This coming Wednesday, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will be making their triumphant return to hayu, reality on demand for an eighth season full of tears, tantrums and of course, lots of fun! What many long-time fans are excited about however is not all of that, but the return of one of the franchise’s most polarising cast members ever; Camille Grammer!
We got the chance to chat to Camille all about the new season, joining the show as a ‘Friend’ of the Housewives and what we should expect from her family dynamics this time round! Here’s what she had to say…
You’re back as a Friend of the Housewives in the new season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; what should fans expect from the series this time round?
I’m excited to be back as a ‘Friend’ this season because the show is a great platform to discuss female below the belt cancers and my experience having cancer, overcoming it and going through treatment and how I got my sexy back. As a cancer survivor of a radical hysterectomy, there are complications that happen after the fact and your body changes and, going through those changes, you don’t feel sexy. This season, you’ll see me explaining and trying to feel that I can be intimate again with a partner. That’s part of it, so we’ll go through that this season.
Would you be open to returning to the show full time in the future?
Possibly. Right now, I’m really enjoying being a ‘Friend’. As a mom with two kids, and someone who’s had health issues, as well as my Mom who hasn’t been well, I couldn’t take on the responsibility of a full time role, but a ‘Friend’ was perfect. Moving forward, we’ll see. You never know. I’m open to the idea, but I’ve enjoyed being a ‘Friend’.
This season looks to be about family for you; is that something you’re excited to share with the world?
Yes, I am. I’m excited that my daughter is going to be on the show with me. You’ll see her modelling Fashion Week in New York City and our relationship, and I was grateful that my ex-husband agreed to have her on the show. You won’t see my son because he doesn’t like being around cameras at all. I can’t even get a photograph of him. He doesn’t like taking pictures, period, so he shies away. But [my daughter] Mason, you’ll see the dynamic and our relationship, so I’m happy about that. And through all the other ladies, you’ll see a lot of the family aspect of it. I think in these times, it’s nice to see that – positive things.
Fans will be meeting new Housewife Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave this season; what do you think of her addition to the show?
I think she’s a great addition to the show. She’s young, refreshing. She’s in her thirties. She brings a new perspective to the Housewives – a more youthful presence. And she’s an accountability coach, so we’ll see if she keeps some of these ladies accountable for what they say. I like that about her, and she’s no shrinking violet.
As one of the original cast members you’ve obviously been through a lot with the show; what are some of the biggest differences you think the series has seen?
It all comes with the different people that are involved; the different friendships. I adore Kyle [Richards] and Lisa [Vanderpump], the original – the OGs. We’ll always have something special because we’ve been through a lot together. We’ve been through heaven and hell together, and we’ve experienced a lot and we’ve been able to maintain friendships. Some of the new ladies haven’t had that history with us, but they’ve been through their own ups and downs that we’ll see play out.
It’s interesting being back. It felt like even though I was a part of it, I feel like a bit of an outsider. I haven’t really gotten to know some of these new ladies, so this is a season that I get a chance to get to know Erika [Girardi] a little more. Lisa Rinna, I enjoy her, and some of the other ladies and Dorit [Kemsley], so we’ll see how that plays out this year.
Do you have any favourite memories or moments to look back on from the show?
This season, it would be New York City – Fashion Week with my daughter. I had a wonderful time with her, and I was so thrilled that the women were so supportive. In the past, I’ve enjoyed my trips with the ladies. I enjoyed Ojai. It was just the funniest stuff. I love it when the women get together and laugh. Belly laugh moments are so important, and Ojai was one of those trips. I loved our trip to Hawaii. I think that was the second season. We really had some good laughs. Colorado, I loved skiing with the women and having them at my home and hosting them through a lovely ski weekend. Taylor [Armstrong] was going through a lot, so being there for her, but we also had a great time at my home in Colorado.
If you could bring back any other Housewife from the series’ history, who would you bring back and why?
I miss Adrienne [Maloof]. I have a fondness for her. We went through a lot, stuff that was very similar. She was supportive of me for the first and second season, and I miss her. I think Yolanda [Foster] adds a little, certain class to the show, but I knew she wasn’t well and I’m happy that she’s moved on and she’s doing well. I think Adrienne the most; I think she added a lot. I think she’s interesting.
Away from the show, what should we expect from you in the coming months?
I’m a spokesperson for the foundation for women’s cancer, so I will continue to raise awareness and help those that need help.
I will be working with my daughter with her modelling career, if she has one! It’s up to her how far she wants to take this and how dedicated she is, but she is a great student and I’d like to see her continue to keep her grades up at school. This year, she’s been a straight A student so far, and I’m very proud of her. I’m looking forward to what’s going to come of her and how she blossoms that way. I support her either way, whether she wants to continue on that road or that path or not. I’m going to be there for her and, of course, my son, helping him through school.
I’ll continue to be a spokesperson and a chair of the foundation for women’s cancer and sharing their event in Washington, D.C. and continue to raise awareness. If I need to go back to Capitol Hill to keep finances coming through for clinical research and trials then I’ll continue to do so.
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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres December 20 on hayu, reality on demand.
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