Heather Dubrow Explains Exactly Why She Returned to RHOC and It Might Surprise You

There she is! Heather Dubrow made her return to The Real Housewives of Orange County after several seasons away during the Season 16 premiere, which aired on December 1.

Upon her return, fans got to see just how grown her four kids have gotten, watch her get back into the mix with the other 'Wives, and finally got to step inside the Dubrow Chateau(!). And when Heather stopped by the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Clubhouse the same night as the premiere, she revealed why she felt like now was the right time to share her life and friendships with viewers again.

"I would say this. I would say it was the right time to go [following Season 11] for many reasons, as we talked then," she shared in a conversation with Andy Cohen while on WWHL.

"And as I get older, being smarter, and maybe a little more self-actualized and listening to the universe, it was an opportunity to explore, and my kids are at different ages," she said. "And, to be honest with you, when [my daughter] Max came out as bisexual a couple years ago, the amount of love and support we got for her was so amazing. But, also the comments [we got] and [from people who] didn't do it well and had negative situations with their children or their parents. So, I thought, 'OK, we've got these four kids, and they're different genders, different sexualities. And wouldn't it be cool to show our version of what our normal family looks like, and maybe start those conversations in other households and maybe help some other people. Wouldn't that be kind of cool?'"

When Andy noted that being a Real Housewife does also offer up "a great platform," Heather agreed but noted something else about why now was the right time for a return.

She said that The Real Housewives is "a huge platform, an amazing platform, but for me to come back it had to be more than that. Because honestly, it's not about the fame for me. You know I love my husband [Dr. Terry Dubrow], he's a little bit of a fame whore. You know this, in the best way, I'm saying that. But, for me, it's not about that. Not to be unkind. It's not about the money."

Heather continued, "But for me, it had to be something more. Like, what is it in it for us and how can we help other people and what are we doing here?"

Following her WWHL appearance, Heather shared photos from her visit to the Clubhouse on Instagram. "Guess this makes it official!" she captioned it. "WHAT A FUN NIGHT!"

Ahead of the Season 16 premiere, Heather not only shouted out her family but also teased what fans can expect from the season. "Oh boy … here we go," she wrote on Instagram. "I am humbled and grateful for all of the kind messages. I truly believe this season is amazing… yes the drama - but also amazing personal stories from everyone and an ending no one could have predicted?!?! Also a LOT of laughter, fun, EDIBLES, parties, trips, lifestyle…"

She added in a separate post, "POP THE CHAMPS BECAUSE THE DUBROW FAMILY IS BACK!"

Want more RHOC? New episodes air every Wednesday at 9/8c or catch up on the Bravo app.