, will not return for the new season.
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Rossi began her journey on RHOC in 2008 and engaged to Jeff Beitzel, who would die by the time Season 4 began airing. In Season 5, Rossi and Slade Smiley began a romance, creating controversy among the cast. Smiley had been engaged to OG RHOC cast member Jo de la Rosa, who was on the for the first two seasons and appeared as a guest through Season 4.
Rossi and Smiley were questioned by cast and fans about the veracity of their relationship and authenticity in front of cameras. During Season 5, Rossi proposed to Smiley on camera. The couple never got married, but they are still together and had a daughter in 2019.
Variety was the first to report the news of Rossi’s return.
