Some things can never be beat, like the early seasons of The Real Housewives of Orange County<\/em><\/a>. Thankfully, history is going to repeat itself after Bravo announced Gretchen Rossi<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s grand return for season 19 after her exit in 2013 \u2013 after filming wrapped for season 8.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been more than one decade and 11 seasons later since Gretchen stepped away from RHOC<\/em>, leading newer and younger viewers to wonder who she is and what impact she made on the show. Life & Style<\/em> rounds up everything to know about Gretchen and fills in the blanks from her time spent away from reality TV.\n<\/p>\n Gretchen held a southern California orange between seasons 4 and 8. During her rookie season on the show, the reality star was engaged to late fianc\u00e9 Jeff Beitzel. Their relationship raised eyebrows from some of her costars, especially Tamra Judge<\/strong>, as Jeff was significantly older than Gretchen and was extremely wealthy. Fans learned that he died following a cancer battle during the season 4 finale, which aired in February 2009.<\/p>\n By the time season 5 premiered, fans were introduced to Gretchen\u2019s new boyfriend, Slade Smiley<\/strong>. Although they were always madly in love with each other, their relationship ruffled the feathers of other Housewives.<\/p>\n Besides Gretchen\u2019s love life, she quickly became a fan-favorite because she never shied away from standing up to frenemy Tamra.<\/p>\n In 2021, Gretchen revealed that she and Tamra did not stay in contact following her season 8 departure.<\/p>\n \u201cThankfully, we don\u2019t really live in the same community, so I don\u2019t have to run into her or anything like that,\u201d she told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> at the time. \u201cI really don\u2019t hold grudges, whatever, [let] bygones be bygones, I\u2019m in such a better place in my life than I was dealing with all that on Housewives<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Although reports claimed that Gretchen was not asked back to return for season 9, she shared that she decided to walk away from the franchise when she realized the message she was sending to viewers.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember the day that the impact of the show really hit me. This little 6 or 7 year old girl came up to me and was like, \u2018Oh my gosh, Gretchen, I love you.\u2019 And I\u2019m looking at this little girl like, \u2018What are you doing watching this show?\u2019\u201d Gretchen reflected during a 2024 appearance on the \u201cThen God Moved\u201d podcast. \u201cAnd I literally had a conversation with this girl, saying, \u2018Now, this is not how you treat other women. You don\u2019t talk to people this way.\u2019 So even though the fan support means the world to me \u2014 in that moment, I believe God put it on my heart that this isn\u2019t the example that I want to be setting. That\u2019s part of the reason that I left.\u201d<\/p>\n Gretchen is a real estate agent. She held her title during her time on the show, but it wasn\u2019t highlighted because she temporarily stopped working to take care of her late fianc\u00e9 Jeff while he was on hospice during his battle with cancer.<\/p>\n Gretchen left RHOC<\/em> with a bang after proposing to Slade during the season 8 finale. The entrepreneur took Slade on a helicopter ride around Los Angeles before popping the big question on a rooftop.<\/p>\n The couple is still together, but have yet to make it down the aisle and say, \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, they took a major step in their relationship when Gretchen gave birth to their daughter<\/a>, Skylar Gray Smiley, in July 2019.<\/p>\n Although Skylar is Gretchen\u2019s only child, Slade previously welcomed late son, Grayson Arroyo-Smiley, with his former partner, Michelle Arroyo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Grayson died on February 5, 2023, after a long battle with brain cancer and undergoing over 30 brain surgeries.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was an Angel on this earth and an incredible warrior \u2026 a warrior like no one has ever seen before,\u201d Gretchen said of Grayson via Instagram<\/a> following his heartbreaking death on February 7, 2023. \u201cHe fought everyday through his pain and discomfort to find joy in the smallest of things. He was always singing & dancing & laughing despite his circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, Michelle claimed Gretchen and Slade weren\u2019t active in Grayson\u2019s life.<\/p>\n \u201cSlade Smiley and Gretchen Rossi have grossly misrepresented the true nature of their relationship with Grayson, which was virtually nonexistent,\u201d Michelle told People<\/a><\/em> on February 23, 2023. \u201cI will not stand by and permit them to benefit from my son\u2019s death for who they were barely there when he was alive and needed his father.\u201d<\/p>\n Gretchen was announced to return to her roots on the silver screen as a \u201cfriend\u201d during RHOC<\/em> season 19.<\/p>\n She will star on the series alongside full-time Housewives Tamra, Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti<\/strong> and Katie Ginella<\/strong>, most of whom welcomed with open arms on social media after Gretchen\u2019s return was announced on January 29, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhen Was Gretchen Rossi on \u2018The Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019?<\/h2>\n
Why Did Gretchen Rossi Leave \u2018The Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019?<\/h2>\n
What Is \u2018The Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019 Star Gretchen Rossi\u2019s Job?<\/h2>\n
Are The Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019s Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley Still Together?<\/h2>\n
Gretchen Rossi Welcomed a Daughter With Slade Smiley<\/h2>\n
![\"Who](\"https:\/\/www.lifeandstylemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/gretchen-1.jpg?fit=400%2C426&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>Gretchen Rossi Returns to \u2018The Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019 For Season 19<\/h2>\n