Victoria Larson is a lot of things. She's a "Queen" (her words). She's a disruptor. She’s someone who apparently collects parking tickets like they’re Pokémon cards. But mostly, she's the reason House of Villains Season 2 didn't just devolve into a predictable strategic slog.
Let’s be real. When E! announced that "Queen" Victoria from Matt James’s season of The Bachelor was joining the cast, half the internet groaned and the other half had to Google who she was. She didn't have the legendary status of a Richard Hatch or the chaotic, high-decibel energy of Tiffany "New York" Pollard.
Yet, she ended up being the secret sauce.
Victoria House of Villains: The Strategy of Not Having One
Most of these people came in with "resume" energy. Wes Bergmann from The Challenge was out here trying to play 4D chess before he even unpacked his bags. Safaree was worried about his brand. Teresa Giudice was... well, being Teresa.
Then there’s Victoria.
She walked in and immediately started asking the questions no one else would. Honestly, watching her ask Larsa Pippen to her face if she buys her Instagram followers was the highlight of the season. You can’t script that level of unbothered audacity.
🔗 Read more: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
She basically treated the $200,000 prize like a way to pay off her mounting legal fines and maybe get some more lip filler. It’s relatable in the most unhinged way possible.
Why the "Queen" Persona Actually Worked This Time
On The Bachelor, Victoria was arguably too much.
She was snatching crowns and calling women "hoes" in a way that felt genuinely mean-spirited and, frankly, out of place for a dating show. It felt forced. But in the House of Villains lair? That energy is the baseline.
What’s wild is that Victoria actually came across as one of the more "human" people in that house. She was funny. Mostly because she wasn't trying to be. Her dry, monotone delivery when she told the cameras that the house was "getting to her" or her bizarre insistence on not using canola oil made her the unexpected comic relief.
The Great Betrayal: Victoria vs. Teresa Giudice
If you missed the banishment in Episode 8, you missed the moment the season’s heart (if villains have hearts) actually broke.
💡 You might also like: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
Victoria thought she was safe. She really did. She had this alliance with Wes and the "middle-of-the-pack" players, and she genuinely believed her roommate, Teresa Giudice, had her back.
It was a 4-1 vote.
When Joel McHale flipped those cards, Victoria’s face went from a confident "I'm the Queen" smirk to total devastation in three seconds flat. She felt gaslit. She felt betrayed.
Teresa’s excuse? "I've known Larsa longer."
That’s cold. Even for a show about villains. Victoria later told Parade and TooFab that she felt "shocked" because Teresa had looked her in the eye and given her word. It’s a classic lesson in reality TV: "word" means nothing when a $200,000 check is on the line.
📖 Related: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
But it’s also why Victoria was good for the show. She actually cared. She wasn't just there for a paycheck; she was there for the experience, and that vulnerability made her banishment one of the most talked-about moments of the year.
What We Learned From Victoria's Return
- Self-Awareness is a Superpower: Victoria knows people think she’s a joke. She leans into it. By not taking herself seriously, she actually became more likable than she ever was on ABC.
- The "Underdog" Villain is a Real Thing: In a house full of alpha personalities, Victoria was the one everyone underestimated. And she made it to 8th place, outlasting OG legends like Richard Hatch and Larissa Lima.
- The New Face, The New Attitude: Victoria has been very open about her cosmetic "glow-up." While the internet loves to dissect her appearance, her transparency about it is weirdly refreshing. She’s not pretending she just "drank more water."
The "Villainous" Legacy
A lot of fans on Reddit and Twitter are calling for Victoria to come back for a "Redemption" season or even just a guest spot. She proved that you don't have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most entertaining. Sometimes, just being the girl who’s confused about canola oil and calling out fake followers is enough.
If you’re looking to follow in Victoria’s footsteps—minus the public vitriol—the takeaway is pretty simple. Be authentic, even if your "authentic" is a little bit villainous.
If you want to keep up with what's next for the Queen, keep an eye on her Instagram (the real one, not the bought one). She’s already hinting at wanting to do more competition shows, and honestly? We’d watch.
Next Steps for Reality TV Junkies:
- Watch the Banishment: Go back and re-watch Episode 8 of Season 2. The look on Victoria’s face during the vote is a masterclass in reality TV drama.
- Check the Podcasts: Victoria has been doing the rounds on TooFab and Parade. Her interviews give way more context to the Teresa feud than the edit showed.
- Follow the Cast: If you want the real tea, watch the IG stories of Safaree and Kandy Muse. They post the behind-the-scenes stuff that the E! editors leave on the floor.
That’s the thing about Victoria Larson. You can hate the crown, but you have to respect the hustle. She came, she saw, she got kicked out in a flipping chair, and she did it all without breaking a sweat (or her eyeliner).