Being on the Real Housewives franchise is enough to put a strain on any marriage, but some couples have stayed together through years of ups and downs. Some of the Real Housewives aren’t wives at all, but fans still love watching their interactions with their families. Gizelle Bryant from The Real Housewives of Potomac is divorced and raising her three daughters Grace, Angel, and Adore single-handedly. Gizelle has been open about her ex-husband Jamal Bryant having numerous affairs which led to their divorce. On RHOP, Gizelle attempted to navigate her dating life, and even briefly reunited with Jamal, but it didn’t work out.
Some Real Housewives couples were married for years, and have renewed their vows on the show. The Real Housewives of Orange County veteran Vicki Gunvalson tried to resuscitate her marriage with Donn Gunvalson in season 5, but they divorced a year later. Another RHOC star, Shannon Beador, did the same with her ex-husband, David Beador, after dealing with the impact of his infidelity. They couldn’t overcome their problems and eventually divorced. The vow renewals on in the Real Housewives franchise soon became known as the “kiss of death.”
Many housewives have been with their husbands for a long time, and are still going strong with their marriages. The former star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd have been married for 40 years. The glam couple renewed their vows in RHOBH season 3, proving that they were invincible to the “kiss of death.” Another fan-favorite RHOBH couple is Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, who have been married for 25 years and are still rock-solid. The following are other Real Housewives couples who have proven that their “I do’s” are forever, and that fame won't end their love.
RHOBH: Kyle Richards & Mauricio Umansky
Kyle Richards has been on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since season 1. As a former child actress, she is no stranger to show business and the toll it can take on a marriage. However, Kyle and her husband Mauricio Umansky are an anomaly in Los Angeles. They have been married for 25 years, and share three daughters together. Over the years, Kyle and Mauricio had to fend off rumors of him cheating, which he adamantly denied. Mauricio, who is a fan favorite due to his debonair good looks, also has to deal with women constantly DMing him on Instagram. Kyle has confessed that the cheating allegations upset her, but she has taken it in stride, and their marriage seems as strong as ever.
RHOP: Karen & Ray Huger
Karen Huger, the star of The Real Housewives of Potomac, is the self-proclaimed “Grande Dame” of her city. Her husband Ray Huger, who is a successful businessman, has called himself the “Black Bill Gates.” Their 25 years of marriage were pretty solid, but things got rocky when Ray faced tax problems in 2017. At the age of 75, Ray wanted to retire to Florida, but Karen was loving her entrepreneur life making three-wick candles. Karen has opened up on RHOP about Ray feeling resentful over her growing businesses and the fact that she wasn't around a lot. During the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020, Karen shared that spending more time with Ray helped their marriage, and they were able to talk through their issues. Karen and Ray renewed their vows during RHOP season 6, surrounded by friends and family. Hopefully, the “kiss of death” surpasses the Grande Dame of Potomac, and Karen and Ray have a long future ahead of them.
RHOC: Heather & Terry Dubrow
Heather Dubrow of The Real Housewives of Orange County is married to famed plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow and together, they are one of the most enviable couples in the franchise. After a five-year hiatus from the show, Heather returned for RHOC season 16 and showed off her newly renovated mansion, The Dubrow Chateau. The 22,000-square-foot home boasts a breathtaking ocean view, a movie theater, and a champagne wall in the dining room. Heather and Terry have been married for 25 years, but not all of them were rosy. Heather confessed to having a really bad year in their marriage that could have led to a divorce. Thankfully, they had an epiphany that led them to really discuss their issues, and they both agreed that they wouldn’t become a statistic. The Dubrows are still a happy family unit with their four children, and they all live together in their huge mansion.
RHONJ: Melissa & Joe Gorga
The couple Melissa and Joe Gorga are arguably the most fun pair on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. The two got married in 2004 and had their daughter Antonia when Melissa was only 25-years-old. Melissa and Joe had their son Joey four years later. Melissa credits having children at a young age for wanting to experience life to its fullest. Previously a stay-at-home mom, Melissa wanted to branch out as a businesswoman, so she opened her clothing boutique, Envy. Her busy life was a bone of contention for Joe, and their problems were revealed in RHONJ season 11. The duo kept bickering over Joe feeling like Melissa was leaving him behind. RHONJ fans were relieved when Joe was finally able to fully support Melissa’s endeavors, and season 12 showed them in a much better place.
RHOSLC: Meredith & Seth Marks
Meredith and Seth Marks are one of the most talked-about couples in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Their 25-year marriage looked picture-perfect in season 1 but it was soon revealed that they were having issues and were separated. Rumors came out that Meredith was seeing other people and Seth had moved out of their home. Despite all odds, Meredith and Seth fought for their marriage and reconciled. Meredith confessed that being on RHOSLC saved their marriage as it forced them to face their issues, rather than sweep them under the rug. Meredith and Seth maintained a united front through RHOSLC season 2 as they fought allegations that Meredith called the feds on Jen Shah and lied about her father’s memorial. Throughout it all, Seth has stayed by Meredith and they proved that nothing will faze them, not even the Real Housewives Whitney Rose’s cleavage cake.