Real Housewives of Orange County star Gina Kirschenheiter has admitted the show feels like therapy for her after going through some tough times on camera.
The 39-year-old has had some incredibly difficult times on camera, including going through an explosive divorce, but is in a much better place in the currently-airing 17th season.
This season, Gina is starring alongside the returning ladies Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow and Emily Simpson, as well as Tamra Judge who is back on the cast, and newbie Jennifer Pedranti.
READ MORE: Real Housewives’ Lisa Rinna, 60, risks Instagram ban as she poses completely nude
But Gina has been seen to have struggled with Jen, whose relationship – which started as an affair – sparked something in Gina, who was cheated on in the past.
(Image: Andrew Eccles/Bravo via Getty Images)
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star, Gina said: “It was hard. I really like Jen and I think she’s an awesome person, so it was even more complicated for me, because I was like, ‘I like you, but this feels like unsafe territory for me.’
“It was hard for me because her backstory is a little sensational and people like to talk about stuff like that and I just didn’t want to talk about it. I felt like it was all we were talking about and it’s a touchy subject for me.
“I didn’t want to offend Jen or be mean in any way because of my personal experience because the bottom line is, Jen didn’t cheat on me.
(Image: Instagram)
“I had a clear view of that but I was very uncomfortable by the talk and the situation over all.”
Gina has also struggled with Heather this season too, who told her she shouldn’t be using her boyfriend Travis as a therapist.
The New York native told us: “To me, even in that moment when Heather told me, ‘Maybe don’t talk to Travis’, that moment in the car I felt like, ‘Here’s my friend, she’s showing up.’
“Do I think she gave me the best advice, no, but just because your friend doesn’t give you the best advice in that moment, doesn’t make them not a good friend.
(Image: Andrew Eccles/Bravo via Getty Images)
“She was a good friend because she was there and I needed someone to be there.”
But Gina wouldn’t get rid of the hard times, as she believes it helps both her and viewers going through the same at home.
She told us: “It’s not easy but I will say it’s been very therapeutic for me.
“Before this, I used to be a person that didn’t talk about anything, I just thought I was strong and could handle my stuff on my own. Probably like the Brits! You just keep that stuff down.
“What I’ve learned is, it’s been very cathartic and therapeutic to be able to talk about all of this stuff.”
(Image: Instagram)
She went on: “Sometimes every now and then I lose sight because I worry, like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m sharing all this, it’s gonna affect my co-parenting relationships, my family,’ and I get so wrapped up in that that I lose sight in the fact that me sharing helps people.
“People view it and people going through some of the same stuff, it makes them feel like they’re not alone. That’s a really nice feeling so I’m really trying to re-connect with that and focus on that.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County is available to stream on Hayu
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here .
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
