Tamra Judge’s Daughter Sophia Barney Was ‘Happy’ to Return to RHOC – All About The Real Housewives

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Tamra Judge’s youngest daughter, Sophia Barney, reveals she was “happy” to return to RHOC for season 18 and admits it was “frustrating hiding in the shadows.”

Season 18 of the Real Housewives of Orange County marks the return of Tamra Judge‘s youngest daughter, Sophia Barney’s return to the franchise.

The 18-year-old was last seen on the hit Bravo series during season 5 when she was just five years old.

Sophia Barney and her siblings, Spencer, 23, and Sidney, 24, vanished from the show after their mom, Tamra Judge, split from their dad, Simon Barney, who refused to allow them to film.

For years, Tamra continued to film for RHOC while her minor children remained in the background and off-camera. The 56-year-old’s adult son, Ryan Vieth, from a previous marriage, would appear on the show from time to time.

“As a mom, I felt horrible,” Tamra tells PEOPLE. “I’d even say, “Can you just shoot them from the back walking up the stairs so people know that I have children?’ Because it was really hard for me. We’re supposed to be fully transparent on the show, and here was this whole part of me I could just never show.”

“It was frustrating hiding in the shadows,” Sophia explains. “I had to tiptoe around the cameras all the time. And seeing my mom do it my entire life, it seemed like something was happening in my life that I was kind of a part of, but always an outsider to.”

When Sophia turned 18 earlier this year, she followed in her brother Spencer’s footsteps and showed up to film for season 18.

“As I got older, I wanted to be part of it so I’m happy,” she said. “It just seemed a lot easier; like I didn’t have to feel like a stranger in my own house.”

Sophia has found returning to the Real Housewives of Orange County effortless, but she acknowledges that she has also witnessed the ugly side of reality TV.

“I just I don’t see Tamra Judge that everyone else sees. I see my mom,” Sophia explains. “These people, they only see her through the TV and it’s not the person that she is. The life we have together, she’s nothing like that. So I just think they’re uneducated and the stuff they say online, they’re the ones who look like idiots.”

According to the mother-daughter duo, they “live a very mellow life.”

Tamra said, “I’ve always separated that world from them. We don’t walk red carpets. We don’t have paparazzi taking our pictures. We don’t act like we’re a big deal by any means.”

“We’re very normal,” Sophia notes. “We just go to HomeGoods, to the mall, to thrift stores. It’s very chill.”

“She’s my best friend,” Tamra adds. “Which, I think a lot of people wouldn’t understand because they haven’t seen our bond over the years.”