Michael Rosenthal/Bravo/NBCU Photo BankWhen a woman joins one of Bravo's Real Housewives shows, her life gets flipped and turned upside down. Gone are her drama-free days of anonymity. Here to stay are the legions of obsessive fans and the public feuds with co-stars. But each housewife's road after joining the franchise is not created equal. For a unique few, they come to define their given city. And their story is one that, for better or worse, you couldn't make up no matter how hard you try.
For The Real Housewives of Orange County, that woman is Vicki Gunvalson. From love tanks to cancer claim catastrophes, the OG of the OC has kept us glued to our TVs for 11 seasons. This is her timeline.
March 21, 2006 – The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres on Bravo, introducing viewers to the ladies responsible for jumpstarting the now-decade old franchise: Vicki, Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Jeana Keough, and Lauri Waring
March 28, 2006 – Whoop It Up Vicki is revealed to the world in episode two while on a particularly raucous cruise
January 23, 2007 – A Gunvalson European getaway is almost immediately derailed when Vicki is sent (say it with us now) a family van for 12 bags and six people
February 27, 2007 – Vicki gives son Michael the surprise of his life by showing up unannounced at his new house, crying after he says, "You should have called first," and doing a keg stand with his frat buddies
January 8, 2008 – Vicki's friendship with Jeana fractures after a trip to her second home, which Jeana is selling, reveals the house to be a disaster area
December 9, 2008 – Cracks in Vicki's marriage to husband Donn are revealed on a getaway with new pals Tamra and Simon Barney, as America first hears the infamous phrase "love tank"
July 2009 – Life Event: Vicki and Donn renew their vows while on vacation in Turks and Caicos in hopes for a "new start"
February 11, 2010 – Vicki receives bad news about daughter's health, beginning a seemingly never-ending string of health woes for Briana
October 19, 2010 – Life Event: Vicki files for divorce from Donn
June 5, 2011 – Viewers watch as Vicki is released from the hospital and reveals to her friends that she and Donn are divorcing
February 7, 2012 – Season seven of The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres, marking the introduction of the infamous Brooks Ayers, Vicki's new boyfriend
March 13, 2012 – Bunco goes bad when Vicki loses it over serial Real Housewife boyfriend Slade Smiley's "comedy routine" full of jokes at her expense—all while in ridiculous ‘80s costumes
May 1, 2012 – Viewers watch as Vicki is blindsided by Briana and her new boyfriend Ryan reveal they've eloped
June 26, 2012 – After weeks of growing tension, an explosive fight over Brooks leaves the future of Vicki and Tamra's relationship in doubt—and forever etched the phrase "my friend, my soulmate, my sister" into viewer's minds
April 1, 2013 – Season eight of RHOC premieres, revealing that Vicki is now a grandma—and no Brooks in sight
May 6, 2013 – Vicki reveals that she and Brooks are still going on dates
July 1, 2013 – Returning OG Housewife Lauri admits to Vicki that Brooks had some interaction with a porn star, to which Brooks later pulls a Ross Gellar and says, "We were on a break"
July 8, 2013 – Vicki learns that Lauri is spreading gossip about a threesome she allegedly participated in, while on the slopes in Whistler (How the ensuing screams didn't cause an avalanche, we'll never understand)
July 29, 2013 – Vicki reveals to the group that she is back with Brooks
August 26, 2013 – Part three of the season eight reunion includes a verbal sparring match between Briana and Brooks, with Briana alleging there is a recording of her mom's boyfriend encouraging Ryan to hit his wife, leaving Vicki torn and in tears
June 30, 2014 – Vicki bonds with new Housewife Shannon Beador as she and Brooks take the newbie and her husband David on a trip to Puerto Vallerta
June 8, 2015 – Vicki reveals that she and Brooks are living together and that he has cancer
July 6, 2015 – Vicki finds out on camera that her mom has died
August 17, 2015 – A psychic reveals to Tamra, Heather Dubrow, and Meghan King Edmonds that he "doesn't see" Brooks having cancer, kicking off a season-long inquiry into the validity of Brooks and Vicki's claims
October 12, 2015 – Vicki insists she's "being nailed to the cross like Jesus" over the ladies' cancer debate while at Tamra's baptism
October 26, 2015 – During part two of the season 10 reunion special, Briana reveals that Brooks hit on her while she was pregnant, claiming his nickname for himself is "Girth Brooks" (Yuck)
November 1, 2015 – Vicki finally admits that she doesn't believe Brooks has cancer in part three of the reunion
November 4, 2015 – Brooks shows E! News' Melanie Bromley documents from City of Hope on camera to support his story
November 10, 2015 – City of Hope debunks Brooks' records, saying he was never treated for cancer at their hospital
June 20, 2016 – Season 11 of RHOC premieres, beginning Vicki's long road to regain the trust of all her former friends
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)