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.

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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?

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”.

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What happened to her husband, Mike Garcia?

Last year, Monica divorced her husband Mike for the second time. The reality star reportedly filed for divorce in June 2023.

The couple first wed in 2009 and divorced in 2013 after Monica admitted to “an entanglement” with her brother-in-law. Documents reveal that she first filed for divorce in December 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. However, the pair reconciled, remarried in 2015, and stayed together until Monica filed for divorce a second time in 2023.

Their second divorce was finalised in October 2023 and Monica was awarded full custody of her four daughters.

She’s had quite the transformation

“If you hadn’t noticed, my entire life has completely changed very, very quickly in the course of, like, seven or eight months,” she responded on her Instagram Stories. “And I’m navigating it all for the very first time in my life. I’ve never been so stressed out. Throw a divorce in there as well, and stress, anxiety, depression, divorce could give you all the same results as Ozempic.”

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Did Bravo know about Garcia’s past?

Bravo has not commented on whether it knew about Garcia’s involvement with the Reality Von Tease account. However, Garcia was originally cast on the reality show because of her connection to Shah, who left the show when she went to prison. Before Shah’s shocking arrest, Garcia worked as her assistant and claimed that Shah told her about the telemarketing scheme. As a result, Garcia later became a federal government witness in Shah’s trial, per Time.

Will Garcia return to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City for season five?

In short, it doesn’t seem like it.

Garcia took to Instagram Live after the finale aired to confirm that she has not been asked back for another season. While her future remains unclear, many of her fellow Housewives have already made up their minds. In an interview with Variety, cast member Gay said she would never appear alongside Garcia on the show again. “I don’t think I ever will. Ever,” she said. “It’s pretty definitive for myself. I can’t speak for my other cast members, but for me, it’s pretty clear.”

In fact, after filming wrapped in May 2023, the drama only intensified. On Instagram Live after the finale, Garcia said that she was “kicked out at 2am” and rebooked on a different flight to leave Bermuda separately from the other women.

Variety sums up the situation well: “Even if she ends up banished from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City itself, she’s already exploded our notions of who a Housewife can be.”