Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more!
The RHOC Season 17 Reunion Included an Exciting "First": Details
The RHOC Season 17 sit-down included something host Andy Cohen "always wanted" to do.
Part 1 of The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 17 reunion included memorable arguments, revelations, and, of course, outfits, but as host Andy Cohen explained at the beginning of the sit-down, it also featured an exciting Bravo reunion "first."
As the ladies took their seats on the reunion couches, they understandably seemed a bit perplexed by the lack of lighting in the room.
"I wanna take you guys somewhere, OK?" Andy asked. "What do you say we hit the beach?" With that, the lights turned on to reveal a screen behind them that showed an incredible virtual backdrop of Orange County.
"That is cool," Emily Simpson said. "That's pretty amazing." Gina Kirschenheiter exclaimed, "This is where we live, oh my gosh!"
The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 17 Reunion Background Screen
"This is a first," Andy said. "For tonight's reunion, we're basking in the serene glow of a virtual beach. I've always wanted to host a reunion from the beach, and here we are. I feel very immersed in Orange County right now."
Although Tamra Judge declared it was "amazing," she also admitted, "I'm a little distracted. There's so much to look at. There's birds [that] are flying by."
While the screens replaced the props and set typically set up on reunion days, there was one notable physical element to the set design: sand on the floor. While it looked gorgeous and enhanced the beach vibe of the reunion, some of the ladies were a bit concerned about their ability to walk across it in their sky-high footwear.
As the cast members made their way to the stage, Emily asked, "We have to walk through the sand?" Once someone confirmed that was the case, she quickly moved through the sand in her strappy gold Jimmy Choo heels.
Taylor Armstrong had the same question as she got ready to join the group, asking, "We're walking through the sand?" before carefully walking to the stage in her vibrant Christian Dior heels.
The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 17 Reunion Looks
In addition to memorable shoes, each of the RHOC women donned an eye-catching dress for the reunion. While Taylor gave “colorful rainbow-chic” vibes in her Beachside Bunny dress, Emily donned a curve-hugging coral Zhivago dress, which, she explained, "showed off that I’ve been working really hard."
Jennifer Pedranti had a “sleek, hot, batty moment” in her Alex Perry number, and Gina channeled a “futuristic beach vibe” in a neon green David Koma minidress.
Tamra declared she was "comin’ in as Barbie" in her cutout maxi dress from Nookie, Heather Dubrow gave “classic Heather” vibes in a black cutout Chiara Boni dress, and Shannon rocked a "pretty cool" yellow dress by Giuseppe di Morabito via MyTheresa.
