If you happened to blink during 2013, you might have missed the whirlwind that was Joyce Giraud on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She arrived in Season 4 with hair that literally defied gravity and a tagline about being the "luckiest woman in the world."
Honestly, the luck didn't last long.
By the time the reunion couch was cold, Joyce was out. She and fellow newcomer Carlton Gebbia were both shown the door after just one season. It’s a move fans still argue about on Reddit a decade later. Some say she was too "pageant-y" and didn't fit the vibe. Others—a growing number, actually—point out that she was basically thrown into a lion's den of microaggressions and didn't get the backup she deserved from the producers or her castmates.
The Brandi Glanville Conflict: More Than Just "Mean Girls"
Most people remember Season 4 for the ugly, uncomfortable tension between Joyce and Brandi Glanville. It started almost immediately. Brandi, who was the "it girl" of the show at the time, seemed to take an instant dislike to the former Miss Puerto Rico.
It wasn't just your standard "I don't like your outfit" drama. It got dark.
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There was the "Yoyce" thing. Brandi kept calling her "Yoyce" instead of Joyce, claiming she couldn't say the name properly. Then came the poolside comment at Palm Springs where Brandi suggested Joyce couldn't swim because she was "Black." Joyce, who is Latina with a diverse heritage, stood her ground, but the rest of the cast mostly sat there in awkward silence. Looking back in 2026, those scenes are even harder to watch. They feel less like "reality TV shade" and more like a case study in how the show used to handle racial tension—which is to say, they didn't handle it at all.
Why was Joyce Giraud fired?
The official line from Bravo sources back then was that Joyce and Carlton "didn't resonate" with the audience. Basically, the "boring" card.
But was she actually boring? Or was she just too normal?
Joyce had a stable, happy marriage to producer Michael Ohoven. She had two kids, a successful career, and a very clear sense of self. In the world of Real Housewives, being mentally stable is often a one-way ticket to a pink slip. Producers want "chaos." They want "table-flipping." Joyce brought "logical arguments" and "setting boundaries."
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Life After the Diamond
If you think Joyce disappeared after being "booted" from Beverly Hills, you've got it wrong. She took the Real Housewives formula and basically said, "I can do this better."
She went on to executive produce and star in Rica, Famosa, Latina. If you haven't seen it, it's essentially the Spanish-language version of the franchise, but with the intensity turned up to eleven. We're talking legendary fights and massive production value. It’s been a huge hit, proving that Joyce knew exactly what made for good TV—she just wanted to do it on her own terms.
Beyond the screen, she’s stayed busy with:
- Queen of the Universe: A pageant she created that focuses on charity and empowering women.
- Philanthropy: She actually opened a school in Senegal with the YOU Foundation.
- Acting and Producing: She’s worked on everything from House of Payne to the film Jeepers Creepers: Reborn.
The Lisa Vanderpump Connection
One of the most interesting things about Joyce's legacy is her lasting friendship with Lisa Vanderpump. While most of the Season 4 cast eventually turned on LVP (the "Puppygate" era was a bloodbath), Joyce stayed loyal.
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Even today, Joyce is one of the few former cast members LVP still follows and speaks highly of. They're legit friends. Joyce often defended Lisa during the "Munchausen" season, calling the show out for being manipulative. It’s a rare example of a "Real Housewife" friendship that exists purely off-camera without the need for a storyline.
Why Joyce Matters Now
In the current era of Bravo, there’s a lot more scrutiny on how minority cast members are treated. When you re-watch Season 4, you see Joyce Giraud as a pioneer who unfortunately had to deal with a lot of "first-timer" hurdles. She was the first Latina housewife in the Beverly Hills franchise. She stood up to the show’s biggest bully at the time and didn't back down, even when it cost her the job.
What you can do next:
If you want to see the "unfiltered" version of the drama Joyce was trying to create, go find episodes of Rica, Famosa, Latina. It gives a much better look at her personality as a producer and a lead. Also, if you're doing a re-watch of RHOBH Season 4, pay attention to the Palm Springs episodes. It’s a masterclass in how not to handle workplace conflict, and it explains exactly why Joyce decided she was better off without the diamond.