Gina Kirschenheiter is starting off The Real Housewives Of Orange County Season 20 strong! Happily engaged to fiance Travis Mullen and enjoying the beautiful family they’ve built together, Kirschenheiter is trying not to sweat the small stuff—but that’s easier said than done with this group of women! However, Kirschenheiter believes the return of series OG Vicki Gunvalson “gave the group more synergy” this time around. “She just picked up right where she left off,” said Kirschenheiter, which also included playing peacemaker with feuding friends Tamra Judge and Shannon Storms Beador. “Vicki was able to help mediate,” said Kirschenheiter gratefully.

Gunvalson took umbrage with Kirschenheiter’s best friend, Emily Simpson, after Simpson wrote that Gunvalson was a “Debbie Downer” during Judge’s “Friend In A Box” game. “Vicki brought it up at every event, every table, and every place we went to this season,” said Kirschenheiter. “She was really offended by that comment.” Kirschenheiter knew that Gunvalson’s knee pain was a factor in some of her behavior this season. “It was hard for her to come to terms with the fact that her injury was slowing her down,” explained Kirschenheiter. “It was affecting her personality, but she really didn’t want it to.”

Kirschenheiter had her own dustup with newbie Carmella Garcia after she gifted Simpson with a Dior clutch (with a vibrator inside!) for her birthday. “I just thought it was weird,” said Kirschenheiter. “She gave Emily a gift that would garner a response, and now everybody’s surprised that I had one?” However, the two women were quickly able to come to a resolution after hashing it out in front of the group after a wine tasting. “I saw her perspective; she saw mine. It’s fine,” said Kirschenheiter firmly.

Kirschenheiter stopped by the Decider studio to chat about the season so far, discuss the group dynamics, and more.

DECIDER: Gina, what are your thoughts on this season so far? ‘Cause I have plenty!

GINA KIRSCHENHEITER: I’m loving it too! It’s so nice to have Vicki. She just picked up right where she left off. She’s so who she is, whether she is right or wrong, for good or bad, or somewhere in between. It’s cool to have her back. She gave the group more synergy, even though she didn’t bond with everybody.

Vicki is the only person who could ever really wrangle Tamra and Shannon. Was brokering that peace between the two of them something that had to be done so the group could move forward this season?

I think so, yes. We were just really stuck with the Tamra and Shannon situation. Vicki was able to help mediate, but both Tamra and Shannon are just so over the bad blood between them. They finally got to a point where they were both exhausted and just couldn’t be mad at each other anymore. They want to move forward. I’m happy that that’s the way that went.

Note to everyone: the worst thing you can call Vicki is a “Debbie Downer!” Were you surprised at how much Emily’s comment during Tamra’s “Friend in a Box” game bothered her?

Oh my god, the way she harped on that! I was so thankful that I did not put that in that box [laughs]. Vicki brought it up at every event, every table, and every place we went to this season. She was really offended by the comment.

Was Emily taken aback by how upset Vicki was?

I think she knew that Vicki wasn’t going to be happy about it, but nobody could have predicted anything like this. There’s something about boomers not wanting to be boring. That’s a really big diss to them. They want you to know they are still a good time.

Well, she’s the original “Whoop it up” girl!

She is, and that’s why it was such a hard hit for her. She’s like, “No, I am the queen of whoop-it-up; you cannot call me boring!” Also, Vicki was dealing with a major issue with her knee this season. It was hard for her to come to terms with the fact that her injury was slowing her down. It was affecting her personality, but she really didn’t want it to.

I was also surprised at how emotional Heather got recounting her own exchange with Emily during Tamra’s party. Were you surprised as well?

No, because Heather is super sensitive. What was shown on the show wasn’t true to how it actually felt that night which was pretty intense and uncomfortable. Heather was also having a tough night. There wasn’t that much nice stuff in her box. She was feeling overwhelmed. A lot of stuff was coming down on her at once. I felt bad for her. She was really upset.

In last week’s episode, Emily snaps at you for trying to “jump in” and help explain where Heather was coming from. You really didn’t appreciate that. Can you walk me through that moment?

I was so mad at her [laughs]. It was way more intense at that table than it looked on TV. I was so angry at her because she looked around the table and said: “I don’t need you; I don’t need you.” She then looked me in the eyes and she repeated: “I don’t need you.” I was like, “Bitch! Are you on drugs? What is happening?”

I was offended by it because we do need each other. We do love each other so much. It might seem like a minor thing, but to me, I just didn’t like it. I also didn’t like that I was being put in the same finger-pointing bucket as the two other people at the table. At the end of the day, it’s not that big of a deal. We talked it out almost immediately. What allows Emily and me to move forward with our friendship is our honesty with each other.

You get into it a bit with Carmella at the wine tasting. Why did her gift to Emily of the Dior clutch and vibrator bother you so much?

I just thought it was weird [laughs]. She didn’t know Emily well at that point. Maybe it’s just the East Coast in me. If I think something’s weird, I’m gonna say it. By the way, I said it to my friends, not Carmella. Emily was the one who went and told her what I said.

Somebody asked her at some point: “Do you usually give gifts like this?” She said, “Well, my friends and I usually go in on a designer gift together when one of us has a birthday.” Carmella even admitted it was an out-of-the-ordinary gift! Why is it weird for me to have a response to that? She gave Emily a gift that would garner a response, and now everybody’s surprised that I had one? That’s a little bit unfair. Though, we hashed it out that night. I have no problem talking to her about it. I saw her perspective; she saw mine. It’s fine.

I think you and Carmella could have a beautiful friendship. You’re both in real estate; you’re both mothers; you both tell it like it is. Do you two form a connection this season?

I get to know Carmella more. As I get to know her, my opinion of her significantly changes. I think Carmella is really cool. As you said, there are so many similarities between the two of us. We’re both very authentic. We say whatever we wanna say. We’re hustlers. I have a lot of respect for her, and we have a good relationship now. We just went to lunch a week ago or so. I find her very refreshing.

In the teaser for this week, it seems like you and Heather get into it a little bit. I know people always say they don’t want to fight with Tamra, but I personally wouldn’t want to fight with Heather…

No, fighting with Fancy Pants is the worst. Every year, there’s always something that happens. We’re very close, and I don’t know why we clash sometimes. Maybe because we’re both New Yorkers. She’ll do something, and then I just can’t let it go. Or I do something, and she just can’t let it go. It’s not my favorite thing. I feel like I try so hard to stay out of everything, but then I’m like, “Why am I so involved?” Maybe that’s the East Coast in me. We have to say what we think.

Lastly, what are you most looking forward to fans seeing this season?

Our trip to Tokyo was just sensational. It was such a cool experience. I’m really looking forward to the fans seeing that. I’m also really happy that Emily and I both look good this season [laughs]. I’m really happy that people are gonna see us continue to look decent on television. That’s very good for us.

We’ve come a long way since those extensions, haven’t we?

Yes, and I love that for me.