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Emily Simpson returned for her third season on The Real Housewives of Orange County. Throughout her coarse on the show, the reality TV star has shared her marital struggles. Simpson has been open about the issues in her marriage and has also shown how she copes with them. However, for season 15 she was relieved her former co-stars Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson were axed from the show.

Vicki Gunvalson, Emily Simpson, and Tamra Judge
Vicki Gunvalson, Emily Simpson, and Tamra Judge | Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Why does Emily Simpson say the new season is better?

Gunvalson was the last-remaining OG on RHOC and Judge had been with the show since season 3. The departure of both stars would definitely change the dynamic in the group and that’s something Simpson appreciates more.

“For me, I think it’s better,” Simpson told E! News about Gunvalson and Judge not being in the series. “And I don’t mean that as disrespect toward them. I think that they were on the show for a long period of time and I just think the show has to evolve.”

Ultimately, Simpson believes that Gunvalson and Judge were too aware of how the show worked. With both of them gone, the lawyer feels that the relationships have become more authentic.

“That means that you have to have new people and you have to keep it moving forward and I feel like the relationships are more authentic and more real because I feel like when someone has been on the show as long as those two have, I think a lot of things get manipulated and contrived,” Simpson continued. “And, you know, when you have a newer cast, we’re definitely not good at that—I’m not anyway. So I’m always playing defense like, ‘What’s coming at me now?’ So, I just think it’s more authentic.”

Shannon Beador, Vicki Gunvalson, and Emily Simpson
Shannon Beador, Vicki Gunvalson, and Emily Simpson | Trae Patton/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Emily Simpson finds new friendship with Shannon Beador

Throughout her time starring in RHOC, Simpson had been associated with Gina Kirschenheiter. Both housewives signed up for the show during the same season and they have been seen as a duo. With Gunvalson and Judge out of the picture, Simpson felt that she was able to get closer to Shannon Beador.

“I went into season 15 and I didn’t want to hold a grudge with Shannon,” Simpson told Entertainment Tonight. “I really like Shannon, I’m glad that I have the opportunity to get to know her and I feel like without Tamra being on the show, or without Vicki, it opens up a whole new Shannon.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, Shannon Beador, and Emily Simpson
Gina Kirschenheiter, Shannon Beador, and Emily Simpson | Nicole Weingart/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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‘RHOC’ Season 15 Was ‘Awkward’ for Shannon Beador

Beador was part of the “Tres Amigas” group that included Gunvalson and Judge. The three were inseparable so when they were broken up, it also forced Beador to make new friends within the cast.

“She’s una amiga right now, but she needs some otras amigas,” Simpson added.

Beador didn’t particularly find Simpson fun in prior seasons and kept asking when the “fun Emily” would be coming out.

“I wanted to be like, ‘Shannon, I’ve always been fun. You just never gave me the opportunity!'” Simpson said. “Like, you never even talked to me before, so how would you know if I was?”

Although Simpson admitted she wasn’t particularly fun in the past season due to her marital woes, she says she’s a “new woman this season.”

The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

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