Cynthia Bailey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cynthia Bailey
Bailey in 2019
Born	Cynthia Denise Bailey (1967-02-19) February 19, 1967 (age 58) Decatur, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation	Model television personality actress
Years active	1985–present
Known for	The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2010–present) The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip (2021)
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Spouse(s)	Peter Thomas ​ ​ (m. 2010; div. 2017)​ Mike Hill ​ ​ (m. 2020; div. 2022)​
Children	1

Cynthia Denise Bailey (born February 19, 1967) is an American model, TV star, and actress. She was born and grew up in Alabama. At 18, she moved to New York City to start a modeling career. There, she signed a five-year contract with Wilhelmina Models. She then appeared in many magazines and ads. She also worked as a runway model in Paris and Milan.

Bailey has acted in movies like Without You I'm Nothing (1990) and For Love or Money (1993). She also appeared on TV shows such as The Cosby Show. In 2010, she joined the Bravo reality television show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She married Peter Thomas in 2010, and they divorced in 2017. Her relationship with sportscaster Mike Hill was also shown on The Real Housewives of Atlanta from 2018 until she left the show in 2021.

Early Life and First Steps

Cynthia Denise Bailey was born on February 19, 1967, in Decatur, Alabama. She grew up in Tuscumbia. Her father, Elijah, worked at a car factory. Her mother, Barbara, worked at a sewing factory. Cynthia's grandmother, Mae Frankie Ford, was a big inspiration. She worked in a factory, sold food, cleaned houses, and helped older people. Cynthia called her grandmother "the first female black entrepreneur in [her] life."

Bailey took college classes at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She also joined local beauty pageants. She was the first African American homecoming queen at Deshler High School. After winning, she entered another pageant. She didn't win, but a Wilhelmina Models talent scout noticed her. At 18, she moved to New York City. She signed a five-year contract with the modeling agency. She saved money for the move by working part-time at a mall.

Career Highlights

Early Modeling and Acting (1985–2009)

Bailey appeared in the 1985 movie The Dark Power. She was also in the 1989 music video for New Order's "Round & Round". In 1990, she played Roxanne in the film Without You I'm Nothing. She also appeared in a 1990 episode of The Cosby Show. In 1993, she played a model in the movie For Love or Money. The next year, she was in the music video for Heavy D's song "Nuttin But Love".

After working as a runway model in Paris and Milan for a year, Bailey came back to New York City. She modeled for big brands like Maybelline, Oil of Olay, and Target. She was also featured in famous magazines like Vogue, Glamour, Elle, and Vanity Fair. She appeared on two Essence magazine covers. Her favorite modeling job was a Vanity Fair photo shoot with other famous models like Iman and Naomi Campbell.

Reality TV Star and Business Owner (2010–2016)

In 2010, Bailey joined the reality television show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The show featured her life and friendships. She was unsure about joining at first, but saw it as a good business chance. She was contacted by Bravo because they wanted to add more successful women to the cast.

In 2011, Bailey opened her own modeling school in Atlanta, called the Bailey Agency School of Fashion. The next year, she held a model search in several cities. This search was a contest for new models to win a chance to be represented by a New York modeling agency. Bailey also appeared in the 2015 documentary series Black Friday. This show looked at how money spent by black communities stays within those communities. In 2016, she had a small role in the movie Sharknado: The 4th Awakens. She also appeared on a celebrity edition of Cupcake Wars with her friend Nene Leakes.

New Ventures and Acting Focus (2017–Present)

Bailey was a guest judge for the 65th Miss Universe competition. In 2018, she signed with a New York modeling agency called Major Models. Her daughter also signed with the same company. In 2019, Bailey acted in an episode of Last Call. She also appeared in How High 2, a sequel to a 2001 movie. She started her own lines of products, including bags (CB VIOR), candles, leather goods, and eyewear.

In July 2019, Bailey opened a wine bar called The Bailey Wine Cellar. She also opened an event space called The Bailey Room in Grant Park, Atlanta. The same year, she partnered with Seagram to create her own special drink, a Bellini cocktail. This drink was sold starting in April 2019. The launch party for her drink was shown on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Bailey has been a brand ambassador for Seagram since 2018.

Bailey decided to leave The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2021 after being on the show for eleven seasons. She then starred in the first season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. This show features women from different The Real Housewives shows. In 2021, she said she wanted to focus more on acting instead of reality TV. Bailey had a role in the second season of Games People Play.

In 2022, Bailey was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, where she placed third. The same year, she appeared in the Lifetime movie Cruel Instruction. In 2023, Bailey returned to The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a guest. In 2024, it was announced she would return to the show again. As of October 2024, Bailey is set to co-host a podcast called Humble Brag with Crystal and Cynthia. It will talk about pop culture and celebrities.

Personal Life

Cynthia Bailey has a daughter named Noelle, born on November 9, 1999, with actor Leon Robinson.

Bailey married Peter Thomas on July 24, 2010. Their wedding was shown on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. In 2013, they wrote a book together about their relationship. They announced their separation in 2016, and their divorce was final in March 2017. After her divorce, Bailey moved with her daughter to a house she calls "Lake Bailey."

In August 2018, Bailey announced her relationship with Fox Sports reporter Mike Hill. They got engaged in July 2019 and married on October 10, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had strict rules for their wedding. This included social distancing and face masks for the 250 guests. In October 2022, she announced that she had filed for divorce from Hill, which was finalized that same year.

Film and TV Roles

Films

Television

Music Video Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Cynthia Bailey para niños