Cynthia Denise Bailey is an American model, reality television personality, and actor. She was born on February 19, 1967, in the United States. She was born and reared in Alabama, but she decided to pursue a career in modeling in New York City when she was 18 years old.
In that location, she signed a contract with Wilhelmina Models for a period of five years. Subsequently, she became a model and appeared in a variety of periodicals and advertising campaigns. Paris and Milan were two of the cities where she worked as a runway model.
Bailey is an accomplished actor who has worked in both cinema and television, appearing in projects such as “The Cosby Show” and “Without You, I’m Nothing,” both from 1990, and “For Love or Money,” from 1993. In 2010, she became a cast member on the Bravo reality television show The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
2010 was the year of their wedding, while 2017 marked the conclusion of the couple’s divorce. From the beginning of the series in 2018 to the end of it in 2021, her relationship with sportscaster Mike Hill was featured prominently on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Early Life
On February 19, 1967, Cynthia Denise Bailey made her debut into the world in Decatur, Alabama. When her mother Barbara found out she was pregnant with Cynthia, she was just 18 years old. Malorie, her second child, arrived around one year after her first child Cynthia. Elijah, their father, had a job in an automobile manufacturing plant. Their mother was employed at a sewing factory all of their lives.
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At Deshler High School, Cynthia Bailey made history by becoming the school’s first-ever black homecoming queen. After capturing the title, she was noticed by a talent scout working for Wilhelmina Models and signed with the agency.
Bailey decided to further his education by attending the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She continued to compete in beauty pageants held in the local area. In the latter part of that year, she made the move to Manhattan, where she immediately secured a modeling contract with Wilhelmina for a period of five years.
Career
When Bailey first arrived in New York City in 1985, new wave music was at the height of its popularity. She had an appearance in the music video for “Round and Round,” which New Order released in 1989. In the film Without You I’m Nothing, which was released in 1990, she portrayed the role of Roxanne opposite Sandra Bernhard. Bailey and Bernhard stayed friends after filming.
After working together on early videos, Bailey continued to maintain a friendly relationship with filmmaker Brett Ratner. Bailey was given a role in an episode of The Cosby Show the same year (1990). She had an appearance in the music video for “Nuttin But Love” by Heavy D in the year 1994.
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The cover of Essence magazine was Bailey’s very first booking when she became a model. As a runway model, she was employed in both Paris and Milan for a whole year. After that, she moved back to New York City, where she began a modeling career with companies such as Target, Maybelline, and Oil of Olay.
In addition, she was featured in editorial spreads for publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, and Glamour. The first time was in June 1995, and the second time was in 1997.
She was featured on the cover of Essence magazine. She has also been a model for such well-known retailers as Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Talbots, Chicos, and Bergdorf Goodman during the course of her career.
In 2010, Bailey became a cast member on the reality television series The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The show reached out to her because of her close connection with NeNe Leakes and her sexual involvement with Peter Thomas, the proprietor of a nightclub. At first, she wasn’t very excited about the prospect of becoming a part of the successful Bravo series.
In point of fact, she referred to the entire situation as “too theatrical.” After seeing the potential for profit, she altered her views about the matter. Soon after she and Thomas had settled in Atlanta, she received a call from Bravo.
The network explained to her that they intended to give the program a little more sophistication and highlight women who were already accomplished in their fields before being cast as a Real Housewife.
Alongside Phaedra Parks, she was shown to the audience for the first time during the third season of the show. The episode mostly centered on her friendship with NeNe as well as her romantic connection with Thomas.
Personal Life
Jayson Williams and Russell Simmons proposed to Cynthia Bailey.
Bailey dated actor and singer Leon Robinson, and they had a daughter, Noelle, in 1999.
Noelle Forde Robinson is Bailey’s proudest achievement.
Noelle, Bailey’s daughter, came out as sexually fluid on RHOA. She told Cynthia: “People like to categorize everything and everyone, but I don’t… Many gorgeous boys and gals. It was unexpected. I was surprised.” Noelle now dates Alexis.
Peter Thomas married Bailey on July 24, 2010. The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 3 showed the wedding. 2016 saw Bailey and Thomas split. In 2017 they divorced.
Bailey’s biggest professional moment was beating out Naomi Campbell for a role in Without You I’m Nothing.
Iman invited Bailey to partake in Annie Leibovitz’s Vanity Cover photo with Beverly Johnson, Naomi Campbell, and Tyra Banks.
Success comes from Cynthia’s strong determination and spiritual heritage. She wrote: “I value hard work, ambition, love, and positivity. Everyone’s destined. With self- and God-faith, anything is possible. When you give forth energy, it must return.”Bailey’s lipoma tumor was removed in April 2018. No issues were noted.
Bailey disclosed her relationship with Mike Hill in August 2018. Hill and Bailey intend to marry in October 2020.
Real Estate
Cynthia Bailey made the acquisition of a house in the Atlanta region on September 8, 2016, spending $940,000 on the property. A sizable terrace at the back of the Sandy Springs property provides a view of the neighborhood’s tranquil pond.
On its one-and-a-half acres of land, this residence features six bedrooms and five bathrooms. She refers to her dwelling as “Lake Bailey.” She initially wanted an apartment, stating that she wanted “the type of lifestyle that you have in New York City,” but producers from The Real Housewives of Atlanta pushed her to purchase a home instead. She now lives in a house with her family.
Current Net Worth
Cynthia Bailey is a reality television personality, model, and actress. She is also successful in business and has a net worth of $2.5 million. Her role as a cast member on the show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is the primary source of her fame.
At the age of 18, she made the trip to New York City in order to pursue a career in modeling. Almost immediately after that, she signed a contract for the next five years and was immediately booked to feature in the magazine and commercial campaigns in addition to walking the catwalk in fashion shows in Paris and Milan.