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Lydia McLaughlin Leaving Real Housewives of Orange County: Texted Costars, Hasn’t Heard Back Yet

Cast of 'Real Housewives of Orange County' season 8
Shortly after exclusively telling Us Weekly she's leaving The Real Housewives of Orange County after one season, Lydia McLaughlin tells Us she texted her former costars the news but hasn't heard back from them yet.

No goodbye party? Lydia McLaughlin exclusively told Us Weekly in Monday, Nov. 4 that she has decided not to return for season nine of The Real Housewives of Orange County. That same day, shortly after the announcement was made, the Bravo star attended TV Guide Magazine's Hot List Party in Hollywood and told Us that she hasn't heard from her former costars . . . yet. 

"A lot of them that are still filming are on a trip to Hawaii," McLaughlin, 32, explained. "So hopefully the news just broke today and I texted all of them, so maybe I have a couple of text messages. I don't know yet."

Related: PHOTOS: Before they were Housewives

The Canadian-born magazine entrepreneur is exiting the Bravo reality show after just one season. Costars Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi were fired back in September, leaving Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Barney and Heather Dubrow as the remaining cast members. No word yet on who might be joining the cast.

McLaughlin told Us her decision to quit took "frickin' huevos of steel," but added, "I know in [my] heart of hearts it's the right decision for me and for my family, and just this time in my life."

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The married mother of two also said that, for the most part, her fans have been supportive of of her decision. "The one thing I got that I didn't expect on Twitter were a lot of my fans were like, 'Today we found out Lydia is the smartest Housewife,'" she shared. "Little comments like that make me laugh and make me happy that people kind of get me."

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McLaughlin previously told Us that there is "no epic story" behind her exit from The Real Housewives of Orange County. "I never wanted to make a career out of being a housewife. That's never really been a dream of mine," explained McLaughlin, who owns Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine with husband Doug, 33. "I want to build my brand outside of the Housewives — I've always been really honest with the producers about that. I knew that while I was filming it that I probably wasn't going to be doing it again."

But she may not be saying goodbye to reality TV for good. "I definitely have plans to continue to sparkle fairy dust and be a light!" she told Us. "I want to develop our own reality show about our magazine and all the glitz and glamour involved with publishing it."

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