RHOSLC's Angie Katsanevas Shares the Piece of Advice That Made Her Season 5's Breakout Star (Exclusive)

Angie Katsanevas is here to stay. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star is fresh off a breakout season on the beloved reality series, rising in the ranks from "bench-warming b-tch" (as she was referred to by last year's villain Monica Garcia) to first seat next to Andy Cohen at the reunion (a highly prized position in the always zany world of The Real Housewives).

A self-proclaimed pillar of the Greek community, Angie's success on the show is far from overnight, as she started as a polarizing "friend of" in the show's third season. Still, Angie hung in there, slowly but surely finding herself and becoming a true fan favorite in this already solid cast. Complete with iconic sunglasses, memorable lines, and moving moments that have made her irreplaceable, Angie K. is undeniably herself and has earned the love of much of the show's viewership because of it.

Just in time for the final episode of the must-see RHOSLC reunion, Katsanevas has one more surprise for her fans: official merch. We caught up with Katsanevas in Salt Lake City, where she broke down the inspiration behind her iconic new merch, how she feels reflecting on Season 5 of the show and the biggest lessons she's learned from her time on reality TV.

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"I went to VIP seating so quickly," Katsanevas quipped when recalling the moment when she realized she was sitting next to Andy at the highly anticipated reunion. A coveted assignment in the Housewives world, the seat next to Andy is a bit of a double-edged sword: while you're sure to get plenty of attention, that also means you're in the hot seat. Angie, however, was up for the challenge.

"We all had a great season," Angie added, insisting that the show, despite what some may think, is a team effort. "I'm not saying I'm gonna sit there every year, that's why I am reveling in it because you may not sit there again! Next season you may not be in that spot."

She refers to her journey on the show so far as a "story of resilience," calling the series, the "hardest thing" she has ever done in her life. "I've started a business from scratch, I've raised a child and stayed at home and became a mother. I've done some hard things and this show is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It makes everything else feel easy."

While Season 4 for Angie had some hiccups (she infamously crashed the cast trip to Trixie Motel, and while joining the group is part of the job description, the move received a divided response from the fans), this year she's been able to show more of herself to the audience, taking advice from a certain co-star who gave her some tips ahead of this season's premiere.

"Heather Gay told me, 'Angie, you are the funniest person I have ever met," she recalled. "She said, 'Just bring your thoughts external.'" While she admits that Heather's advice may have gotten her into "a little trouble" this season, she does admit it "worked" in her favor. "Last year I was a little timid to say everything I was thinking, but I am funny and I hope to bring more of that to the camera next year."

One of those moments where Angie "brought her thoughts external" ended up standing as the undeniable phrase of the entire season: "High body count hair." Trending online after the unforgettable episode, the phrase came from Angie during an exchange with this season's "Friend Of" the housewives, Britani Bateman. This hall-of-fame-worthy moment from Angie will now be memorialized forever in her brand new merch, something she's very excited to give to the viewers and fans of hers.

"I figured being in the hair industry and for me to be able to read someone's hair for filth, it just felt so natural that I should launch some merch that said, 'High Body Count Hair,'" she quipped when explaining the idea for the swag, which features the phrase and a design of Angie on the clothing.

When looking for an artist to design the merch, she kept it local, collaborating with John Bell. A Salt Lake City multidisciplinary artist who Angie refers to as a "pillar of the art community" that she has supported for years, Bell was a "perfect" fit for the design, she told us.

"He did our salon logo 25 years ago, and I thought, 'He's the perfect guy to create our logo," she explained. "It screams Angie K. and it screams 'High Body Count Hair.'" It's an exciting moment for the Real Housewife, and a way for her to celebrate and thank her supporters.

"This love that I am receiving from the fans, the commentary and the memes ... to know that people are seeing me for who I am, and I'm bringing joy to people's living rooms? That is the best feeling," she gushed, adding that she feels very "grateful and humbled" by the positivity she's felt that comes with this platform.

While the final episode of the reunion still has to air this evening, Angie remains confident in her performance that day, insisting she focused more on showing up authentically than following any pre-planned agenda.

"I don't feel like I came in gun's blazing," she recalled. "I feel like I was really observant of the women ... I didn't have goals of taking anyone out, I didn't have goals of forming allies with anyone, I just wanted to form real, authentic friendships. The show is about friends, right?"

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As for her overall experience on the show? Angie is incredibly grateful, revealing that the show has changed her life in, "so many" ways. "I'm a lifelong learner and I'm always striving to be better," she emotionally revealed. "To sit back and really watch yourself and see how you handle things? There are so many learning moments in there."

"It's made me stand in my convictions," she added, citing that she's especially grateful to have her husband, daughter and father along for this ride with her. "It's made me double down even more on who I am as a person with my family, faith, friendships ... everything."

"I have a stronger understanding of who I am," she said with a smile. "And that's been really cool."

Check out the official merch here.

The final episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion airs Wednesday night on Bravo, and will stream next day on Peacock.

Related: Every Season of 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,' Ranked