Vicki Gunvalson Honored with Bravo’s ‘Wifetime’ Achievement Award: ‘I Love You All’

Vicki Gunvalson has something new to celebrate.

The Real Housewives of Orange County The alum, 61, was honored with the first ‘Wifetime’ Achievement Award at BravoCon 2023 on Friday, in celebration of her 18 years on the network.

The television personality received the award during Well done, parody awards show hosted by Andy Cohen.

She was surprised RHOC alumni Jo De La Rosa, Lauri Peterson, Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi, who presented her with the trophy.

For more information on PEOPLE’s BravoCon, click here.

Taking the stage — to a standing ovation from the crowd full of her Bravolebrity co-stars — Gunvalson held back tears as she accepted her trophy. “If you watched the first season, as Lauri reminded me, I said, ‘I don’t want to grow old’ — but here we are growing old together,” she said.

Vicki Gunvalson at BravoCon 2023.

Trae Patton/Bravo via Getty

“I want to thank my sorority and all my housewives and fans and friends and my cast that we filmed the first season with 18 years ago. I love you all,” she said. “Andy Cohen and Scott Dunlop who created this franchise and saw something in me that I didn’t. None of this would have been possible without all the fans who have supported me and loved me through all the s— I’ve been through. It’s not it was easy… it wasn’t easy for everyone!”

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The reality star continued by quoting some of her infamous lines before pulling an orange out of her sleeve and handing it to Cohen.

“And Andy, for you – here’s my orange, if you need to give it to someone,” she cheekily quipped.

Cohen first announced that Gunvalson would be honored at this year’s BravoCon when she appeared on Watch what’s happening live by the side Tamra Judge and Shannon Storms Beador in September.

“The recipient of this prestigious honor will be the person who embodies Housewives; someone who is willing to show up for exactly who they are and have fun doing it; a Housewife who has exceeded our wildest imaginations,” he said.

Gunvalson expressed her emotions during the aftershow, telling Cohen, “I’m so blessed to be a part of this family. I really am. You know how much I love you and the legacy we built together. We did this together as a family.”

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Gunvalson has been a member of the beloved series since its debut in 2006. After being relegated to a reduced role, she announced her exit from the show in a touching Instagram post in January 2020.

“I’ll always be the OG of OC, but it’s time to say goodbye,” she wrote at the time, referencing her famous catchphrase. “It’s been an amazing ride over 14 years and I want to thank you all for your support, for your love and for being ‘on fire’!”

Andy Cohen and Vicki Gunvalson.

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

In March 2020, she spoke openly about her departure in an interview with PEOPLE.

“I was ready to go. I have to say, I had a little bit of FOMO, I have to say, that I wasn’t filming right now,” she said. “Those last few years of filming the show were really toxic for me, and when anything gets toxic at my age — whether it’s about career, relationships, friendships — you have to stop it.”

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Since her departure, Gunvalson has appeared on Ex-Wives Club The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip and he came back as a guest star for RHOC17th season.

BravoCon 2023 runs through Sunday at the Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

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