Teddi Mellencamp Was ‘Nervous’ to Attend BravoCon amid Cancer Journey But Says ‘It’s ‘Something I Needed to Do’ (Exclusive)

Teddi Mellencamp is sharing how it feels to step out at BravoCon following her cancer battle.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 44, chatted with PEOPLE on Friday, Nov. 14, as she attended the first day of the annual convention in Las Vegas. One month prior, she revealed that her stage 4 cancer was “gone,” and she says she has mixed emotions about taking part in BravoCon this weekend.

“I just feel grateful that I’m able to be here and that I feel good enough to be here,” Mellencamp explains. “So, I’m feeling excited. This is something I needed to do, and I’m glad that I came.”

Kyle Richards, who was standing by Mellencamp’s side all day, notes: “You were a little nervous too.”

“I was nervous,” Mellencamp admits. “I was like, ‘Oh no. What if I can’t do it? What if I…’ But it’s one of those things that once you get your feet wet, you feel alright.”

Richards, 56, says she knew the mom-of-three would be “fine” and was glad she could be there to support her.

“With the Vegas energy, you can’t help but feel energized,” she adds, and Mellencamp agrees: “I definitely feel more energized.”

Mellencamp’s cancer journey began in 2022, when she was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma. In the years that followed, she underwent 17 surgeries for the invasive skin cancer, but confirmed in April that it had metastasized to her brain and lungs and was stage 4.

Reflecting on that time in her life, Mellencamp praises Richards — whom she met on RHOBH in 2017 — for her unconditional love.

“Kyle went above and beyond to take care of me and be there for me in some of my darkest times, and I will always forever remember that,” she says.

“What I admire about Teddi, honestly, is so many things, but really, her authenticity and her strength, which she really showed this past year like I’ve never seen in my life,” the Halloween actress shares. “I was really impressed by that.”

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During the Oct. 3 episode of the podcast Mellencamp cohosts with Tamra Judge called Two T’s in a Pod, she announced the news that her treatments had successfully gotten rid of her cancer after doctors previously had given her a “50/50” chance of survival.

“Just to give a little life update to you guys, I had my immunotherapy yesterday and I did my scans and at this point there is no detectable cancer,” she said at the time. “When they told me, I was in such shock. I was like, numb.”

She further explained that her struggle isn’t entirely over: “I’m still going to be having days when I’m feeling sick and stuff because I still am in immunotherapy, so I’m still fighting because you have to be.”

“I’m not considered in remission or anything like that,” she continued, saying she will continue immunotherapy for the next year. “The way the [doctors] said it works, it’s like one year, then two years, then at three years you’re allowed to be considered … in remission. So, but that was huge news yesterday.”

BravoCon 2025 continues through Sunday, Nov. 16 at Las Vegas’ Caesars Forum.