Vicki Gunvalson

Background

Victoria Gunvalson was born on March 27, 1962, in a small Northwest suburb of Chicago, U.S. to a family of five. Her father owned a big construction company, and her mother was a homemaker. Her father instilled a strong work ethic in her during her formative years. He taught her the values of living within means, praying, being grateful for what they had, and always striving to be the best she could be in all aspects of her life. Her father’s work ethic and fight for life shaped who she is today.

She is an original member of Bravo’s reality show, “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” which premiered in 2006. However, in January 2020, Gunvalson was sacked from the franchise. She started a podcast called “Whoop It Up with Vicki” the same year. On her podcast, she discusses her identity, her show, and also provides inspirational truths about life, financial freedom, relationships, and love.

Gunvalson married twice; when she was 21, she married Michael J.Wolfsmith, and they had two children, Briana and Michael. When she was 29, the couple got divorced, and she began working part-time at her father’s construction company. Since she was the sole provider for herself and her two children, one of her close friends suggested she get herself a life insurance policy. Following further discussions with her friend, she decided to become a licensed life and health insurance seller. She was named the company’s top salesperson in her very first year on the job. Gunvalson is now the proud owner of Coto Insurance and Financial Services Inc., where she enjoys mentoring and employing other women and moms.

Her second marriage was to Donn Gulvanson in 1994. Sadly, they divorced a decade later, in 2014. She was engaged to Steve Lodge from April 2019 to September 2021. She started dating her co-star Brooks Ayers during season 10 of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” She revealed she had battled cancer in November 2021.