Real Housewives: The 10 Best Cast Members On The Franchise
With 10 American cities (including RHOM and RHODC) and countless cast members, Bravo's Real Housewives franchise is definitely one to talk about. Some cities, like RHOC, have lost some important cast members, such as Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson, and others, like RHONY, feature many who have been there from the start, such as Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga.
The Real Housewives is known for its fighting but sometimes, the franchise gets emotional, and fans enjoy seeing the highs and lows of each cast member. While many have some interesting qualities, there are some housewives who truly stand out, and these are the most beloved by fans.
10 Teresa Giudice
While Teresa Giudice has exhibited some bad behavior, as nobody can say that it was a good idea to flip the table on Danielle Staub, it's impossible to talk about the Real Housewives franchise without including her.
Teresa has been on RHONJ since day one and it's incredible to think about everything that fans have seen. In the beginning, she was a mom of young daughters and married to Joe, and as time went on, she and Joe started to have problems, eventually serving some time in jail. In the most recent season, Teresa has shared that she has a new boyfriend, and she's still causing drama, as she spread a rumor about Jackie Goldschneider's husband Evan cheating. While it's hard to agree with everything that Teresa does, she's still a classic cast member.
9 Garcelle Beauvais
Garcelle Beauvais joined RHOBH in the tenth season and she has been an excellent addition. Garcelle is an actress and often leaves town in order to film a project, so she's gone for a little bit in season 10, but fans have enjoyed watching her sweet family life with her kids and learning more about her career and life.
Garcelle and co-star Kyle Richards fought in season 10 as Kyle said that Garcelle didn't give her money for her charity. Garcelle gave the money once the reunion had passed, but this was offensive as Garcelle explained it played into racial stereotypes. The current season of RHOBH has a relevant discussion about race between Crystal Kung-Minkoff and Sutton Stracke, and it's important that the franchise is having these conversations.
8 Ramona Singer
From her love of white wine and "Turtle time" to her close friendship with Sonja Morgan, fans have gotten to know Ramona Singer as she's an OG on RHONY. Ramona definitely puts her foot in her mouth in almost every episode, and many of her co-stars struggle with that as she can be insulting one second and perfectly nice the next.
While Ramona can be intense, she's a great cast member as she loves her friendships and is up for a good time. Fans also love that Ramona has a specific way of speaking and that she's very passionate when talking to her friends.
7 Sonja Morgan
Sonja Morgan is one of the most memorable cast members on RHONY thanks to her love of toaster ovens, various business ventures that she discusses, and of course, her attachment to her townhouse. Sonja also enjoys throwing parties and dating.
Sonja can't possibly be ignored when talking about the best cast members on this Bravo franchise, as so many fans keep watching RHONY season after season because of her.
6 Erika Jayne
The current season of RHOBH will talk about Erika's divorce, and it's sad to see her marriage to Tom Girardi end. Fans are also surprised to learn about the legal trouble they are in, which will be talked about in a documentary.
Erika is a favorite housewife for many, as she lives a truly fun and fabulous lifestyle that is aspirational. She loves performing and viewers enjoy seeing her bold and dramatic fashion choices. It's enjoyable watching Erika get ready with her glam squad and talk about the big changes happening in her career. Erika shares her highs, like performing in Chicago on Broadway, and lows, like looking back on a tough childhood.
5 Gizelle Bryant
There have been six seasons of RHOP so far and it's becoming a beloved part of the franchise. Fans of RHOP enjoy watching Gizelle Bryant, and they have seen a lot happen in her personal life, including her relationship with Jamal.
Gizelle does get into many fights, and when fans of the franchise think about which cast members they like watching the most, they often think about who brings the drama and who is entertaining. Gizelle fits into that category, and fans like that she can't help but say what she wants to.
4 Tamra Judge
After watching Tamra Judge on RHOC from the third until the 14th season, viewers have witnessed many changes in her life. Tamra's friendships have changed, as she sometimes fought with co-star Vicki Gunvalson and other times, the two were close and having fun on many different trips.
Tamra also divorced her husband Simon and met Eddie, who she is still happily married to. Tamra isn't always perfect, as she threw a glass of wine in her co-star Jeana's face, but she makes for good TV. Tamra's time on RHOC was equally intense and relatable, as she would argue with someone in one scene and then be seen working out or hanging at home in another.
3 Lisa Vanderpump
Many RHOBH fans would be more than happy to see Lisa Vanderpump return to the show. She left after season 9, which fans would say was her toughest season yet. LVP had a huge fight with her long-time best pal Kyle Richards and she was also involved in Puppygate. When Dorit adopted a dog from Vanderpump Dogs and then found another home for it, the rumor mill went into full force. The other cast members and viewers alike were confused about what had happened and who knew what.
LVP stood out as a cast member in so many ways, from her gorgeous house Villa Rosa to her love for her husband Ken, animals, and their restaurants. Lisa was often equally honest and glam, making her one of the best cast members that the franchise has ever had.
2 Kandi Burruss
RHOA's Kandi Burruss is another stand-out cast member. Kandi joined the show in season 2 and has remained ever since. In her first season, Kandi was engaged to AJ and viewers also learned about her music career, as she's a singer and songwriter.
She recorded the song "Tardy for the Party" with Kim, which inspired Kim's spin-off Don't Be Tardy. Kandi's time on the show has focused on her career and her relationships with the other women, and she's an intelligent, inspiring person who is great on TV. Kandi is also very honest, which fans appreciate.
1 Bethenny Frankel
Many fans of the Real Housewives franchise consider Bethenny Frankel to be their favorite. She's not a stranger to intense arguments, as she had countless fights in season 10, and that's thanks to her bold nature and desire to say what's on her mind.
Bethenny is courageous, inspiring, a loyal friend, a great mother, and an intelligent businesswoman, and all of the sides of her came out on RHONY. Viewers watching from the beginning saw Bethenny break up with two of her good friends, Jill Zarin and Carole Radziwill, and they watched her deal with her complicated divorce and look for love again. Bethenny doesn't mince her words and is always game for a fun vacation or party, and many miss seeing her on RHONY.