Since The Real Housewives was introduced to TV screens in 2006, the series has evolved into a franchise. Expanding into cities such as New York City and Atlanta, viewers have seen many housewives come and go throughout the years. Though many voluntarily decide to leave the show, many also are fired for various reasons. This can range from being too controversial, not bringing enough drama, difficulties with producers or simply because they've run their course.
Whether they earned notoriety or became one-season wonders, many become curious about what the former housewives are up to after the show. Some have remained the same as they were on the show, while some have even improved for the better. Below is a list of what some former housewives have been up to since leaving the popular Bravo franchise.
10 Brandi Glanville
Unafraid and unapologetic, Brandi Glanville was known for being the root of drama on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She notably feuded with sisters Kim and Kyle Richards, Adrienne Maloof, Joyce Giraud, Lisa Vanderpump and Lisa Rinna. Bravo gave Glanville a recurring contract following the fifth season, meaning she would no longer hold a diamond. Despite this, she has made occasional appearances since leaving the show. Glanville has continued her reality TV career on shows such as Celebrity Big Brother's British and American editions, E!'s Famously Single and more. In addition, she hosts the Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast.
9 Kelly Dodd-Leventhal
Just like Glanville, former RHOC star Kelly Dodd-Leventhal was also no stranger to constant feuds. After a 15th season many fans found underwhelming, Dodd-Leventhal was let go from the show alongside short-lived housewives Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas. Although Bravo's reason for her firing was wanting to revamp the show, she claimed her conservative beliefs were the reason. In October 2020, she married former Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal and later started a Patreon-exclusive podcast with him titled Unmasked.
8 Phaedra Parks
Self-proclaimed "southern belle" Phaedra Parks starred in The Real Housewives of Atlanta from seasons three to nine. She was fired due to a controversy involving former friend and co-star Kandi Burruss, falsely accusing her of sexual assault. Since her departure, she appeared on season 15 WEtv's Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars with then-boyfriend Medina Islam. An attorney and mortician, Parks recently told her Instagram followers they can "now add #actress to the list," earning a role in the anthology series Covenant on the Allblk streaming service.
7 Dorinda Medley
A fan favorite since she joined the cast, Dorinda Medley was let go following season 12 of The Real Housewives of New York City. Despite viewers being unfond of her behavior towards co-star Tinsley Mortimer, many also wish for Medley to return after an underwhelming 13th season. Since departing, she has appeared on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing: New York and RHONY co-star Bethenny Frankel's reality series The Big Shot with Bethenny on HBO Max. In August 2021, Medley released her memoir titled Make It Nice, where she opened up about her upbringing and past anorexia battle.
6 Joyce Giraud
Despite only appearing during the fourth season of Beverly Hills, actress and former pageant queen Joyce Giraud seems to not be doing bad since she was given the axe. In 2014, the Puerto Rican native created and produced Rica, Famosa, Latina, a Spanish-language reality series inspired by The Real Housewives. She also sells beauty, hair and skincare products on her official website. In addition, she returned to her recurring role as Angel on the revival of Tyler Perry's House of Payne in 2020. Although her and former Beverly Hills housewife Lisa Vanderpump didn't see eye to eye at first, the two have since formed a friendship.
5 DeShawn Snow
Known for being one of the original Atlanta housewives, DeShawn Snow's time on reality TV was short lived. When the show was renewed for a second season, Snow was the only cast member to not receive a contract, recalling producers telling her she was "too human for a circus show" in an interview with Essence. In other words, she didn't bring enough drama in contrast to co-stars Nene Leakes and Kim Zolciak-Biermann. Since her departure, she has worked in real estate and lives life away from the spotlight raising her three sons. Furthermore, she divorced former basketball player Eric Snow in 2010 after his infidelity was revealed.
4 Cindy Barshop
Similar to Snow, former New York City housewife Cindy Barshop also lasted one season. Fired due to Bravo wanting to give the NYC series a makeover, the mom of two has done well for herself since leaving the show. In 2017, she opened the VSpot Medi Spa, providing treatments and products for women's sexual health. Formerly single, she has been in a relationship with health and fitness expert Jay Cardiello since 2019. The same year, Barshop told People Magazine that one of her twins recently came out as transgender.
3 Adrienne Maloof
Daughter of billionaire George J. Maloof Sr. and ex-wife to Botched plastic surgeon Paul Nassif, former Beverly Hills housewife Adrienne Maloof remained prominent in wealthy social scenes. In RHOBH's third season, she notably feuded with Brandi Glanville and accused her of leaking information that Maloof had her three sons via surrogacy. She later revealed to her castmates she'd be getting divorced, and she did not attend the season three reunion, which was one of the reasons for her firing. Since leaving reality TV, she began selling supplements with Drinkade to help hangovers. Despite a messy divorce, she and Nassif now maintain a better relationship, posing for a picture with their son in October 2021.
2 Tamra Judge
Known for her frequent outbursts and family drama, former Orange County housewife Tamra Judge was no stranger to having personal problems shared with millions of viewers. The downfall of her marriage to ex-husband Simon and her estranged relationship with oldest daughter Sydney were just some of the issues aired on television. Since her firing from the show after its 14th season, Judge returned to working real estate and selling a CBD product line named Vena alongside her husband Eddie. The two continue operating their Cut Fitness gym in the OC. Judge has also made amends with her daughter and ex-husband, as the latter has been battling throat cancer since last year.
1 Alex McCord
Original NYC housewife Alex McCord seems to have changed her life for the better. As Bravo wanted to revamp the RHONY cast after its fourth season in 2011, McCord was fired from the show alongside Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon and Cindy Barshop. Years afterward, McCord and husband Simon van Kempen appeared on VH1's Couples Therapy and later moved to van Kempen's native Australia with their two sons. In 2017, it was revealed she became a psychologist, to which her former boss Andy Cohen congratulated her. Back in July, she appeared on the Australian morning talk show Studio 10 to showcase her new venture as a "laughing yoga" instructor.
Glanville, Parks, Medley and Judge recently finished filming for the second season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, set to premiere on Peacock next year.
