Taylor Armstrong joins Real Housewives of Orange County, becoming first housewife to move franchises
Taylor Armstrong can’t get “enough” of the real housewives just now.
The The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 51, returns to the popular Bravo franchise – this time, as a cast member on The Real Housewives of Orange County!
PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that Armstrong is joining the series for its upcoming 17th season as a friend on the show.
She will go down in history as the first Housewife to make the franchise leap since its inception in 2006.
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Armstrong was one of the founding members of RHOBH when it premiered in 2010. She remained on the show as a housewife for the first three seasons and has appeared several times since.
Before RHOBHIn the season 2 premiere of , Armstrong made headlines when she filed for divorce from her husband of 6 years, Russell, citing physical and verbal abuse. Russell died by suicide on August 15, 2011, exactly one month after their separation was announced.
Since then, Armstrong has become a strong advocate for survivors of domestic violence, speaking on the subject at engagements across the country.
She married attorney John Bluhe, 64, in 2014. They now live in Orange County with Kennedy, her 16-year-old daughter from her marriage to Russell.
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Armstrong returned to reality TV last June on Peacock’s The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Ex-Wives Club. She starred in the series alongside her former RHOBH costar Brandi Glanville, former RHONY Housewives Dorinda Medley and Jill Zarin, Real Housewives of Atlanta alums Phaedra Parks and Eva Marcille, and RHOC legends Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge.
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Armstrong will be in good company with Judge in the new season of Orange County — the CUT Fitness founder confirmed her return on July 20.
Judge RHOC yet comes a year after Heather Dubrow (who starred on the show with Judge in seasons 7-11) joined the show for season 16.
Returning favorites Shannon Storms Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson rounded out returning favorites last season. The newest additions, Dr. Jennifer Armstrong and Noella Bergener, both recently confirmed their exit from the show after just one season.
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Production of season 17 of RHOC started last month. No premiere date has yet been announced.
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