These Ladies Said Goodbye to The Real Housewives in 2018

This year was quite a year, wasn't it? Well, there's no question that it definitely was in the world of The Real Housewives.

In 2018, we caught up with familiar faces, met a whole crop of new Housewives, and experienced some new, instantly-iconic moments. You could never use the word "boring" to describe The Real Housewives, that's for sure!

But this year, we also saw several women step away from The Real Housewives. These six dynamic dames may be gone from The Real Housewives, but they will most certainly never be forgotten. Once a Real Housewife, always a Real Housewife, after all.

So now we're taking a moment to remember all of the wonderful women that said farewell to The Real Housewives in 2018, and it's clear that their journeys haven't slowed down at all since their exits.

Over the course of three seasons of The Real Housewives of Orange County, we watched Meghan King Edmonds evolve from a young newlywed to an amateur sleuth to a new mom. Meghan joined RHOC in Season 10, and she decided that Season 12 would be a good time to step away from the SoCal squad. "Today is a bittersweet day for me. After three seasons of the rollercoaster that is The Real Housewives of Orange County I’ve decided to hang up my OC Housewife hat," Meghan announced in a post on her blog in January.

Since Meghan exited RHOC, she has welcomed twin boys Hayes and Hart on June 5, giving daughter Aspen, who was born on November 24, 2016, two brothers. Luckily, Meghan documents all of her kids' firsts, so RHOC fans can still keep up with her adorable family. Meghan has also taken the time to reconnect with husband Jim Edmonds, with whom she celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on October 24.

Don't worry; Meghan still keeps tabs on the OC Housewives. Not only did she give newbies Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson advice on their first reunion this season, but she also threw a little shade Vicki Gunvalson's way. It's nice to see some things never change.

 

Sometimes, Housewives return after taking a little break, and that's exactly what Lydia McLaughlin did. Lydia first joined RHOC in Season 8, and then she brought her sparkle back to the show in Season 12. But then Lydia announced in February that she would not be returning for Season 13 of RHOC. “RHOC has given me a great platform and I’m grateful for that. However, I feel like I can only handle this show one season at a time,” she wrote in a post on her blog. “I need a break! There is a lot of good that comes from the show, but also a lot of negativity. After a family vote, it was unanimous that I should take a break. Sometimes the people who love us the most see things even we don’t see. I trust my path and I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Since her second departure, Lydia has continued to live a magical life in California. She and her husband, Doug McLaughlin, renewed their wedding vows for the third time in August. Lydia is also still flexing her super mom muscles while raising sons Stirling, Maverick, and Roman. And she looks amazing while doing it all!

 

Peggy Sulahian bid RHOC adieu in February when she announced that she would not be returning for Season 13 after making her debut in Season 12. "What an exciting experience it was to be part of The Real Housewives of Orange County! It was an honor to be the 100th housewife and to be part of the Bravo family," she said in a statement to The Daily Dish. "I am extremely proud of being the 1st Armenian-American Housewife and sharing my culture with the world. While I faced and conquered many challenges, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story and spread awareness of breast cancer. Dealing with the disease and the passing of my father challenged me to reassess and reflect on my life, and I’ve realized what’s most important is leading a healthy and happy life, surrounded by people who care and love you. At this point, moving on seemed like the right thing to do. A few new ventures have availed themselves, and I look forward to sharing them with you soon!"

Peggy revealed one of those exciting new ventures in May: a tease spray with Alkali Beauty. She also graced the cover of Vegas 2 LA Magazine's Summer 2018 issue. Other than these fabulous projects, Peggy's life has been full of fashionable moments and, of course, hanging out with her family, including husband Diko and their children Giovanna, Gianelle, and Koko.

 

 

Carole Radziwill announced that she would not return for Season 11 of The Real Housewives of New York City in July. "After six seasons on Bravo’s RHONYC, I have decided to return to what I do best — journalism and producing. I am sure this does not come as a surprise to any of the viewers, all of whom have been supportive, encouraging, and kind. My original curiosity about reality television has waned over the years and I am focusing on TV and writing projects that better suit my more steady temperament," she told The Daily Dish in a statement at the time. "I have worked with amazing producers, made great friends, and I’m thrilled to leave frenemies behind. I will remember this entire experience with delight, humor, and a veracious accuracy. Next."

RHONY fans have been able to follow Carole's fascinating life since Season 5 when she joined the the Manhattan crew. Carole's life post-RHONY so far has been just as thrilling. She has announced new gigs, made some bold beauty choices, and even gotten back into the dating game. We can't wait to see what Carole does next.

 

Kenya Moore shared in October that she would be twirling away from The Real Housewives of Atlanta after six seasons on the show. “I have decided to take this season off to focus on my high risk pregnancy in a healthy and drama free environment," Kenya told The Daily Dish in a statement at the time. "I thank Bravo for this amazing platform that has allowed me to grow, flourish and appreciate the value of what is truly important in life."

When fans last saw Kenya on RHOA, she made a huge announcement. She shared at the Season 10 reunion that she was expecting her first child with husband Marc Daly. After keeping fans updated on all of the highs and lows of her pregnancy, Kenya welcomed daughter Brooklyn Doris Daly on November 4.

Kenya reflected on her departure from RHOA during a recent interview with PEOPLE. “It broke my heart, but with all the stress I went through with this baby, I don’t know how I could have done it,” she shared. “I really think that things happen for a reason. Even though I was disappointed to not come back to RHOA, I feel like it’s the best thing that could have happened for my baby.”

 

We first met Shereé Whitfield as one of the OG Atlanta Housewives back in Season 1. She remained a part of the crew through Season 4 and then returned in Season 8 before coming back full-time again in Seasons 9 and 10. Shereé then announced her decision to say goodbye to RHOA in October. "I’m in a new chapter in my life and I’ve decided not to return to RHOA so that I can focus on myself and my businesses, spend more time with my family, and explore new endeavors," she said in a statement to The Daily Dish at the time. "As promised, please stay tuned for She by Shereé to launch, we'll be accepting pre-orders soon! I wish all the ladies the best!"

Shereé made good on her promise for updates on the She by Shereé front. She finally unveiled her athleisure line in October. Shereé also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Trinity International University of Ambassadors in December. "I will continue to put in the work and I have so much more to do that I'm excited about," Shereé gushed in an Instagram post showing off her achievement. "I can't wait to share with [you] guys soon!"

We can't wait to see, Shereé!