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 on February 19, 1967, is an American model, TV star, podcaster, and actress. She grew up in Alabama and moved to New York City at 18. There, she started her modeling career. She signed a five-year contract with Wilhelmina Models. Cynthia appeared in many magazines and ad campaigns. She also worked as a runway model in Paris and Milan.

Cynthia has acted in movies like Without You I'm Nothing (1990). She also appeared on TV shows, including The Cosby Show. In 2010, she joined the Bravo reality TV show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She was married to Peter Thomas from 2010 to 2017. Her relationship with sportscaster Mike Hill was shown on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She left the series in 2021.

Early Life and Dreams

Cynthia Denise Bailey was born on February 19, 1967. She grew up in Tuscumbia, Alabama. 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 to her. Her grandmother worked hard and even volunteered to help others. Cynthia called her grandmother "the first female black entrepreneur in [her] life."

Cynthia went to college at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She also took part in local beauty pageants. She was the first African American homecoming queen at Deshler High School. After winning, a talent scout from Wilhelmina Models 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.

Cynthia's Career Journey

Early Modeling Days (1985–2009)

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

After modeling on runways in Paris and Milan, Cynthia returned to New York City. She modeled for big brands like Maybelline and Oil of Olay. She also appeared in famous magazines such as Vogue and Glamour. She was on the cover of Essence magazine twice. Her favorite modeling job was a Vanity Fair photo shoot. It featured other famous models like Iman and Naomi Campbell.

Reality TV Star (2010–2016)

In 2010, Cynthia joined the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The show featured her life with club owner Peter Thomas. It also showed her friendship with NeNe Leakes. Cynthia was unsure about joining the show at first. She thought it was "too dramatic." But she saw it as a good business chance. Bravo, the TV network, wanted to add more successful women to the cast.

In 2011, Cynthia opened her own modeling school in Atlanta. It was called the Bailey Agency School of Fashion. The next year, she looked for new models in the Southern United States. This was part of a contest to help a new model get signed by an agency. Cynthia also appeared in three music videos for Jaheim's 2013 album Appreciation Day.

In 2015, Cynthia was in a documentary series called Black Friday. She also acted in Kenya Moore's TV pilot, Life Twirls On. In 2016, she had a small role in the movie Sharknado: The 4th Awakens. She also appeared on The Next :15 with her former co-star Claudia Jordan. Cynthia was also on a celebrity episode of Cupcake Wars with NeNe Leakes.

Expanding Her Career (2017–Present)

Cynthia was a guest judge for the Miss Universe competition in 2016. In 2018, she signed with Major Models, a New York agency. Her daughter also signed with the same company. In April 2018, Cynthia had surgery to remove a small tumor from her shoulder. The surgery was successful.

In 2019, Cynthia appeared in an episode of Last Call. She also acted in How High 2, a sequel to a 2001 movie. She started her own lines of products. These included bags, candles, leather goods, and eyewear.

Cynthia opened a wine bar called The Bailey Wine Cellar in July 2019. She also opened an event space called The Bailey Room. Both are in Grant Park, Atlanta. The same year, she partnered with Seagram. She created her own special drink, a Bellini cocktail. The launch party for her drink was shown on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Cynthia has been a brand ambassador for Seagram since 2018. In 2019, she also guest-starred on the TV shows Star and Tales.

Cynthia decided to leave The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2021. She had been on the show for eleven seasons. She then starred in the first season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. This show featured women from different Real Housewives series. It premiered on Peacock in 2021. In an interview, she said she wanted to focus more on acting. Cynthia had a role in the second season of Games People Play as a documentarian.

In 2022, Cynthia was a HouseGuest on Celebrity Big Brother. She finished third in the competition. That same year, she appeared in the Lifetime movie Cruel Instruction. In 2023, Cynthia returned to The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a guest. In 2024, it was announced she would return to the show as a "friend of" the cast. As of October 2024, Cynthia co-hosts a podcast called Humble Brag with Crystal and Cynthia. It talks about pop culture and reality TV.

Personal Life

Cynthia Bailey dated Jayson Williams in 1996. He proposed to her, but she said no. She also turned down a marriage proposal from Russell Simmons. Cynthia had a relationship with Leon Robinson. On November 9, 1999, their daughter, Noelle, was born. During her pregnancy, Cynthia found out she had a uterine fibroid. She chose a treatment that would allow her to have more children later. She has worked with USA Fibroids Centers to help others learn about fibroids.

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

Cynthia announced her relationship with Fox Sports reporter Mike Hill in August 2018. They got engaged in July 2019. They were married on October 10, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, strict rules were in place for the wedding. This included social distancing and masks for the 250 guests. The venue was also deeply cleaned. Cynthia announced in October 2022 that she filed for divorce from Hill. Their divorce was finalized that same year.

Film and TV Appearances

Movies

Television Shows

Music Video Appearances

Documentaries

See also

In Spanish: Cynthia Bailey para niños