# Cynthia Bailey
**Cynthia Bailey** (born 1967) is an American model, actress, and reality television personality best known for eleven seasons as a cast member of Bravo's *The Real Housewives of Atlanta*. She began her career as a fashion model in New York City before moving into acting and entrepreneurship, and she has since returned to scripted television with roles in films and series on BET+, Lifetime, and Starz.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967, Tuscumbia, Alabama[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cynthia-bailey/) |
| Modeling start | Moved to New York at 18; signed to a five-year contract with Wilhelmina Models the day after her first shoot[2](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-old-photos-model-career) |
| *RHOA* run | Joined in season 3 (2010); completed 11 seasons as a main cast member before departing in 2021[3](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-confirms-she-is-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta) • [4](https://www.cgemtalent.com/cynthia-bailey) |
| Return to the show | Came back for season 16 as a "friend of the Housewives"[5](https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-atlanta-21fb2100-dfdc-11ef-9400-db87713d64b3) |
| Businesses | Bailey Agency School of Fashion, Cynthia Bailey Eyewear, CBVior luxury bags, and the Seagram's Escapes flavor Cynthia Bailey Peach Bellini[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey) |
| Other reality TV | Finished third on CBS's *Celebrity Big Brother*[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey) |
| First lead film role | *Who's Cheating Who?* (BET+, 2024)[7](https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/08/28/cynthia-bailey-rhoa-leading-actress-role-whos-cheating-who) |
## Early life and modeling career
Bailey grew up in Tuscumbia, Alabama, a small town also known as the birthplace of [Helen Keller](https://www.edgepedia.org/helen-keller)[8](https://www.millenniummagazine.com/cover-stories/cynthia-bailey-cyn-in-the-city/). She was homecoming queen at her high school, which she has described as predominantly white, and she was the first African-American homecoming queen there[2](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-old-photos-model-career). A modeling scout who judged the associated pageant approached her afterward, an encounter she credits with changing the course of her life[2](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-old-photos-model-career).
At 18 she moved to New York City to pursue modeling, arriving with a suitcase, $100, and what she has described as a strong belief in destiny[9](https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/season-3/blogs/cynthia-bailey/meet-cynthia). Her first shoot took place on the roof of a photographer's apartment building; [Wilhelmina Models](https://www.edgepedia.org/wilhelmina-models) signed her to a five-year contract the next day[2](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-old-photos-model-career). She appeared on the cover of *Essence* magazine, one of the highest-selling covers in the magazine's history according to her IMDb biography, and walked runways in Paris and Milan before returning to the United States[10](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/cynthia-bailey-through-years/) • [11](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-new-housewives-join-real-housewives-of-atlanta/).
## The Real Housewives of Atlanta
In 2010 Bravo added Bailey to the cast of *The Real Housewives of Atlanta* for its third season, alongside entertainment lawyer [Phaedra Parks](https://www.edgepedia.org/phaedra-parks)[11](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-new-housewives-join-real-housewives-of-atlanta/). Her early storylines centered on her relationship with her then-boyfriend Peter Thomas, whom she married on the season 3 finale at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta[12](https://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta). Over eleven seasons, viewers followed her two weddings and marriages, her life as a mother to her daughter Noelle Robinson, and her move to her lakeside Atlanta home, which she nicknamed "Lake Bailey"[3](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-confirms-she-is-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta).
In September 2021 Bailey announced she would not return for the next season, citing the decision as difficult and heartfelt in her departure statement[3](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-confirms-she-is-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta). She later rejoined the series for season 16 in a reduced "friend" capacity, alongside returning veterans [Porsha Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/porsha-williams) and Phaedra Parks[5](https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-atlanta-21fb2100-dfdc-11ef-9400-db87713d64b3).
## Acting career
Bailey's acting work predates her reality television fame. Her first role came in the horror film *The Dark Power*, which [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) dates to 1985[13](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/cynthia-bailey/bio/3000062746/), while TV Insider's credits list the film in 1987[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cynthia-bailey/). She made her film debut proper in the 1990 movie *Without You I'm Nothing*, starring [Sandra Bernhard](https://www.edgepedia.org/sandra-bernhard), and later landed minor roles in series including *The Cosby Show* and *New York Undercover*[14](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-new-acting-role-july-2025).
