Cynthia Bailey is an American model, actress, and reality television star. The Alabama-born star is best known for her role in the popular Bravo show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” that ran for 11 seasons.
Although it was Cynthia’s role in Real Housewives of Alabama that made her a household name in America, she was already making waves in the modeling industry since the 1990s. She also acted in films like Without You I’m Nothing (1990) and For Love or Money (1993) and appeared on television shows like The Cosby Show.
However, this is just what the average person knows about this famous personality. If you’re really inspired by Miss Bailey and her amazing and enduring career, read on to find what is going on behind the face on the magazine covers.Life Before Fame
Bailey was born Cynthia Denise Bailey to Elijah and Barbara on 19th February 1967, in Alabama. Cynthia Bailey’s father was employed at an auto factory while her mother worked in a sewing factory.
Cynthia’s family was made up of hard-working people. Besides Cynthia Bailey’s parents, her grandmother, Mae Frankie Ford, worked multiple jobs as well. Her many jobs, including at the sewing factory, cleaning houses, and selling hotdogs and hamburgers along with volunteer work cemented Cynthia’s grandmother as a role model and inspiration in her mind.
| Nickname | Cynthia |
| Full Name | Cynthia Denise Bailey |
| Father | Leon Bailey |
| Mother | Barbara Bailey |
| Siblings | Malorie Bailey-Massie |
| Spouse | Mike Hill (m. 2020), Peter Thomas (m. 2010–2017) |
| Children | Noelle |
| BirthPlace | Tuscumbia, Alabama, United States |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1967 |
| Age | 57 years old (in 2023) |
| Height | 5 Feet 12 Inches (1.82 m) |
| Weight | 64 kg (141 lbs) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Home Town | Decatur, Alabama |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Education | freshman-level courses at the University of Alabama in Huntsville |
| Occupation | Model Television personality Actress |
| Shows | The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip The Real Housewives of Atlanta |
| Source of Income | modeling and entrepreneurship |
| Net Worth | USD $2.5 Million Approx |
Career Beginnings
Cynthia participated in local beauty pageants in her high school and university years. After being crowned Deshler High School’s first African American homecoming queen, she participated in a homecoming pageant. Cynthia also participated in local pageants while enrolled at the University of Alabama as a freshman.
She was scouted by Wilhelmina Models, one of the most successful modeling agencies of the world, at one of these pageants. Her 5-year contract with Wilhelmina models led her to New York at the age of 18. She has walked multiple Fashion Weeks and runways in Milan, Paris, and New York and has graced the covers of many prestigious fashion magazines.
Till 2009, Bailey worked the runway for various brands, including Maybelle, Target and Oil of Olay. She also modeled for magazines including Essence, Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair and Glamour. Over the course of her modeling career she has rubbed shoulders with fellow supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks and Iman.
Cynthia also played small roles in some movies like The Dark Power (1985) and For Love or Money (1993). She appeared on the small screen on an episode of the Bill Cosby Show in 1990 and in an episode of New York Undercover in 1995. Cynthia also appeared in the popular American rapper Heavy D’s single “Nuttin But Love” music video.
Reality TV Fame and Other Works
Cynthia joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2010, where she starred alongside NeNe Leakes, Shereé Whitfield, Kandi Burruss, Phaedra Parks, and Kim Zolciak. Cynthia’s storyline on the show featured her relationship with her boyfriend and later husband, Peter Thomas.
Bailey opened her own modeling school Bailey Agency School of Fashion in 2011. She also starred in a music video trilogy and had minor roles in some movies and television series.
In 2019, she launched a line of bags called CB VIOR. The same year she opened a wine bar named The Bailey Wine Cellar and an event space that she named The Bailey Room.
A Rich Personal Life
Even before her personal life became the main attraction during her reality television days, Cynthia had a rich Personal life with plenty of high-profile relationships.
Cynthia is a runaway bride, something she admitted on The Real Housewives of Atlanta in reference to her two rejected proposals as well as a broken engagement with her baby daddy.
Cynthia’s first known proposal was from her boyfriend Russel Simmons who she dated in the 90s. Russel was a record executive and entrepreneur.
In 1996, Cynthia’s boyfriend Jayson Williams proposed to her during halftime of a nationally televised Brooklyn Nets game. Cynthia rejected his proposal as well and returned the ring.
Cynthia later dated actor Leon Robinson. The relationship was serious enough that Leon got the honor of being Cynthia Bailey’s child’s father. Cynthia gave birth to a baby girl, Noelle, on November 9, 1999. The two were engaged but this relationship was also doomed. They broke off their engagement but maintained a cordial co-parenting relationship.
Cynthia entered The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2010 with her boyfriend of four years in tow. Peter Thomas is a bar and club owner. The Cynthia Bailey wedding was one of the important events on the show.
Bailey and Thomas’ marital turmoil was broadcasted on over the course of 7 years. Cynthia Bailey’s first marriage came to an end in March 2017 when their divorce was finalized.
Currently, Bailey is married to sportscaster Mike Hill. The two made their relationship official in August 2018 and had a famously controversial Covid wedding in October 2020. Bailey has stated that the preservation of her second marriage is the reason behind her leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Cynthia’s Siblings
Cynthia has a sister Malorie Bailey-Massie who is around 11 months younger than her. Malorie is a model, a television personality and a businesswoman.
Along with her mother, Malorie played a prominent role besides her sister in the show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Malorie was famously not a fan of Cynthia’s relationship with Peter Thomas.
Malorie has a daughter, Madison who was 11 years old when her mom walked down the aisle to her long-time husband Chris Massie. The couple divorced after 13 years in 2018. Divorce affects children badly.
Besides Malorie, Cynthia also has a younger brother named Thomas, nicknamed ‘Tooty’. Thomas stays away from the limelight, being busy being a dad to two little girls.
Cynthia Bailey’s Children
Cynthia only has one child, a daughter, Noelle. Noelle Robinson’s father is the famous actor Leon Robinson who Bailey dated in the late 90s.
Cynthia shares a close relationship with her daughter, being very supportive when Noelle came out as sexually fluid on an episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Besides Noelle, Bailey is also a stepmom to the two biological daughters of her current husband, Mike Hill.
Cynthia Bailey’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Cynthia Bailey is 56 years of age. Since she stepped into the world of modeling at the age of 18, that makes this her 37th year as a career woman.
In 37 years, Bailey has earned some big bucks. At present, her net worth stands at $2.5 million.
A lot of Cynthia’s income is from the reality shows she has been a cast member of including The Real Housewives of Atlanta, The Next: 15, Cupcake Wars, and The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Cynthia’s annual season salary for The Real Housewives of Atlanta is reported to be $300,000.
Cynthia’s modeling gigs also constantly provide a source of income, as do her acting roles which are more frequent as of late.
Cynthia Bailey also earns from her entrepreneurial ventures, including fashion lines for bags, leather goods, candles, and eyewear and her own bar and event space.
Conclusion
Cynthia Bailey has had a very successful career. She has made her mark in the modeling industry and she is well known to anyone who watches American television. Here’s to wishing her more success in the future for her future career ventures as well as her personal life!
John Davis is a passionate content writer with a knack for crafting engaging narratives across various subjects. With a keen eye for detail and a love for storytelling, John brings ideas to life through the power of words. His dedication to delivering high-quality and informative content has made him a trusted voice in the digital realm. When he’s not at his desk, you’ll find John exploring new hobbies and seeking inspiration in the world around him.
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