Tamra Judge Shares Sophia Barney Dating, Career, Moving Updates

Tamra Judge’s daughter, Sophia Barney, was just a toddler when she made her The Real Housewives of Orange County debut in 2007, giving viewers the opportunity to see her grow up in front of their very eyes.

Now that Sophia is turning 20 in September, Tamra, naturally, has plenty of new life updates to share.  

Following their mother-daughter moment on RHOC Season 19, Episode 4, Tamra exclusively told The Daily Dish that Sophia is “way more independent” these days.

“She has a boyfriend now and talks about maybe possibly moving to New York one day,” the RHOC mom revealed, adding that Sophia (whom she shares with ex-husband Simon Barney) is currently enrolled in a general education program at a local community college.

On the July 31 episode, Tamra also noted that Sophia was planning to move out and transfer to the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles after earning her community college degree. In the meantime, she’s splitting her time between Orange County and Big Bear.

“She’s trying to figure it out,” Tamra added. “You’ll see this season — is she gonna go to music school? Is she gonna go to fashion school? … But everything’s good.”

Tamra Judge opens up about daughter Sophia Barney moving out

The topic of Sophia leaving Tamra and husband Eddie Judge’s home(s) also arose on Episode 4, when the RHOC ‘Wife suggested they schedule a tour of the Musicians Institute.

“I don’t think right now is a good time to move out,” Sophia stated, before explaining, “The price of living is just going up and up. I don’t want to have to spend like $30 on eggs. Also, with my cat, like, we have to find a place that accepts pets. And also…”

That’s when Tamra cut her off to say, “I feel like you’re making excuses because you’re afraid to go.”

RELATED: Tamra Judge Reveals If She Plans to Make More Upgrades to Her Big Bear House (EXCLUSIVE)

Sophia, for her part, didn’t deny her mom’s observation, prompting Tamra to continue, “You’re 19 years old. I know it scares you to move out and it gives you anxiety, but I think you’re gonna like it. I am, like, dying to think that you’re not gonna be here every single day.”

In a confessional, she elaborated, “We are so connected. There’s almost like a co-dependency there. And I think that that is stopping her from life. But I feel like therapy gives me tools, and I’m able to cope with things better.”

After taking viewers inside her emotional therapy session during the RHOC Season 19 premiere, Tamra debriefed Sophia on how, most recently, she and her therapist had been discussing such topics as her own parents’ divorce, her relationship with Simon, and her estranged daughter, Sidney Barney, “leaving” her. (Tamra is also mom to sons Spencer Barney and Ryan Vieth.)

RELATED: Tamra Confronts Gretchen for “Disgusting” Drama Involving Her Daughter

“Sidney moved out when she was 14, and she never came back,” Tamra told a producer. “I know that if Sophia moves out, it’s not forever.  But because of what I went through with Sidney, I worry that Sophia is going to leave me. I’m worried that she’ll never talk to me again.”

Inside Tamra Judge and Sophia Barney’s relationship today

Elsewhere in the scene, Tamra asked Sophia if she’s noticed a difference in her attitude or personality lately amid her therapy journey, to which she replied, “Um, maybe, yeah.”

After Tamra explained that she tends to bottle up her emotions and then proceeds to “lose [her] s–t” when something triggers her, Sophia told her mom, “I will say, you have to give yourself some compassion.”

Tamra, meanwhile, also revealed that she and “little entrepreneur” Sophia have a bit of a business relationship, as Sophia helps sell her clothing online. Seeing the two sifting through Tamra’s fashions perfectly illustrated their playful dynamic, as Sophia bluntly compared some of her mom’s looks to everything from Elmo and a worm to “gaudy funeral” attire.

“She buys her clothes at Goodwill, but she does have a good sense of style,” Tamra noted in a confessional. “She’s helping me, like, [dress] for my age, I guess, but I’m not going to Goodwill. It ain’t happening.”

After Sophia gave her mom a new ear piercing, another lighthearted moment involving Tamra’s age arose, prompting the Housewife to joke, “Whenever I need to feel better about myself, all I do is talk to you.”

Get more details on what Tamra shared about her estranged daughter, Sidney, in therapy.