The Most Famous Real Housewives, Then and Now

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Bravo / MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Since The Real Housewives of Orange County premiered in 2006, Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise has become the stuff of reality TV legend, and a veritable cultural institution. New cities have debuted, the women have cycled in and out of their series, and audiences have stayed hooked along the way. For a look at how far these ladies have come, we’re showing you what 30 Real Housewives looked like in their first episodes as full-time or featured cast members, and what they look like now. And for more reality icons, check out our list of The 30 Most Successful Reality TV Personalities of the Last 30 Years .

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, “Meet the Wives” (March 4, 2008)

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Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

At the Walt Disney Television Emmy Party in 2019.

And for some contentious reality stars, these are The 18 Most Hated People in Reality TV History .

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, “Welcome One, Welcome ATL” (Oct. 7, 2008)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Strahan, Sara and Keke in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness” (Oct. 14, 2010)

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Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

At the American Rescue Dog Show at the Fairplex in 2019.

And for surprising reality TV origin stories, discover 20 Super Successful Musicians Who Got Their Start on Reality Shows .

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New Jersey , Season 1, Episode 1, “Thicker Than Water” (May 12, 2009)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

At Z100’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 1, Episode 1, “Meet the Wives” (March 21, 2006)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Bravo Con in 2019.

And for more shows that some people can’t stand, these are The 15 Most Hated Popular TV Shows .

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 1, “Mind Your Manners” (Jan. 17, 2016)

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WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

At the 15th Annual African American Literary Awards in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 3, Episode 7, “New Girl, Old Money” (April 15, 2010)

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Lev Radin / Shutterstock

At a screening of Impractical Jokers: The Movie in 2020.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5, Episode 1, “Got Sexy Back” (Nov. 4, 2012)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at BuzzFeed in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, “Meet the Wives” (March 4, 2008)

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Lev Radin / Shutterstock

At the Food Bank for New York City Can-Do Awards in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness” (Oct. 14, 2010)

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Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock

At KIIS FM’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, “Welcome One, Welcome ATL” (Oct. 7, 2008)

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WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Watch What Happens Live in 2018.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 3, Episode 1, “In the Name of the Father” (May 16, 2011)

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Ron Adar / Shutterstock

At a screening of Hellboy in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 1, Episode 1, “Meet the Wives” (March 4, 2008)

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Lev Radin / Shutterstock

At the premiere of Crown Vic in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 2, Episode 1, “New Attitude, Same ATL” (July 30, 2009)

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Quinn Jeffrey / Shutterstock

At the 23rd Annual Hollywood Film Awards in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness” (Oct. 14, 2010)

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Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

At the Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5, Episode 3, “Call Me Miss U.S.A.” (Nov. 18, 2012)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Good Day New York in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 3, Episode 1, “Behind the Orange Curtain” (Nov. 6, 2007)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Jerry O’ in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New Jersey , Season 1, Episode 1, “Thicker Than Water” (May 12, 2009)

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Sam Aronov / Shutterstock

At WEtv Launches Bridezillas Museum Of Natural Hysteria in 2018.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 1, “Mind Your Manners” (Jan. 17, 2016)

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WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

At the launch of Urban Skin Rx at Target in 2018.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2, Episode 4, “Gossip Girls” (Sept. 26, 2011)

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Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

At WEtv’s “Real Love: Relationship Reality” in 2018.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 1, Episode 2, “Divas, Queens, and Bubalas” (Jan. 24, 2016)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Bravo Con in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 9, Episode 1, “Hawaii 5 Uh-Oh” (April 14, 2014)

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MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Arriving at Good Day New York in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 3, Episode 2, “Model Behavior” (Oct. 11, 2010)

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Sam Aronov / Shutterstock

At WEtv’s fashion event celebrating Bridezillas in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness” (Oct. 14, 2010)

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Jeffrey Mayer / Alamy Stock Photo

At the 26th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of New York City Season 7, Episode 1, “The B Is Back” (April 7, 2015)

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Ron Adar / Shutterstock

At the Woman’s Day Celebrates 17th Annual Red Dress Awards in 2020.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 3, Episode 1, “Down and Left Out in Beverly Hills” (Nov. 5, 2012)

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WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

At the Burberry LFW AW20 show in 2020.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 4, Episode 1, “Are They for Real?” (Nov. 25, 2008)

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Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

At Victoria Siegel Foundation and Greenspoon Marder Present Victoria’s Voice: An Evening To Save Lives in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, Episode 1, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Wealthiness” (Oct. 14, 2010)

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ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

At Star Magazine’s Hollywood Rocks in 2017.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1, Episode 1, “Welcome One, Welcome ATL” (Oct. 7, 2008)

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Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock

At the Maxim Big Game Experience in 2019.

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Bravo

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 1, Episode 1, “Meet the Wives” (March 21, 2006)

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ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

At the Real Housewives of Orange County premiere in 2016.