What is Cynthia Bailey’s net worth?
| Net Worth | $2.5 Million |
| Source of Wealth | Model / Actress / Television personality |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1967 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’8 / 178 cm |
| Place of Birth | Decatur, Alabama |
| Star Sign | Pisces |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Partner | Mike Hill (m.2020) |
The Usual Intro
Cynthia Bailey is a 55-year-old American reality television star, model, and actress. She is famously known for starring in the reality television show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” At 18, she moved to New York to pursue a career in modeling and signed a 5-year contract with Wilhelmina Models. Since then, she has been one of the most influential black models in the world.
Before the Spotlight
Cynthia Denise Bailey was born in Decatur, Alabama, on February 19, 1967. Her father, Elijah, works in the automobile industry, while her mother, Barbara, works in the sewing industry. Barbara was only 18 when she had Cynthia.
Cynthia became the first African-American homecoming queen at Deshler High School. Later, she enrolled as a freshman at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Cynthia took part in numerous beauty pageants.
Even though she didn’t win, she was reached out by Wilhelmina Models Talent Scout. A few months later, she signed a five-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina and moved to Manhattan, New York, to pursue her modeling career.
The Journey to Success
Bailey’s career didn’t start off strong. In fact, it took her many years before she became famous. She began by making her debut appearance in the low-budget film “The Dark Power” in 1985. Four years later, she was seen in the hit music video “Round and Round” by New Order.
In the next couple of years, she starred in multiple movies, TV dramas, and music videos, including an episode for “The Cosby Show” and “New York Undercover.” She also appeared in the music video of “Nuttin but Love,” the movie “The Five Heartbeats” and “For Love or Money.”
Bailey got her first modeling gig when she appeared on the Essence Magazine cover in 1995 and reappeared in 1997. She went to Paris and Milan and worked as a runway model. This was the start of her career and opened many new opportunities.
After working for a year in Paris, she returned to New York and worked for more magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, and Glamour. Besides this, she also worked as a model at Target, Oil of Clay, and Maybelline.
Fast forward to 2010, Bailey jumped in on the trend and appeared in the reality television show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” The show approached Cynthia due to her successful early career, friendship with NeNe Leakes, and romantic relationship with Peter Thomas. At first, Bailey was uncertain if she was up for the job as she considered the show a bit “too dramatic.” However, she changed her mind after seeing the job as a commercial opportunity.
She was cast for the show in season 3, which primarily focused on Bailey’s friendship with NeNe Leakes and her sexual involvement with Peter Thomas.
Bailey later ventured into other businesses. In 2011, she opened her modeling school, “Bailey Agency School of Fashion,” in Atlanta. The following year, she started a model scouting competition with the final prize being a contract with a New York modeling agency.
In July 2019, she opened her “Bailey Room Wine Cellar” and event space, “The Bailey Room.” The same year, she created her signature drink, a Bellini Cocktail, in collaboration with Seagram. The company was sold a few months later. The opening party was aired on the 11th season of the show, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Due to unknown reasons, Bailey and NeNe Leakes’ friendship also publicly ended.
In 2021, Bailey left the reality television show after being a cast member for 11 seasons as she wanted to change the direction of her career from performing on reality television shows to acting. In 2022, she acted in “Lifetime.”
The Best Moments
- Earned her first modeling gig and graced the cover of Essence Magazine in 1995.
- Became a cast member of the reality television show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” in 2010.
- Opened her modeling school, “Bailey Agency School of Fashion,” the following year.
- In 2019, she opened her wine cellar and event space.
The Private Side
In 1996, Bailey was involved in a romantic relationship with NBA player Jason Williams. He proposed to her during the New Jersey Nets’ Halftime Show, which she later rejected. She also rejected Russell Simmons’ marriage proposal.
Bailey started dating actor and singer Leon Robinson and had her first baby daughter, Noelle, on November 9, 1999. During her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with uterine fibroid. She decided to get treatment as she wanted to have the option of having more children in the future.
On July 24, 2010, Bailey married nightclub owner Peter Thomas. The event was aired on season 3 of the reality TV show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” The couple also published a book, “Carry on Baggage: Our Nonstop Flight,” in 2013.
Bailey and Thomas announced and finalized their divorce by March 2017. She initially wanted to buy an apartment in New York but later chose to buy a $1 million mansion in Atlanta which she calls “Lake Bailey” as it has a view of a small lake of Sandy Springs.
In 2018, Bailey publicly announced her relationship with Mike Hill. The couple got engaged the following year and married on October 10, 2020.
Cynthia Bailey‘s Related YouTube Video
Cynthia Bailey talks modeling career/ Housewives of Atlanta, and Housewives mashup in Turks Caicos
Famous Quotes of Cynthia Bailey
- “In good times and bad times, never compromise who you are.”
- “I believe in hard work, ambition, love, and positive affirmation. Everyone has a destiny. With faith in yourself and faith in God you can accomplish anything. When you send that energy out to the universe it has to come back to you.”
- “My biggest fear is failure.”
The Social World
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Passion is key. Bailey always had a keen interest in modeling. She would compete in numerous beauty pageants and is now a multi-millionaire. The key takeaway is that with passion, you’ll always progress.
- Persistency. Bailey came a long way before becoming famous. It took her many years to land her first modeling gig. However, she never gave up, even when times got rough.
- Never overlook red flags in your spouse. Bailey has a long dating history. When dating, we should never overlook the problems in our partner because sooner or later, the issues will inevitably lead to breakups and divorces.
The Unusual Stuff
- Cynthia got her first job at Taco Bell.
- Her favorite place to visit is Anguilla.
- She has a cross tattoo on her back.
- Cynthia’s favorite food is sushi.
- She underwent surgery to remove a lipoma tumor from her shoulder blade.
Answering Frequent Questions
Why did Cynthia Bailey leave The Real Housewives of Atlanta?
Cynthia Bailey left the television series as she wanted to change the direction of her career to acting and spend more time with her husband.
Are Cynthia Bailey and NeNe Leakes still friends?
The two seem to be rekindling their friendship as NeNe Leakes posted a picture of the two together at Linnethia Lounge in Atlanta.
Was NeNe Leakes invited to Cynthia Bailey’s wedding?
Cynthia Bailey confirmed that she invited NeNe Leakes. However, she chose to skip her wedding.
The Closing Remarks
As of today, Cynthia Bailey has a net worth of $2.5 million. She has forged a fortune due to her involvement in several modeling gigs. Bailey starred in the reality television show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” which garnered her a massive fan following. In addition, she was reportedly earning $300,000 per season. With her current efforts, her fan following will slowly but surely increase.
Featured image credit: Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.com
