In the last two decades of “The Real Housewives,” the women who have entered the Bravo franchise in the “friend of” role have performed various duties: high-level antagonist, comedic sidekick, fashion expert, bone collector, genuine nice person who probably doesn’t belong in this environment, etc.

“Friends of” have always played a vital part in the show, but have sometimes been overlooked for their contributions to its popularity.

Some of that has to do with the “friend of” role being perceived as less than, thanks to the shade from full-time housewives and fans, depending on what corner of the internet you stand on.

Still, in recent years, those stank attitudes have slightly shifted thanks to the equal treatment between housewives and “friends of” on the rebooted “The Real Housewives of Miami.” Also, some veterans, like “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Cynthia Bailey, have not only returned to the show as a “friend of,” but have also boasted about it as an opportunity to be seen, be paid, and be less involved in the mess. More recently, Carole Radziwill, who was on “The Real Housewives of New York City” from Season 5 through Season 10, was reported to be rejoining the show in the role of “friend” for Season 16.

In this economy, everyone needs a job where they can find one, especially in the entertainment industry, so in celebration of 20 years of “The Real Housewives,” I want to shine a light on some of the most memorable “friends of” in the show’s history.

Some are more memorable for better reasons than others, obviously.

Hampton first appeared in Season 4 of “RHOA” and became the longest-running “friend of” to earn a promotion. In Season 14, she finally “earned her peach” and became a full-time housewife. Unfortunately, she only kept that role for two seasons, ultimately exiting at the end of Season 15, but in her defense, the show was a mess, and that wasn’t on her.

Marlo might not have been for everyone, but she brought couture to the series at a level no housewife on either coast could compete with. She could get her co-workers to squeal like a fool in South Africa and enrage a member of R&B group Xscape to the point where she wanted to brawl with her on national television. Her mugshots and friend status were used against her, but Marlo is the best friend to ever do it, and had she been made a housewife years before Season 14, she would have fared better.

An original housewife on the show, de Moura returned in Season 4 in the “friend of” role, and though it is technically a demotion, she has been the center of attention whenever she saw fit. Despite all the antics that happened in the last season of “RHOM,” all anyone can remember from the reunion is de Moura’s ranting about her co-star cheating on her wife with a Haitian mortician.

Hilton, the sister of Kyle Richards and the longest-running housewife on “RHOBH,” is basically giving us a shtick where she is a zany rich woman who lives in her own world, but she is fun to watch when she is on set. You either love it or you don’t. I know from the Paris Hilton documentary and reality show that there is another side to Big Kathy, but on “RHOBH,” she is a necessary comedic tool.

She has money, she has taste, and she has a fascinating career and life story. We don’t get a lot of it, but even the glimpses of her life are enough, and what I love most about Tilly is how she is an admitted fan and took her joining the show seriously. It shows.

The Haitian model has brought a quick wit, unfiltered commentary, and an increasingly interesting personal story to the show, and while I hate her rift with Guerdy Abraira, if there’s anyone on “RHOM” that deserves a mojito, it’s Kiki.

I don’t know if I’m merely overly sentimental about polite Canadians as a result of our corrosive political environment in America, but Tanya was a joy on the show. I hated how mean Kenya Moore was to her toward the end of her run. Not everyone needs to be shady or speak like they’re in the middle of a ball or getting a BBL, and that made Tanya, who really just wanted to twerk at Carnival and talk about finances in a non-scammy way, a breath of fresh air.

No one knows when “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will return, but for those who stuck out the most recent miserable seasons, I hope we can all agree that Fessler was a light in dark times.

I don’t know what happened near the end of Shamea’s first season as a full-time housewife, but while we await her performance in the looming 17th, I do want to note that when she was an official “friend of” several years back, she did her job and she did it well. She was not scared of Phaedra Parks, Kenya Moore or any other full-timer, and even if portrayed as Porsha Williams’ shadow, always seemed more interesting than some of her haters let on. It’s why I’m still glad she was eventually given a peach of her own.

What I love about de Lesseps aka “The Countess” is that when she was demoted for Season 6, she did not pout; she accepted her position, carried on like the diva she is, and clearly performed well enough to be returned to the full-time cast the next season.

I have always felt that Camille never got a fair shake on the show because, at the beginning, her then-husband was cheating on her and preparing for divorce without her knowledge. Upon her return as a “friend of,” she was treated pretty shittily by the housewives. However, Camille has never been a bore and deserves more praise for what she brought as a housewife and “friend of.”

This is more of an honorable mention, but Wilkey, who appeared in Season 2 of “RHOBH,” was never a proper fit for the group. However, her insistence to note that the sunglasses she had on when viewers first met her cost $25,000 will live in my mind forever.

The thirstiest Mormon to have ever appeared on the show. While I question her taste in Osmonds, among other things, I will not deny that on “RHOSLC,” the “friend of” makes a lasting impression.

I picked Charrisse solely because a lot of y’all need to stop being mean to her! She practically cast the show. Let her pop in more so she can stir the pot.

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