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)

bethenny frankel
Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 4, 2008)

Bethenny Frankel (Now)

bethenny frankel on the red carpet
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)

nene leakes
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, "Welcome One, Welcome ATL" (Oct. 7, 2008)

NeNe Leakes (Now)

nene leakes
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Strahan, Sara and Keke in 2019.

Lisa Vanderpump (First Episode)

lisa vanderpump
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)

Lisa Vanderpump (Now)

lisa vanderpump on the red carpet
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)

teresa giudice
Bravo

Real Housewives of New Jersey, Season 1, Episode 1, "Thicker Than Water" (May 12, 2009)

Teresa Giudice (Now)

teresa giudice on the red carpet
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

At Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2019.

Vicki Gunvalson (First Episode)

vicki gunvalson
Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 21, 2006)

Vicki Gunvalson (Now)

vicki gunvalson arriving at bravo con
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)

gizelle bryant
Bravo

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 1, "Mind Your Manners" (Jan. 17, 2016)

Gizelle Bryant (Now)

gizelle bryant on the red carpet
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

At the 15th Annual African American Literary Awards in 2019.

Sonja Morgan (First Episode)

sonja morgan
Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 3, Episode 7, "New Girl, Old Money" (April 15, 2010)

Sonja Morgan (Now)

sonja morgan on the red carpet
Lev Radin / Shutterstock

At a screening of Impractical Jokers: The Movie in 2020.

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Kenya Moore (First Episode)

kenya moore
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5, Episode 1, "Got Sexy Back" (Nov. 4, 2012)

Kenya Moore (Now)

kenya moore
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at BuzzFeed in 2019.

Luann de Lesseps (First Episode)

luann de lesseps
Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 4, 2008)

Luann de Lesseps (Now)

luann de lesseps on the red carpet
Lev Radin / Shutterstock

At the Food Bank for New York City Can-Do Awards in 2019.

Kyle Richards (First Episode)

kyle richards
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)

Kyle Richards (Now)

kyle richards on the red carpet
Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock

At KIIS FM's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2019.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann (First Episode)

kim zolciak
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, "Welcome One, Welcome ATL" (Oct. 7, 2008)

Kim Zolciak-Biermann (Now)

kim zolciak
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Watch What Happens Live in 2018.

Melissa Gorga (First Episode)

melissa gorga
Bravo

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 3, Episode 1, "In the Name of the Father" (May 16, 2011)

Melissa Gorga (Now)

melissa gorga on the red carpet
Ron Adar / Shutterstock

At a screening of Hellboy in 2019.

Ramona Singer (First Episode)

ramona singer
Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 4, 2008)

Ramona Singer (Now)

ramona singer on the red carpet
Lev Radin / Shutterstock

At the premiere of Crown Vic in 2019.

Kandi Burruss (First Episode)

kandi burruss
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 2, Episode 1, "New Attitude, Same ATL" (July 30, 2009)

Kandi Burruss (Now)

kandi burruss on the red carpet
Quinn Jeffrey / Shutterstock

At the 23rd Annual Hollywood Film Awards in 2019.

Adrienne Maloof (First Episode)

adrienne maloof
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)

Adrienne Maloof (Now)

adrienne maloof on the red carpet
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

At the Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular in 2019.

Porsha Williams (First Episode)

porsha williams
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5, Episode 3, "Call Me Miss U.S.A." (Nov. 18, 2012)

Porsha Williams (Now)

porsha williams
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Good Day New York in 2019.

Tamra Judge (First Episode)

tamra judge
Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 3, Episode 1, "Behind the Orange Curtain" (Nov. 6, 2007)

Tamra Judge (Now)

tamra judge
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Jerry O' in 2019.

Danielle Staub (First Episode)

danielle staub
Bravo

Real Housewives of New Jersey, Season 1, Episode 1, "Thicker Than Water" (May 12, 2009)

Danielle Staub (Now)

danielle staub on the red carpet
Sam Aronov / Shutterstock

At WEtv Launches Bridezillas Museum Of Natural Hysteria in 2018.

Karen Huger (First Episode)

karen huger
Bravo

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 1, "Mind Your Manners" (Jan. 17, 2016)

Karen Huger (Now)

karen huger on the red carpet
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

At the launch of Urban Skin Rx at Target in 2018.

Brandi Glanville (First Episode)

brandi glanville
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2, Episode 4, "Gossip Girls" (Sept. 26, 2011)

Brandi Glanville (Now)

brandi glanville on the red carpet
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

At WEtv's "Real Love: Relationship Reality" in 2018.

Ashley Darby (First Episode)

ashley darby

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 2, "Divas, Queens, and Bubalas" (Jan. 24, 2016)

Ashley Darby (Now)

ashley darby
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Bravo Con in 2019.

Shannon Beador (First Episode)

shannon beador
Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 9, Episode 1, "Hawaii 5 Uh-Oh" (April 14, 2014)

Shannon Beador (Now)

shannon beador
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Good Day New York in 2019.

Cynthia Bailey (First Episode)

cynthia bailey
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 3, Episode 2, "Model Behavior" (Oct. 11, 2010)

Cynthia Bailey (Now)

cynthia bailey on the red carpet
Sam Aronov / Shutterstock

At WEtv's fashion event celebrating Bridezillas in 2019.

Camille Grammer (First Episode)

camille grammer
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)

Camille Grammer (Now)

camille grammer on the red carpet
Jeffrey Mayer / Alamy Stock Photo

At the 26th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala in 2019.

Dorinda Medley (First Episode)

dorinda medley
Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 7, Episode 1, "The B Is Back" (April 7, 2015)

Dorinda Medley (Now)

dorinda medley on the red carpet
Ron Adar / Shutterstock

At the Woman's Day Celebrates 17th Annual Red Dress Awards in 2020.

Yolanda Hadid (First Episode)

yolanda hadid
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 3, Episode 1, "Down and Left Out in Beverly Hills" (Nov. 5, 2012)

Yolanda Hadid (Now)

yolanda hadid
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

At the Burberry LFW AW20 show in 2020.

Gretchen Rossi (First Episode)

gretchen rossi
Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 4, Episode 1, "Are They for Real?" (Nov. 25, 2008)

Gretchen Rossi (Now)

gretchen rossi on the red carpet
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)

kim richards
Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness" (Oct. 14, 2010)

Kim Richards (Now)

kim richards on the red carpet
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

At Star Magazine's Hollywood Rocks in 2017.

Sheree Whitfield (First Episode)

sheree whitfield
Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, "Welcome One, Welcome ATL" (Oct. 7, 2008)

Sheree Whitfield (Now)

sheree whitfield on the red carpet
Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock

At the Maxim Big Game Experience in 2019.

Jeana Keough (First Episode)

jeana keough
Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 1, Episode 1, "Meet the Wives" (March 21, 2006)

Jeana Keough (Now)

jeana keough on the red carpet
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

At the Real Housewives of Orange County premiere in 2016.

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