After years of legal turmoil, heartbreak, and headlines, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne is finally ready to talk about something new, and surprisingly wholesome: her new man.

On a recent episode of her Diamonds in the Rough podcast, Erika confirmed she’s dating Hollywood bodyguard John McPhee. A retired Army Special Ops veteran turned celebrity protector for stars like Heidi Montag, McPhee might not be what fans expected, but it turns out he’s exactly what Erika needs.

“He’s a really nice guy,” Erika shared. “He makes me feel comfortable.”

And comfort is something Erika hasn’t had much of in the last five years. Since filing for divorce from disgraced attorney Tom Girardi in 2020, her life has played out like a high-stakes courtroom drama, complete with legal twists, public scrutiny, and reality TV’s unforgiving spotlight. She’s been grilled on camera, dragged through headlines, and meme’d into oblivion. But now? The narrative is shifting. And Erika seems ready for a different kind of attention, the kind that comes from a hand-holding stroll through L.A. with a guy in Crocs.

That’s right. McPhee keeps things low-key with jeans and Crocs. The couple was recently photographed by paparazzi, confirming the rumors fans had been whispering about for weeks. Erika admitted she had hoped to keep the relationship under wraps a little longer, but once the photos surfaced, the soft launch was over, and the internet was all in.

And honestly? Bravoholics are here for it.

The Real Housewives of New York City alum, Bethenny Frankel,  even commented on the couple, saying that "it's unexpected" but she's "unusually excited" for Erika Jayne. She thinks that Erika is a badass and McPhee's military resume matches her level of baddass-ness. She's also hoping for some sort of collab between Erika Jayne and McPhee's boss, Heidi Montag

@bethennyfrankel I don’t usually get excited by things like this… #couples #unexpectedcpuples ♬ 30 Minutes of Silence - Silenzio

After seasons of watching Erika fight battles both in and out of the courtroom, questioned about her finances, her marriage, and her future, fans are breathing a collective sigh of relief to finally see her smiling. The fact that her new man is a no-frills, down-to-earth military vet with the nickname Shrek just adds to the fairy tale plot twist.

“It’s giving Beauty and the Beast: RHOBH Edition,” one fan quipped, and we have to agree. For a Bravo icon known for her glam squad, icy one-liners, and high-maintenance persona, seeing Erika with someone who radiates normalcy feels refreshingly… real. Let’s not forget, this is the same woman who once sang “It’s XXpen$ive to be me.” So watching her trade stilettos for something softer, emotionally and literally, is the kind of evolution Bravo fans live for.

And honestly, it’s not just about the romance. It’s about the timing. Over the last few RHOBH seasons, Erika’s armor has cracked just enough for viewers to see the woman underneath. The pop star persona is still there, but we’ve seen her cry, rage, and rebuild. She’s been the performer, the villain, the survivor. Maybe now, she just wants to be… happy.

Of course, the story isn’t tied up with a bow just yet. Her long-running divorce from Tom Girardi is still crawling through the legal system, with new reports suggesting the case could be tossed entirely due to procedural delays. But even if the court saga drags on, Erika seems to be reclaiming something she hasn’t had in years: peace, freedom, and the kind of joy that can’t be bought, or scripted.

So stay tuned, Bravo fans. Because if this is Erika Jayne’s soft launch into a new era, it might just be her most radical reinvention yet.