I can't believe the franchise began 17 years ago.
Before there were Vanderpump Rules and Ultimate Girls Trip spinoffs, there were just simpler times of The Real Housewives of (a costly city).
A long, long time ago, in a land about a couple miles from my college, five extremely wealthy housewives got together for the first time, and history was made. 🍊
Now, the age of the franchise is getting up there. I felt it was necessary to give flowers to some housewives who stuck around the longest and see how they held up and maintained a steady slay over the many, many years.
Here are 17 of the longest-lasting housewives when they started vs. what they look like now:
1. Miss Cynthia Bailey joined the third season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2010 and eventually chose to leave the series in 2021 after eleven consecutive seasons.
And here's what Cynthia looks like now:
2. The infamous Lisa Rinna didn't join The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills until the fifth season in 2014.
And here's what Lisa looks like now:
3. Veteran housewife Kyle Richards has been a main cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since it began in 2010.
And here's what Kyle looks like now:
4. Shereé Whitfield started as one of the main cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008.
And here's what Sherée looks like now:
5. Restuarant maven Lisa Vanderpump was an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills from 2010 until Season 9 in 2019.
And here's what Lisa looks like now:
6. The unforgettable Nene Leakes first appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008 and remained part of the main cast for seven seasons.
And here's what Nene looks like now:
7. Kim Zolciak-Biermann appeared in The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008 as one of the original housewives before exiting in 2012 during the fifth season.
And here's what Kim looked like recently in 2021:
8. Brandi Glanville started as just a friend on Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2011.
And here's what Brandi looks like now:
9. Porsha Guobadia joined the Real Housewives of Atlanta for its fifth season in 2012 and left after Season 13 in 2021 to star in the spin-off Porsha's Family Matters.
And here's what Porsha looks like now:
10. One of the first housewives, ever, Vicki Gunvalson was part of the main cast for the first thirteen seasons of The Real Housewives of Orange County from 2006 to 2018.
And here's what Vicki looked like in 2022:
11. Ramona Singer first appeared on The Real Housewives of New York City in 2008.
And here's what Ramona looks like now:
12. Tamra Judge joined The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2007 and held on until Season 14 in 2019.
And here's what Tamra looks like now:
13. Kenya Moore joined Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2012.
And here's what Kenya looks like now:
14. Sonja Morgan joined The Real Housewives of New York City in 2010 during Season 3 and she lasted for eleven seasons.
And here's what Sonja looks like now:
15. Teresa Guidice was one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of New Jersey since 2009.
And here's what Teresa looks like now:
16. LuAnn de Lesseps was one of the main cast members of The Real Housewives of New York City in 2008.
And here's what LuAnn looks like now:
17. And finally, Kandi Burruss is the series' longest-serving cast member. She joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta in its second season in 2009 and is currently starring in its fifteenth season.
And here's what Kandi looks like now:
Do you have a favorite housewife?
Let me know in the comments!