After over a decade away, Tamra Judge's daughter Sophia Barney finally rejoined her mom on screen during Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County" Season 18 premiere July 11.
"You haven't seen Sophia in over 10 years because her dad would not sign the agreement to allow her to film," Judge said in a confessional interview on the show. "She's been living with me this entire time. She is now 18 and getting ready to go to college."
Judge's contentious relationship and eventual divorce from Sophia's father, Simon Barney, was documented on the show over the years. Judge has three children with Barney — daughters Sidney and Sophia, as well as son Spencer — and was married to Judge for 13 years before the pair divorced in 2011. Judge also has an older son, Ryan Vieth, from a previous relationship.
"Have you talked to your dad at all?" Judge asked Sophia as they drove to a tattoo parlor together.
"I'm not talking about that," said Sophia, who looked completely different from previous images that Judge posted of her daughter on Instagram.
Sophia was also shown during a flashback from an appearance on the show in 2010 during the premiere and had long, blond hair at the time. In the new episode, she sports shorter, tousled dark hair with bangs.
At the tattoo parlor, Sophia requested a moon tattoo — her first — on the inside of her elbow.
"Both her brothers are covered in tattoos," Judge explained to the tattoo artist. "At first it bothered me. And now, I don't know. I just really want my kids to be able to express themselves how they want to."
Judge also got a tattoo: angel numbers "111" on her wrist.
"Every time I see '111' I always make the same wish that ..." Judge paused to hold back her tears, "that maybe one day Sidney will come home."
Judge's relationship with her oldest daughter has been strained by her divorce from Barney.
In a "RHOC" interview, she explained, “I was very close to Sidney.”
“Unfortunately, Sidney’s on Simon’s side,” Judge added. “She doesn’t really speak to any of us. It’s difficult. It’s like your child’s dead, but they’re still alive.”
Back in the tattoo parlor, Sophia looked uncomfortable by the discussion, and Judge said, "I know you don't want to talk about her."
"Not really," Sophia answered. She urged her mom to keep her thoughts about her siblings to herself. "I'm not your therapist," she laughed nervously.
Judge described her daughter Sophia as being "so chill" and a "kind, kind soul." She joked, "She's such a good kid. I don't know where the hell it came from."
"The Real Housewives of Orange County" airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the following day on Peacock.
(Bravo and Peacock are part of our parent company, NBCUniversal.)
