Cynthia Denise Bailey (born February 19, 1967) is an American model, reality television personality, podcaster and actress.

Born and raised in Alabama, she moved to New York City at the age of 18 to pursue a modeling career.

Her relationship with sportscaster Mike Hill was showcased on The Real Housewives of Atlanta from 2018 until she left the series in 2021.

[2][4] While growing up, Cynthia was inspired by her grandmother, Mae Frankie Ford, who worked in a sewing factory, sold hotdogs and hamburgers, cleaned houses, and volunteered to care for an elderly woman.

[5] Bailey enrolled in freshman-level courses at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and competed in local beauty pageants.

[19] In 2010, Bailey joined the Bravo reality television show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which featured her relationship with club owner Peter Thomas and her friendship with NeNe Leakes.

[20] Bailey was initially uncertain about joining the show, describing it as "too dramatic", but changed her mind after viewing it as a business opportunity.

She was contacted by Bravo shortly after moving to Atlanta with Thomas; the network said that they "wanted to bring more class to the cast, and feature more women that already had successful careers before the show".

[5] Bailey appeared in a trilogy of music videos ("Age Ain't a Factor", "Baby x3", and "Chase Forever") for Jaheim's 2013 album Appreciation Day.

[21][22][23] In the "Age Ain't a Factor" video, she was shown in a fictional Essence article on "Ageless Beauty", alongside LisaRaye McCoy and Vivica A.

[13] In 2016, she had a minor role in the film Sharknado: The 4th Awakens,[26] and guest starred on The Next :15 alongside former The Real Housewives of Atlanta costar Claudia Jordan.

[34] The incident was discussed during the season's reunion episodes,[37] and Leakes and Bailey publicly ended their friendship.

[52] Bailey had a romantic relationship with Leon Robinson, and on November 9, 1999, she gave birth to their daughter, Noelle.

[54] Bailey married Peter Thomas on July 24, 2010, at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History;[55] the wedding was shown on a season three episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

[56] In 2013, Bailey and Thomas published a book about their relationship entitled Carry-On Baggage: Our Nonstop Flight.

[65] However, Bailey received criticism on social media following the release of pictures and videos that showed guests not wearing masks.