The Real Housewives Of Orange County Season 16 - Here's What We Can Tell Fans So Far

The Real Housewives franchise that started it all is gearing up to embark on its 16th season. While the show is down OG Housewife Vicki Gunvalson and her trusted famous frenemy Tamra Judge, it appears there will be no shortage of drama as the cast has once again been turned on its head by the Bravo big wigs. 

As "Real Housewives of Orange County" stans may recall, Season 15 was filled with major drama as the Housewives learned to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic — all while the cameras were rolling. Think Shannon Storms Beador frantically hoarding toilet paper and various other supplies, Emily Simpson's husband, Shane Simpson, being admitted to the hospital with coronavirus, and both Kelly Dodd and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas questioning the validity of the virus on camera. Quite the season, indeed. Fortunately for us, it appears Season 16 shall be just as eventful. Keep reading after the jump to learn all that we know about the upcoming season!

The jury is still out as to when Season 16 of "Real Housewives of Orange County" will debut but it's safe to say fans of the show can expect it in the not so far off future. Returning cast member from seasons past, Heather Dubrow, already alerted her Instagram followers that the filming process was in progress in July 2021. As reported by Bravo's The Daily Dish, Heather posted a photo of herself and the crew with the simple caption, "Here we go," and adding the hashtags "#dejavu" and "#sweet16."

Former OC Housewife Tamra Judge left a comment on the photo that said "Show um how it's done" while another RHOC alum Gretchen Rossi left two red heart emojis under the post. Meanwhile, Heather's husband and famous "Botched' plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow, who has also been regularly featured on the show, penned a comment on the post that read, "Whoa."

As the old adage goes, "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold." Apparently, that saying also rings true for "Real Housewives of Orange County."

As reported by Bravo, Shannon Storms Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Emily Simpson will be returning for yet another season, while former Housewife Heather Dubrow, fondly known as "Fancy Pants," will also be reclaiming her highly coveted orange for Season 16. As many OC fans will recall Heather left the franchise in 2017, telling The Daily Dish exclusively that "After a lot of careful thought and deliberation," she decided not to return. "Should I change my mind, I thank Andy Cohen, Evolution and Bravo for telling me that the door is always open," she carefully added. Alas, it appears she changed her mind after all and luckily that ever-revolving Housewives door is still wide open for her. 

Kelly Dodd, Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas were not asked back for Season 16, but as a true RHOC stan knows one should never count them out entirely. Who knows when or where they might pop up next!