The Real Housewives of Orange County is celebrating its 20th season with the return of OG star Vicki Gunvalson as a main cast member. However, there’s also a newbie coming in who will be rocking the boat: Carmella Garcia.
Carmella, whose real name is Carmella DeCesare, has a history in the entertainment industry and has a connection to another reality show thanks to her job as a real estate agent.
Scroll down to learn more about the latest lady to be holding an orange in RHOC Season 20.
What does Carmella Garcia do for a living?
Carmella works as a real estate agent for The Oppenheim Group, the same company featured on Netflix’s Selling Sunset. Per her bio on the company’s website, Carmella is “recognized for her expertise in real estate development and strategic vision across residential investment markets.” Additionally, she is “actively involved in her own real estate and investment projects.”
Carmella moved to Los Angeles from Ohio when she was 18 and began her career as a model. She was a finalist on Who Wants to Be a Playboy Centerfold, but ended up withdrawing from the competition. It wasn’t until she received a personal invite from Hugh Hefner to his birthday party that she changed her mind. Carmella was named Miss April for Playboy in 2003 and has been on the cover of the magazine multiple times. She was also Playmate of the Year in 2004.
Due to her work with Playboy, Carmella has some reality television experience, having appeared in episodes of The Girls Next Door between 2005 and 2007.
In 2004, Carmella auditioned for the WWE on WWE Diva Star Search. She finished as the runner-up. Her subsequent feud with winner Christy Hemme landed her a pay-per-view appearance in 2004, but it was her last WWE appearance. Carmella later revealed that she wished to stay with the WWE for longer, but her agent for the time was requesting more money than they wanted to offer her.
Is Carmella Garcia married?
No, Carmella is not currently married. She was previously married to Jeff Garcia, a former NFL quarterback. They tied the knot in 2007 and announced their divorce in 2020.
However, the two seemingly broke up long before they made their divorce announcement, as Carmella told BravoTV.com in April that she had been “[dating] somebody on and off for the last 10 years.”
In 2004, Carmella got into an altercation with Kristen Hine, Jeff’s ex-girlfriend, after she believed that the pro athlete was cheating on her with his former lover. She was acquitted on the misdemeanor assault charge, per TMZ. Carmella had to complete 24 hours of community service and remain on probation for a year.
How many kids does Carmella Garcia have?
Carmella is a mother to four teenage children, all of whom she shares with Jeff.
Her eldest child is a daughter named Presley, followed by son Jason, son Jax, and youngest daughter Faith.
The Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 20, Thursday, July 9, 8/7c, Bravo