Cynthia Bailey is an American television personality who has appeared on shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and notably Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
Cynthia is a popular model and actress in the American entertainment industry. She has appeared in several movies and reality television shows.
Cynthia hails from Alabama but moved to New York at 18 to pursue a career in modeling. There, she signed a 5-year contract with Wilhelmina Models, and her photographs have been used on the cover of various magazines.
Cynthia earned international recognition and influence all thanks to her successful modeling career. As a model, she has walked in several fashion shows in big cities like Milan in Italy and Paris in France. Cynthia Bailey has a net worth of $3 million.
| Real Name | Cynthia Denise Bailey |
| Nick Name | Cynthia Bailey |
| Place of Birth | Decatur, Alabama, United States |
| Date Of Birth | 19 February 1967 |
| Age | 56 years old (2023) |
| Nationality | American |
| Gender | Female |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Height | 178 cm (5’10”) |
| Weight | 60 kg (131 lbs) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Parents | Elijah Bailey and Barbara Bailey |
| Siblings | Malorie Bailey-Massie |
| Education | Deshler High School, University of Alabama |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband/Spouse Name | Peter Thomas (m. 2010-2017), Mike Hill (m. 2020) |
| Kids/Children Name | Noelle Robinson |
| Profession | Actress, Fashion Model, and Television Personality |
| Net Worth | $3 million |
Early Life and Biography
Cynthia Bailey is a famous model and TV reality star. Her career didn’t start from the TV. It is important to provide some details about her background.
Cynthia Denise Bailey was born in Decatur, Alabama in the United States of America on the 19th day of February, 1967. Her father, Elijah Bailey, worked at an auto plant while her mother, Barbara Bailey, worked at a sewing factory.
Barbara was 18 when was was pregnant with Cynthia. She conceived another child, Malorie a year after Cynthia was born. Cynthia grew up in Tuscumbia, where she was raised by her grandparents.
Cynthia Bailey claims her grandmother is the first black entrepreneur in America. As a young child, Cynthia was inspired by her grandmother Mae Frankie Ford who did several jobs to survive.
Her grandmother sold hotdogs and hamburgers, worked in a sewing factory, cleaned people’s houses, and even volunteered to look after an elderly woman.
Cynthia Bailey completed her high school education at Deshler High School. While in school, she participated in various local beauty pageants, which increased her status in school and the vicinity.
Her popularity skyrocketed after emerging as the first black homecoming queen at Deshler High School. After winning the famous crown, she was discovered by a talent scout for Wilhemina Models who helped her secure her first deal with the agency at the age of 18.
She enrolled at the University of Alabama, Huntsville but never completed her graduation. Later, she relocated to Manhattan, where she pen to paper to sign the 5-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina.
Career
Cynthia Bailey started her career as a teen in the early 1980s. She contested in several beauty pageants in her high school, which gave her the needed platform for growth. She won the Homecoming Queen at Deshler High School, becoming the first black person to win it.
After inking a deal with Wilhelmina Models, Bailey moved to New York City to get more opportunities in the modeling industry. Bailey touched down in New York City in 1985 as a young lady with high hopes of becoming a model. In 1989, she appeared in a music video for a hit track titled “Round and Round.”
Cynthia also acted in the movie “Without You I’m Nothing.” She has worked in several films and TV shows such as The Cosby Show, For Love or Money, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and many more.
In 1994, she appeared in the official music video for Heavy D’s “Nuttin But Love.” Cynthia Bailey’s first booking as a model saw her appear on the cover of Essence Magazine. She spent a year working on several fashion runway shows in Paris and Milan.
Consequently, she moved back to New York City and began modeling for Oil of Olay, Target, and Maybelline. Her face and name have been featured in several advertising campaigns as well as magazine spreads for Glamour, Vanity Flair, Elle, and Vogue.
Cynthia graced the front cover of Essence magazine on two occasions; first in June 1885 and second in 1997. Since then, she has modeled for Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Chicos, Macy’s, Talbots, Neiman Marcus, and Lord & Taylor.
One of the big moments of Cynthia’s career happens to be the period she joined the RHOA cast. She joined the show in 2010 and was one of the best faces the fans looked up to see.
It is reported that the show approached her due to her fallout with Nene Leakes, a cast member of the show, and Peter Thomas, a nightclub owner.
At first, Cynthia didn’t fancy the idea of joining “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” show. She believed the show was too “dramatic” and potentially stressful for her. However, she had a change of mind after seeing it as a financial opportunity.
When Bravo learned about this development, they contacted her after she moved to Atlanta, Georgia with Peter Thomas. They told her they wanted her to spice up the show by bringing more class to it and bringing more women who had tasted success in their fields before she could be cast as a Real Housewife.
After meeting their requirements, Cynthia Bailey was introduced in the third season of RHOA, with Phaedra Parks. In that season, the show focused on her friendship with Nene Leakes and he relationship with Peter Thomas.
In 2011, Cynthia launched her modeling school in Atlanta to train and incubate young models. In 2012, she began a model search in several cities in the Southern region to scout fresh talent. It was a contest and its top prize was a mouthwatering deal with a modeling agency in New York City.
In 2017, she was made a guest judge at the 65th Miss Universe contest. Similarly, she appeared in one of the celebrity editions of Cupcake Ways with her friend Nene Leakes.
In July 2019, Cynthia opened a wine cellar and event space called “The Bailey Room” in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. A disagreement over a signature drink at the party saw the end of her friendship with Nene Leakes.
Like many physical businesses in the United States, the wine cellar was shut down in the wake of COVID-19 in 2020. However, it was reopened after coronavirus-related problems dropped.
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Personal Life
Cynthia Bailey was in a relationship with singer and actor Leon Robinson, and their romantic affair produced a daughter, Noelle Robinson, on November 9, 1999. She considers bringing her daughter to life as her greatest accomplishment.
Another big moment in Cynthia’s career was when she was selected ahead of Naomi Campbell for a co-starring role opposite Sandra Bernhardt in the 1990 movie titled “Without You I’m Nothing.”
She rejected marriage proposals from businessman Russell Simmons and NBA player Jayson Williams. On June 24, 2010, Bailey married nightclub business owner Peter Thomas. The wedding ceremony was broadcast in season three of The Real Housewives of Atlanta show.
Sadly, the couple separated in 2016 and their divorce process was completed in March 2017. In April 2018, she underwent a surgical operation to remove a lipoma tumor in her left shoulder blade. Fortunately, the operation was successful without any complications.
In August 2018, Cynthia Bailey announced her relationship with Mike Hill, a Fox Sports correspondent. Mike and Cynthia became engaged in July 2019 and unveiled their plans to get married in October 2020.
After two years of marriage, Hill and Bailey called it quits. Cynthia Bailey filed for divorce in October, citing “adulterous relations” as the reason behind the split. However, Cynthia’s attorney, Daniel R. Meachum revealed the sole reason is due to irreconcilable differences.
Cynthia Bailey’s Net Worth
Cynthia Bailey is a well-known American model and TV show. She has starred in several films, fashion runway shows, and reality television series. Likewise, she has appeared on the cover of popular magazines.
Cynthia has garnered an impressive net worth of $3 million from her career as a model, actress, and reality TV star. She owns a decent collection of vehicles, as cars from brands like Ford, Range Rover, and Toyota can be found in her garage.
Cynthia Bailey also owns several real estate properties in the United States. In September 2016, she purchased a mansion in Atlanta for $960,000. The house, which she called the house “Lake Bailey” features six bedrooms and five bathrooms and it covers a space of one and a half acres.