Who is Sophia Barney? ‘RHOC’ star Tamra Judge’s daughter returns to Bravo show after 10-year absence
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Sophia Barney, born in 2005, is the youngest child of Tamra Judge and Simon Barney. She has two siblings, Sidney and Spencer, and also shares a half-brother named Ryan Vieth.
The 'RHOC' star shared with Bravo in June 2023 that her daughter Sophia had recently accomplished a major milestone by graduating from high school. “Sophia just graduated high school last week. [I’m] super excited about that,” she shared. “My last baby has graduated, so it’s kind of sad, but it’s exciting," she shared at that time.
It's been quite some time since audiences first met Tamra Judge's youngest daughter, Sophia Barney, who is now 18 years old, on 'The Real Housewives of Orange County.' However, she recently made a comeback on the show during the 'RHOC' Season 18 premiere on Thursday, July 11.
This time, Sophia was seen accompanying her mother on a drive through southern California as they headed to a tattoo appointment. Tamra was surprised to see her daughter getting a tattoo, especially considering her fear of needles.
She couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Sophia met a guy who didn't like tattoos on her arms. Despite her concerns, Tamra admired how cool her daughter looked in a leather jacket, with dark hair and perfectly winged eyeliner.
Sophia's response was, "I don't give a f**k." As she sat in the tattoo parlor chair, she opted for a delicate, old-fashioned moon design to be permanently inked on her arm. "Both her brothers are covered in tattoos. At first it bothered me, and now, I don't know, I really want my kids to be able to express themselves as they want to," Tamra shared with the tattoo artist.
'RHOC' star Sophia Barney is also a musician
Sophia Barney, known to some fans for her musical talents, entered the music industry in 2018 with the release of her dreamy pop track titled 'Break Like Ice' under the artist name Feeuh.
Before this, she had already dipped her toes into the world of music by releasing her first song, titled 'Sketchers,' back when she was in eighth grade. This multi-talented artist continues to impress and inspire fans with her diverse range of creative pursuits.
Why was Tamra Judge's daughter Sophia Barney not on 'RHOC'?
Sophia, like her older brother Spencer, had to wait until she turned 18 before she could officially sign a contract to join the cast of 'RHOC.' Before that, her father was not enthusiastic about the idea of her being featured on reality television.
"You haven't seen Sophia in over 10 years because her dad would not sign the agreement to allow her to film," Tamra revealed in 'RHOC' Season 18, Episode 1 confessional.
Tamra added, "She's been living with me this entire time, and she's now 18 and getting ready to go to college. It's so funny, because Sophia is so chill. She's just a very kind, kind soul. Clearly, I'm not like that. She's such a good kid, I don't know where the hell it came from."
Who is Sophia Barney's father?
Sophia's father and Tamra's former spouse, Simon Barney, was a familiar face in the early seasons of 'RHOC.' Tamra, who joined the cast in Season 3, went through a divorce with Simon after Season 5.
In 2020, Tamra took a break from the show, and around the same time, Simon received the devastating news of being diagnosed with stage 3 throat cancer. His most recent health update came in February 2022 during Tamra's appearance on 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show,' where it was revealed that Simon was still bravely battling his health issues.
His Instagram posts have shown that he has been maintaining a positive attitude despite his struggles. Fast forward to October 2023, and Simon surprised everyone by dressing up in an impressive Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Halloween costume, proving that he is still full of energy and spirit.
'Real Housewives of Orange County' Season 18 airs every Thursday at 9 pm ET only on Bravo.