She speaks her truth … even if it sounds funny when she says it.
In an exclusive interview with Page Six, Gina Kirschenheiter said that her former “Real Housewives of Orange County” co-star Braunwyn Windham-Burke “sucks” for the way she allegedly ditched her friendship with Bravo rookie Noella Bergener.
“As soon as Braunwyn found out that she was no longer a part of this [show] and Noella was, Braunwyn just threw her out,” Kirchenheiter, 37, told us, detailing the purported drama that took place before Season 16 went into production.
“Noella was hurt by it. And then I was like, ‘Yeah, well, Braunwyn sucks like that.’”
Kirschenheiter — whose own relationship with Windham-Burke, 44, fell apart on Season 15 of “RHOC” — said that she and Bergener were able to bond over their respective feuds with the ex-“Housewife.”
“I felt like [we were] at ground level,” the Long Island native said, adding that she was immediately drawn to Bergener the moment they met at Heather Dubrow’s explosive dinner party that played out on Wednesday night’s episode.
“I walked in that house and she had butterflies in her hair and s—t … I was like, ‘You’re amazing!’” Kirschenheiter recalled of her new castmate, who has commanded fans’ attention with her eccentric fashion choices and at-home sex dungeon.
“She was saying all kinds of weird s—t. I was like, ‘I wanna be by you all day.’ That was my perspective of her. I thought she was fun.”
Kirschenheiter also thinks “Orange County” is a lot more fun to film without Windham-Burke around.
Still, she has empathy for the mom of seven — who now splits her time between Southern California and New York City as she maintains her sobriety and navigates her new life as a gay woman with girlfriend Victoria Brito.
“I still don’t know what’s going on with Braunwyn. I still feel bad for Braunwyn. I really do,” said Kirschenheiter. “I have from the beginning. And I really do wholeheartedly hope that her children are OK and everything’s OK there.”
Since coming out in December 2020, Windham-Burke has remained married to husband Sean Burke to maintain stability in their family. The spouses share Bella, 21, Rowan, 18, Jacob, 16, twins Curran and Caden, 8, Koa, 6, and Hazel, 3.
“When I’m here [NYC], [Sean is] the primary parent, but when I go home, I am, and he can go do whatever he wants,” Windham-Burke previously told Page Six of her brood’s unique dynamic.
Although Kirschenheiter only has well wishes for Windham-Burke these days, she did reiterate to us that her frenemy is “just not the best” person.
“Like, if you had to nominate your best humans as tribute for your best human board, I wouldn’t nominate her, no,” she quipped.
Kirschenheiter might not describe the current “RHOC” cast — including herself, Bergener, Heather Dubrow, Emily Simpson, Shannon Beador and Dr. Jennifer Armstrong — as the “best human board,” but she is nonetheless proud of the group for all the drama they bring to the reality series.
“I’m very happy about where we are now as a cast and a show because it feels the most real for me that it’s felt in my four years being on it,” she said.
“It’s complicated and obviously there’s this element that we don’t pick all of our friends. They come into our life. But I think that’s OK. I still find it very interesting and fun.”
Though Kirschenheiter has sparred particularly hard with Beador, 57, at the start of Season 16, she is grateful to work with the last Tres Amiga standing. (Beador’s amigas-turned-foes Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge departed “RHOC” after 2019’s Season 14.)
“Four years later, I’m still trying to get to know Shannon!” said Kirschenheiter, who joined in Season 13.
“As much as I don’t like Shannon, I love her. I really do and I think she’s an important part of this cast. I think she brings a very interesting point of view and element and resistance to rationality. And I think that’s really interesting to watch.”
“The Real Housewives or Orange County” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.