The Best Ever Real Housewife Rookie Seasons

We'll admit we were skeptical of Erika and her pop star career at first, but we soon fell in love with her completely outrageous pop star persona, Erika Jayne. She served us c-nty glam bot every episode and we can't get enough of her. Debut: RHOBH season 6

Most rookies crumble when threatened by the queen bee of their respective city. Not Meghan. She went toe-to-toe with Vicki and ended up taking her down with a deep investigation into the lies Brooks and Vicki had been telling about Brooks' cancer. Not bad for a first season. Not bad at all.

Debut: RHOC season 10

Usually Housewives get pushed around their first season. Not Dorinda. She gains a bit of standing as a legitimate friend of one of the veterans (Ramona), but we’ve been seriously impressed by how she’s handled herself with all the other Housewives, too. She knows how to stay out of the crossfires, but she also speaks up when she has an opinion.
Debut: RHONY season 7

OK, so Vicki was never really a rookie. But we have to give credit where it’s due: she’s the only original Housewife still standing, so the year 2006 belongs strictly to Vicki Gunvalson in our books.
Debut: Season One, RHOC

Most of the Housewives have a culpability problem – not Shannon, though! At the end of her first season, Shannon admitted she didn’t like what she saw in her marriage, and in herself, after watching the show. It’s the ability to be honest and self-reflect that makes Shannon an anomaly in the Housewives universe – and so beloved by the fans.
Debut: RHOC season 9

Of all the Housewives rookies, Carole seemed the least likely to last. She had a long, serious career in broadcast journalism and a pre-show New York Times best seller – not exactly the makings of reality star. Despite that, she’s never acted like she’s above the show and by the end of her first season she was comfortable, entertaining and, importantly, not afraid of conflict with her castmates.
Debut: Season Five, RHONY

Brandi limped onto RHOBH in crutches and was immediately in crossfire from the other women. From the very first second, everyone had something to say about her – and she had something to say back – which made for great TV. Definitely Rookie of the year, 2011-2012.
Debut: Season Two, RHOBH

For Kenya’s third season on RHOA, the producers gifted her with a friend – Claudia. Because of that friendship, Claudia went into the show with a target on her back. But she refused to back down to Porsha when the two clashed at work or Nene when they had an epic read-off. And anyone who can clap back at Nene is fine by us. Rookie of the Year status solidified.
Debut: Season Seven, RHOA

Carlton may not have been well-loved enough by viewers to have lasted more than a season, but oh what a season it was. She had half the cast convinced she literally put a spell on them for most of the season. If RHOBH is looking for a replacement for Brandi, our vote it brings Carlton back.
Debut: Season Four, RHOBH

Melissa had a lot working against her on her first season of RHONJ. Her sister-in-law Teresa was HBIC of the franchise and hated her, but she won over the other wives (and viewers) and eventually (like, forever later), Teresa came around too.
Debut: Season Three, RHONJ

You have to hand it to Joanna. Miami wasn’t the most-watched Housewives franchise (tbh it was underrated – Elsa was divine and so were the fights), but Joanna is on the upper echelons of the Housewives. She made a big impression in just two seasons and is without a doubt the most remembered of the RHOM wives. (Though maybe it’s just because we remember her off-screen feud with Brandi.)
Debut: RHOM season 2

When new girls make their debut on Housewives, they have a decision to make about which clique to join. Amanda wasted no time – she was Team Jody all the way. Sure, it got a bit obnoxious seeing the two of them tear into the rest of the cast, but since the show never made Mia a full-time Housewife, we were happy to see Amanda fill in as Jody’s substitute mini me.
Debut: RHOV Season 2