Emily Simpson Explains Why She Was “Able To Be Myself” And Have “Real Relationships” With Her ‘RHOC’ Co-Stars Following Tamra Judge And Vicki Gunvalson’s Exits — Plus Emily Is Glad She Had The “Opportunity To Get To Know” Shannon Beador Without The ‘Tres Amigas’

Emily Simpson is dishing on the drama that will go down this season on The Real Housewives of Orange County. Simpson explains why she's able to be "more herself" following Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson's departures.

"I feel like the dynamic among the cast members is much more real and authentic," Emily she told Entertainment Tonight. "I don't think there's a lot of the normal manipulation going on where, you know, you feel like you're not on a reality show, you feel like you're on Survivor, where you're trying to make alliances with people so you don't get kicked off the Housewife Island."

"That's really basically what I felt like for the last two years was, like, I'm just trying to be friends with someone so that I don't get kicked off the Housewife Island," she adds. "This season, I felt like I was less on the defense and more able to be myself and just have real relationships with the other cast members."

Emily feels that she was able to connect with Shannon Beador this season due to Judge and Gunvalson's exits. "I went into season 15 and I didn't want to hold a grudge with Shannon," Emily said. "I really like Shannon, I'm glad that I have the opportunity to get to know her and I feel like without Tamra being on the show, or without Vicki, it opens up a whole new Shannon."

"She's una amiga right now, but she needs some otras amigas," she said. Emily jokes that Bravo should add a ticker to the episodes to see how many times Shannon asks her if "fun Emily" is coming out to play.

"I wanted to be like, 'Shannon, I've always been fun. You just never gave me the opportunity!'" she told Entertainment Tonight. "Like, you never even talked to me before, so how would you know if I was? And I wasn't fun last year. I do have to take ownership of that. I had a bad year. I was in a lot of pain. I just wasn't in a good place. In my marriage and my life and my health. I'm a new woman this season."

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