After *RHOA*, she transitioned toward scripted work. Her credits include *Sharknado: The 4th Awakens*, *Terror Lake Drive*, *Games People Play*, *BMF* (Starz), *Cruel Instruction* (Lifetime), and *[The Upshaws](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-upshaws)*[4](https://www.cgemtalent.com/cynthia-bailey) • [6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey). In 2024 she starred in *Who's Cheating Who?* on BET+, her first lead role[7](https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/08/28/cynthia-bailey-rhoa-leading-actress-role-whos-cheating-who). In 2025 she took a starring role in *Diamond*, a coming-of-age sports drama in which she plays the mother of a teenage basketball prodigy; the film began shooting in [Asbury Park, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/asbury-park-new-jersey)[14](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-new-acting-role-july-2025). Upcoming projects listed by Bravo include *Jingle Hellz*, *Different with Me*, and *Bid for Love 2*[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey).
## Business ventures and other television
Bailey founded the Bailey Agency School of Fashion, a full-service fashion and modeling school aimed at aspiring models, drawing on her own industry experience[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey) • [4](https://www.cgemtalent.com/cynthia-bailey). Her product lines include Cynthia Bailey Eyewear, described as an affordable but fashionable collection, and the luxury CBVior bag line[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey). Through a partnership with Seagram's Escapes she created her own flavor, the Cynthia Bailey Peach Bellini[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey). She also authored the 2013 relationship book *Carry-On Baggage* with Peter Thomas[15](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/cynthinia-bailey.html) and runs the Be Better Foundation, dedicated to girl empowerment[16](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0047213/).
Outside *RHOA*, she competed on CBS's *Celebrity Big Brother*, finishing in third place[6](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey), and appeared on the Hulu reality competition *Got to Get Out* (2025)[17](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/got-to-get-out-cast/).
## Personal life
Bailey has a daughter, Noelle, born in 1999, from her relationship with the actor and singer [Leon Robinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/leon-robinson)[15](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/cynthinia-bailey.html). She married Peter Thomas in 2010; they divorced in 2017[3](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-confirms-she-is-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta). She married Fox Sports commentator Mike Hill in October 2020, and the two filed for divorce in late 2022[15](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/cynthinia-bailey.html). In 2025 she publicly discussed a yearlong health journey in which she lost 40 pounds, first through WeightWatchers, where she dropped 15 pounds in her first month, and then with the addition of a GLP-1 medication to move past a plateau she attributed to menopause[18](https://www.thedailybeast.com/real-housewives-star-cynthia-bailey-debuts-glp-1-weight-loss/).
## References
1. [Cynthia Bailey – Actress, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cynthia-bailey/)
2. [See Cynthia Bailey's Old Photos from Model Days, Bravo's The Daily Dish](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-old-photos-model-career)
3. [Cynthia Bailey Confirms She Is Leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Bravo's The Daily Dish](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-confirms-she-is-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta)
4. [Cynthia Bailey, CGEM Talent](https://www.cgemtalent.com/cynthia-bailey)
5. [RHOA is back, Axios Atlanta](https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-atlanta-21fb2100-dfdc-11ef-9400-db87713d64b3)
6. [Cynthia Bailey, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, BravoTV.com](https://www.bravotv.com/people/cynthia-bailey)
7. [Cynthia Bailey talks about her first leading role in new BET+ movie, Axios Atlanta](https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/08/28/cynthia-bailey-rhoa-leading-actress-role-whos-cheating-who)
8. [Cynthia Bailey: Cyn in the City, Millennium Magazine](https://www.millenniummagazine.com/cover-stories/cynthia-bailey-cyn-in-the-city/)
9. [Meet Cynthia, BravoTV.com](https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/season-3/blogs/cynthia-bailey/meet-cynthia)
10. [Cynthia Bailey Through The Years, Essence](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/cynthia-bailey-through-years/)
11. [Two New Housewives Join "Real Housewives of Atlanta", CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-new-housewives-join-real-housewives-of-atlanta/)
12. [The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Reality TV World](https://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta)
13. [Cynthia Bailey Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/cynthia-bailey/bio/3000062746/)
14. [Cynthia Bailey Reveals Her Latest Acting Role, Bravo's The Daily Dish](https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/cynthia-bailey-new-acting-role-july-2025)
15. [Cynthia Bailey, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/cynthinia-bailey.html)
16. [Cynthia Bailey, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0047213/)
17. [Meet the Cast of Hulu's New Reality Show 'Got to Get Out', Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/got-to-get-out-cast/)
18. ['Real Housewives' Star Cynthia Bailey Debuts GLP-1 Weight Loss, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/real-housewives-star-cynthia-bailey-debuts-glp-1-weight-loss/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Reality television personalities and media celebrities › Docuseries and ensemble cast members › Shore and lifestyle ensemble cast › The Real Housewives cast members*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license