The Most Famous Real Housewives, Then and Now
TAKE A LOOK AT HOW FAR BRAVO'S REAL HOUSEWIVES HAVE COME SINCE THEY MADE THEIR TV DEBUTS.
Since The Real Housewives of Orange County premiered in 2006, Bravo's Real Housewives franchise has become the stuff of reality TV legend, and a veritable cultural institution. New cities have debuted, the women have cycled in and out of their series, and audiences have stayed hooked along the way. For a look at how far these ladies have come, we're showing you what 30 Real Housewives looked like in their first episodes as full-time or featured cast members, and what they look like now. And for more reality icons, check out our list of The 30 Most Successful Reality TV Personalities of the Last 30 Years.
Bethenny Frankel (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 4, 2008)
Bethenny Frankel (Now)
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock
At the Walt Disney Television Emmy Party in 2019.
And for some contentious reality stars, these are The 18 Most Hated People in Reality TV History.
NeNe Leakes (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, "Welcome One, Welcome ATL" (Oct. 7, 2008)
NeNe Leakes (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Strahan, Sara and Keke in 2019.
Lisa Vanderpump (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)
Lisa Vanderpump (Now)
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock
At the American Rescue Dog Show at the Fairplex in 2019.
And for surprising reality TV origin stories, discover 20 Super Successful Musicians Who Got Their Start on Reality Shows.
Teresa Giudice (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New Jersey, Season 1, Episode 1, "Thicker Than Water" (May 12, 2009)
Teresa Giudice (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
At Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2019.
Vicki Gunvalson (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Orange County Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 21, 2006)
Vicki Gunvalson (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Bravo Con in 2019.
And for more shows that some people can't stand, these are The 15 Most Hated Popular TV Shows.
Gizelle Bryant (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 1, "Mind Your Manners" (Jan. 17, 2016)
Gizelle Bryant (Now)
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
At the 15th Annual African American Literary Awards in 2019.
Sonja Morgan (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New York City Season 3, Episode 7, "New Girl, Old Money" (April 15, 2010)
Sonja Morgan (Now)
Lev Radin / Shutterstock
At a screening of Impractical Jokers: The Movie in 2020.
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Kenya Moore (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5, Episode 1, "Got Sexy Back" (Nov. 4, 2012)
Kenya Moore (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at BuzzFeed in 2019.
Luann de Lesseps (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 4, 2008)
Luann de Lesseps (Now)
Lev Radin / Shutterstock
At the Food Bank for New York City Can-Do Awards in 2019.
Kyle Richards (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)
Kyle Richards (Now)
Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock
At KIIS FM's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2019.
Kim Zolciak-Biermann (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, "Welcome One, Welcome ATL" (Oct. 7, 2008)
Kim Zolciak-Biermann (Now)
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Watch What Happens Live in 2018.
Melissa Gorga (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 3, Episode 1, "In the Name of the Father" (May 16, 2011)
Melissa Gorga (Now)
Ron Adar / Shutterstock
At a screening of Hellboy in 2019.
Ramona Singer (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 4, 2008)
Ramona Singer (Now)
Lev Radin / Shutterstock
At the premiere of Crown Vic in 2019.
Kandi Burruss (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 2, Episode 1, "New Attitude, Same ATL" (July 30, 2009)
Kandi Burruss (Now)
Quinn Jeffrey / Shutterstock
At the 23rd Annual Hollywood Film Awards in 2019.
Adrienne Maloof (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)
Adrienne Maloof (Now)
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock
At the Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular in 2019.
Porsha Williams (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5, Episode 3, "Call Me Miss U.S.A." (Nov. 18, 2012)
Porsha Williams (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Good Day New York in 2019.
Tamra Judge (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Orange County Season 3, Episode 1, "Behind the Orange Curtain" (Nov. 6, 2007)
Tamra Judge (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Jerry O' in 2019.
Danielle Staub (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New Jersey, Season 1, Episode 1, "Thicker Than Water" (May 12, 2009)
Danielle Staub (Now)
Sam Aronov / Shutterstock
At WEtv Launches Bridezillas Museum Of Natural Hysteria in 2018.
Karen Huger (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 1, "Mind Your Manners" (Jan. 17, 2016)
Karen Huger (Now)
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
At the launch of Urban Skin Rx at Target in 2018.
Brandi Glanville (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2, Episode 4, "Gossip Girls" (Sept. 26, 2011)
Brandi Glanville (Now)
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock
At WEtv's "Real Love: Relationship Reality" in 2018.
Ashley Darby (First Episode)
Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 2, "Divas, Queens, and Bubalas" (Jan. 24, 2016)
Ashley Darby (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Bravo Con in 2019.
Shannon Beador (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Orange County Season 9, Episode 1, "Hawaii 5 Uh-Oh" (April 14, 2014)
Shannon Beador (Now)
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Arriving at Good Day New York in 2019.
Cynthia Bailey (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 3, Episode 2, "Model Behavior" (Oct. 11, 2010)
Cynthia Bailey (Now)
Sam Aronov / Shutterstock
At WEtv's fashion event celebrating Bridezillas in 2019.
Camille Grammer (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)
Camille Grammer (Now)
Jeffrey Mayer / Alamy Stock Photo
At the 26th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala in 2019.
Dorinda Medley (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of New York City Season 7, Episode 1, "The B Is Back" (April 7, 2015)
Dorinda Medley (Now)
Ron Adar / Shutterstock
At the Woman's Day Celebrates 17th Annual Red Dress Awards in 2020.
Yolanda Hadid (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 3, Episode 1, "Down and Left Out in Beverly Hills" (Nov. 5, 2012)
Yolanda Hadid (Now)
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
At the Burberry LFW AW20 show in 2020.
Gretchen Rossi (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Orange County Season 4, Episode 1, "Are They for Real?" (Nov. 25, 2008)
Gretchen Rossi (Now)
Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
At Victoria Siegel Foundation and Greenspoon Marder Present Victoria's Voice: An Evening To Save Lives in 2019.
Kim Richards (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)
Kim Richards (Now)
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo
At Star Magazine's Hollywood Rocks in 2017.
Sheree Whitfield (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, "Welcome One, Welcome ATL" (Oct. 7, 2008)
Sheree Whitfield (Now)
Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock
At the Maxim Big Game Experience in 2019.
Jeana Keough (First Episode)
Bravo
Real Housewives of Orange County Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 21, 2006)
Jeana Keough (Now)
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo
At the Real Housewives of Orange County premiere in 2016.