Vicki Gunvalson Honored with Bravo's 'Wifetime' Achievement Award: 'I Love You All'

The reality television star got emotional while accepting the award at BravoCon 2023

Vicki Gunvalson has something new to celebrate.

The Real Housewives of Orange County alum, 61, was honored on Friday at BravoCon 2023 with the first-ever 'Wifetime' Achievement Award, in celebration for her 18 years on the network.

The television personality received the award during The Bravos, the parody awards show hosted by Andy Cohen.

She was surprised by RHOC alums Jo De La Rosa, Lauri Peterson, Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi, who presented her with the trophy.

For more of PEOPLE's BravoCon coverage, click here.

Taking the stage — to a standing ovation from a crowd full of her Bravolebrity peers — Gunvalson held back tears as she accepted her trophy. "If you watched season 1, as Lauri reminded me, I was like, ‘I don’t want to get old’ — but here we are getting old together," she said.

"I want to thank my sisterhood of all my housewives fans and friends and my cast members that we filmed with season 1, 18 years ago. I love you all," she said. "Andy Cohen and Scott Dunlop who created this franchise and for seeing something in me that I didn’t see myself. None of this would be possible without all the fans who supported me and loved me through all the s— that I had. It has not been easy... everybody it has not been easy!"

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The reality star continued by quoting some of her infamous lines before pulling an orange out of her sleeve and handing it to Cohen.

"And Andy, for you — here’s my orange, should you need to give it to anyone," she cheekily quipped.

Cohen first announced that Gunvalson would be an honoree at this year's BravoCon when she appeared on Watch What Happens Live alongside Tamra Judge and Shannon Storms Beador in September.

"The recipient of that prestigious honor will be a person who embodies Housewives; someone who is willing to show herself as exactly who she is and have fun while doing it; a Housewife who has exceeded our wildest imaginations," he said.

Gunvalson expressed her emotions during the aftershow, telling Cohen, "I am so blessed to be a part of this family. I really am. You know how much I love you and the legacy that we built together. We did this together as a family."

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Gunvalson had been a member of the beloved series since its debut in 2006. After being moved to a reduced role, she announced her exit from the show in a touching post on Instagram in January 2020.

"I will always be the OG of the OC, but it's time to say goodbye," she wrote at the time, referencing her famous party catchphrase. "It's been an incredible ride for 14 years, and I want to thank all of you for your support, for your love, and for 'whooping it up!'"

In March 2020, she opened up about her departure in a conversation with PEOPLE.

“I was ready to go. I have to say, I had a little bit of FOMO, I have to say, of not filming right now," she said. "Those last few years doing the show, for me, were really toxic, and when anything becomes toxic in my age at life — be it your career, relationships, friendships — you have to cut it out.”

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Since her departure, Gunvalson has appeared on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Ex-Wives Club and returned as a guest star for RHOC's 17th season.

BravoCon 2023 is taking place through Sunday at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

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