Is Monica Garcia the most controversial reality TV star of 2024? After the Reality Von Tease Instagram reveal on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 4 finale, will she return for season 5?

Jan 19 , 2024

Monica Garcia has emerged as one of the most controversial reality TV personalities after appearing in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Photo: @monicanikigarcia/Instagram

Bravo rocked the world of reality TV with the casting of the former assistant to ex-Housewife Jen Shah, who is now in jail for targeting the elderly with telemarketing scams

After the Brea Baby entrepreneur was revealed to be behind the Reality Von Tease Instagram, cast member Heather Gay said she would never appear on the show alongside Garcia again

Among Bravo TV’s most popular franchises is The Real Housewives, famous for its wealthy cast members with mega mansions in Beverly Hills, Miami, New York and even Dubai. But that all changed when the network added Monica Garcia to the fourth season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

Garcia wasn’t introduced to the cast as another rich newcomer or a “friend” – she actually entered the scene as the former assistant of ex-Housewife Jen Shah, now convicted and serving time in federal prison for targeting the elderly with telemarketing scams.

Monica Garcia, an addition to Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, won viewers over initially. Photo: @monicanikigarcia/ Instagram

Viewers quickly took a liking to the less affluent Garcia, who openly shared her struggles of trying to fit in with her new wealthy group of “friends”. In an especially emotional scene, Garcia even tearfully bought her first Louis Vuitton handbag in an attempt to fit in, even though she couldn’t really afford it.

But that all came to a shocking halt in the series’ season finale when it came to light that Garcia was behind an Instagram account called Reality Von Tease. Over the years, the Instagram account became known for exposing the Salt Lake City Housewives through unauthorised video clips, screen caps and voice recordings. So when cast member Heather Gay discovered through a mutual friend that Garcia was behind the account, all hell broke loose.

When confronted, Garcia claimed the account was run by multiple people, and admitted she recorded videos of Shah while she worked for her. In a confessional, she defended her actions, saying she didn’t see it as a “bad thing”. “I think that’s just telling the truth,” she said.

So, as we await the last episode of RHSLC season four, airing on January 23, what do we know about the real Monica Garcia – and will she be back for season five?

Who is The Real Housewives’ Monica Garcia?

Monica Garcia is Portuguese and Colombian and, like most of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast, a former Mormon. Photo: @monicanikigarcia/Instagram

Garcia, 40, is Portuguese and Colombian and originally hails from Boston, Massachusetts, according to her Bravo biography. Much like most of the Salt Lake City cast, Garcia is also a former Mormon who was excommunicated from the church. However, her exit was a little more dramatic considering that she was caught having an affair with her brother-in-law.

The entrepreneur and mother of four is also the founder of blanket company Brea Baby. According to its website, the brand creates “stylish, unique, organic, one-of-a-kind pieces both you and your little ones will love for years to come”.