Vicki Gunvalson’s ex-fiance Steve Lodge is engaged to Orange County teacher… just THREE MONTHS after they ended five-year relationship
Vicki Gunvalson’s former fiance, Steve Lodge, is an engaged man once again.
The former police officer, who ran for governor of California in the recent Gavin Newsom recall election, popped the question to Orange County teacher Janis Carlson before Christmas.
Lodge, 63, dated the Real Housewives of Orange County star for five years before officially ending their engagement in September, although he told PEOPLE they called it quits on their relationship the year before.
Tis the season: Steve Lodge popped the question to Orange County teacher Janis Carlson before Christmas just three months after ending engagement to Vicki Gunvalson
‘I did ask Janis on December 20th if she would become Mrs. Steve Chavez Lodge, and she happily agreed,’ Lodge said in a statement. ‘We will be married in April 2022.’
He added: ‘We are both very excited, incredibly happy, totally in love and look forward to our life together.’
Janis is a third grade school teacher and only recently went Instagram official with Steve on Christmas Day.
Vicki, 59, confirmed the end of her engagement to Steve in a somber Instagram post shared in September.
Bravo patriarch Andy Cohen tweeted his support for Vicki upon hearing the news that Steve had become engaged once again.
In the past: Vicki and Steve first met in 2016 at a Boys & Girls Club charity event in Anaheim, Calif. which was filmed for Bravo cameras; seen in 2019
He knows his place: Bravo patriarch Andy Cohen tweeted his support for Vicki upon hearing the news that Steve had become engaged once again
Bye Felicia! Vicki’s best friend, Tamra Judge, reminded her ‘you dodged the lodge!!’ in a snap shared to social media
‘If @vgunvalson doesn’t find a GREAT guy this year, it won’t be a good year. She deserves it. #FullLoveTankForVG.’
And Vicki’s best friend, Tamra Judge, reminded her ‘you dodged the lodge!!’ in a snap shared to social media.
The reality television veteran shared an inspirational quote in September with the news she broke off her two-year engagement nearly five years into their relationship, which was documented through the years on RHOC.
‘This is what appeared for today’s ‘Vibe of the day’… pretty appropriate for what I’m going through,’ she wrote. ‘It’s taken me a day to be able to make a statement after the press started writing about Steve and I. Yes, the rumors are true. The time has come for Steve and I to move forward or move on and we are …. moving on.
‘There is no fault with either person, we are just going in different directions. I wish him the best life has to offer and to be happy, and he has wished the same for me.
‘I gave it my all, but sometimes the ‘ALL’ isn’t enough.’
Moving on: Vicki Gunvalson confirmed the end of her engagement to Steve Lodge in a somber Instagram post shared in September
Tough: The 59-year-old reality television veteran shared an inspirational quote with the news she broke off her two-year engagement nearly five years into their relationship, which was documented through the years on Real Housewives of Orange County
‘This is what appeared for today’s ‘Vibe of the day’… pretty appropriate for what I’m going through,’ she wrote
Sources told E! News that the couple initially split in June before reconciling, but couldn’t make things work as they were ‘living separately’ for some time.
‘Steve and Vicki had been living separately for much of the pandemic,’ a source said before noting that ‘Steve had been living like he was a single man in Puerto Vallarta, while Vicki was in the U.S.’
The pair first met in 2016 at a Boys & Girls Club charity event in Anaheim, Calif. which was filmed for Bravo cameras.
He later popped the question in April 2019 and they celebrated with a cowboy-themed party at the Coto Valley Country Club just east of Laguna Beach.
Back in the day: Vicki Gunvalson celebrated her engagement to fiance Steve Lodge with a cowboy-themed party at the Coto Valley Country Club just east of Laguna Beach
‘Sometimes, I think you just have to find out for yourself what’s right,’ Vicki said at the time. ‘I’m at a good place but I like being married. I’m a marriage girl.’
The RHOC matriarch served as the longest running castmember of the franchise since it premiered on Bravo in 2006, but was demoted to a friend role for season 14 before ultimately leaving the show.
Her 20-year marriage and subsequent divorce to Don Gunvalson was a major storyline through the years.
During an appearance on the Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast earlier this year, Vicki blamed her divorce on reality television.
Bride-to-be: The RHOC matriarch served as the longest running castmember of the franchise since it premiered on Bravo in 2006, but was demoted to a friend role for season 14 before ultimately leaving the show
‘I did everything right, except falling prey to divorce,’ she said. ‘I mean, I think that hindsight, um, I know for a fact that if I wasn’t on a reality show, I wouldn’t have been divorced.’
Following her divorce with Donn, she dated Brooks Ayers, who she filed a lawsuit against in 2019 accusing him of not paying her back money she loaned him in 2011.
She said on the podcast: ‘Then I got taken for a ride by Brooks and he owes me over $300,000. And then I was in a block of lawsuits.’
Gunvalson caught major controversy from the women beginning in Season 10 while dating Brooks Ayers who lied about having cancer and later admitted to forging medical documents.
Done: Her 20-year marriage and subsequent divorce to Don Gunvalson was a major storyline through the years; seen during a vow renewal ceremony in Mexico
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