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The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of Orange County

How Heather Dubrow and Alexis Bellino Were "Brought Closer" In Spite of Past Drama

Hear Heather Dubrow open up about her bond with Alexis Bellino ahead of RHOC Season 18.

By Allison Crist

Alexis Bellino is making an unexpected return to The Real Housewives of Orange County for Season 18 as a friend, but what's even more unexpected is her newly formed bond with Heather Dubrow.

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Heather opened up about her friendship with Alexis in a recent interview with E! News, explaining that while the two have "known each other for a very long time," and "didn't always see eye-to-eye" — say, when they both starred on RHOC during seasons 7 and 8 — they've since put their issues aside. Why? Because after getting reacquainted in the past few years "through some of our older kids," Heather said she and Alexis were able to bond because they both have sons who came out as transgender. 

Added Heather — who is mom to twins Max and Nick, Kat, and Ace — of Alexis, who's mom to twins Miles and Mackenna, "Having LGBTQIA+ kids definitely brought us closer."

After all, one of the biggest reasons Heather returned to RHOC in 2021 was "because I thought, 'Hey, we've got this great platform, they're asking us to come back, wouldn't it be nice to show our very normal family and maybe start conversations in other people's families?'" she explained. 

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Where to Watch and Stream The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18
Alexis Bellino's Teen Son, Miles, Just Hit a Huge Milestone: "Momma's Free!"

How Heather Dubrow and Alexis Bellino's Sons Came Out as Transgender

Heather and her husband Dr. Terry Dubrow's youngest child, Ace, came out as transgender in early 2023. The OC mom confirmed the news in an Instagram post for National Son’s Day.

“Our job as parents is to give our kids a safe and supportive environment so they can grow up as healthy, happy, confident, independent humans,” Heather wrote in the caption of her post. “Since Ace is a 12-year-old child, with a long life ahead of him — we will let him tell his own story someday if he chooses to do so. All we can say is Ace, we love you so much and we are proud to be your parents. Your brother and sisters love and support you too.”

Heather Dubrow, Terry Dubrow, Maximillia Dubrow, Katarina Dubrow, Nicholas Dubrow, Ace Dubrow pose together.

One year prior, in October 2022, Alexis stated in an Instagram post that she was "extremely proud" of her son Miles, who had also come out as transgender.

"Hey world, this is Miles. My transgender son," Alexis wrote in part alongside a photo of her and Miles (who she shares with her ex, Jim Bellino). “He’s now a month shy of 15 [years] old, so he’s seen the questions and comments made about him on my IG. Miles now has a voice and has asked me to do this post.”

Alexis Bellino celebrates son Miles Bellino

“I cannot imagine the strength and courage it took for my baby to do this, but I’m extremely proud of him and I want everyone to understand that love doesn’t change in these situations," Alexis added. "It’s unconditional love."

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