Heather Dubrow and Alexis Bellino haven’t always seen eye to eye (rewatch Season 7 and 8 of The Real Housewives of Orange County if you need a refresher), but times have changed.
During Season 18, Episode 9 of RHOC — which aired Sept. 5 — Heather and Alexis bonded over their shared passion for organizations like Family Equality. Then, in an exclusive interview at Bravo headquarters, Heather shed more light on their relationship today.
“When Alexis and I met, you know, we were not friends, I would say. But time passes and to be honest, we reconnected because our kids were in the theater program together: her son James and my daughter Kat were, like, playing a couple, and singing and dancing and all the things,” Heather explained in the August interview. “I remember being in the green room before the show and having Alexis sit there and her mom was there. It was just like, hugs, sorority sisters, like, ‘Hey, how are you? What’s going on?’ All that kinda thing.”
“Also, we both have kids in the LGBTQIA+ community, which bonded us further,” she continued. “I just think she’s a really strong person. She’s evolved, and I see it and I respect it.”
Heather also opened up about her and Alexis’ friendship in a June 2024 interview with E! News, noting that she and Alexis bonded over the fact that they both have sons who came out as transgender. Heather’s son, Ace, came out in 2023, while Alexis’s son, Miles, came out a year prior in fall 2022.
Heather and Alexis during The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18, Episode 9. Photo: Bravo
Heather Dubrow and Alexis Bellino’s friendship history
If you really want to know how far Heather and Alexis have come in their friendship, look no further than the above video, which features a flashback of Heather on Season 8 of RHOC.
“Alexis and I don’t have a friendship,” Heather says in the throwback clip. “She’s someone that I absolutely don’t want in my life.”
Nevertheless, she’s changed her tune. When Andy Cohen pointed to their past during a 2022 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Heather said that “at some point, it doesn’t matter.”
“By the way, Alexis and I are really, really good. She and I have become friends,” Heather added. “We’re [Real Housewives] sorority sisters, we’re good, we’re all mothers.”.
Hear more from Heather in the video up top.
Watch The Real Housewives of Orange County on Thursdays at 9/8c and next day on Peacock.