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Real Housewives of Orange County<\/span><\/i><\/a> star <\/span>Heather Dubrow<\/b><\/a> is no stranger to the spotlight \u2014 or the drama that comes with it. The longtime Bravo personality, who first joined the franchise in 2012, returned for season 16 and is back in the mix for another season that\u2019s already stirring buzz.<\/p>\n Life & Style<\/em> caught up with Heather, 56, at Los Angeles Magazine<\/em>\u2019s LA Woman Luncheon, held at the Beverly Hilton on April 18, where Paris Hilton<\/strong> was honored as Woman of the Year. The former actress turned reality star and podcaster opened up about the upcoming season, how reality TV has evolved, and how she stays grounded as both a mom and a media figure.<\/p>\n While she couldn\u2019t spill all the details, she hinted at just how juicy the upcoming season of RHOC is going to be.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t really say anything,\u201d she admitted, \u201cbut what I will say is it\u2019s a fantastic season. It\u2019s unbelievable. And that\u2019s why these shows work: because truth is stranger than fiction.\u201d<\/p>\n Now a veteran of the reality TV game, Heather, reflected on just how much has changed since she first appeared on the show over a decade ago. \u201cIt\u2019s so different,\u201d she explained. \u201cWhen I was first on the show, it was very different.\u201d She added,\u201d When I came back, I really had to adjust to how far these shows have come and how savvy new cast members are \u2014 because it wasn\u2019t always like that.\u201d<\/p>\n But while the new generation of Housewives<\/a> might be slick, Heather makes it clear she\u2019s not easily rattled.<\/p>\n \u201cThey think they know how to work the show,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cYou need to be beyond real. But the truth is, when you think you\u2019re smarter than the show\u2014you\u2019ve lost.\u201d<\/p>\n That kind of confidence only comes with experience, and Heather handles behind-the-scenes gossip and on-screen drama with grace. Still, she admits that the calculated moves of newer cast members\u2014sometimes causing rumors or stirring the pot just for airtime\u2014are a very real part of today\u2019s Housewives world.<\/p>\n Off camera, Heather keeps her priorities straight, especially when it comes to raising her four kids, Maximilla \u201cMax\u201d Dubrow,<\/b> 21, <\/span>Nicholas \u201cNick\u201d Dubrow<\/b>, 21, <\/span>Katarina \u201cKat\u201d Dubrow<\/b>, 18, and Ace Dubrow, 14, with <\/span>husband <\/span>Dr. Terry Dubrow<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very lucky \u2014 my kids, knock on wood, they\u2019re good kids,\u201d the mother of four shared. \u201cBut I think it\u2019s about communication. You have to instill gratitude in your kids, whether you\u2019re on TV or not. They\u2019re living in a certain home, having all these wonderful things\u2014how do you keep them grounded? Gratitude. And lots of communication. Very important.\u201d<\/p>\n As she juggles filming, gossip, family and fashion, Heather still makes time for her podcast, \u201cLet\u2019s Talk with Heather Dubrow.\u201d There she shares lifestyle tips, expert wellness advice, candid parenting stories and celebrity chats with guests like Bekah Martinez<\/strong> and Jackie Schimmel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n