The Real Housewives is an international reality television franchise that consists of 11 installments in the United States, primarily broadcast on the television network Bravo and the streaming service Peacock, and 20 international installments, broadcast on various networks.
As of November 2024, a total of 170 housewives have been featured on the American installments originated in the United States, several of whom have received spin-offs from their respective shows.
The international franchise began in 2011 with The Real Housewives of Athens,[1] and has expanded across Vancouver, Les Vraies Housewives, Melbourne, Cheshire, Auckland, Sydney, Toronto, Hungary, Johannesburg, di Napoli, Jersey, Durban, Slovenija: Vražje dame, Lagos, Amsterdam, Pretoria and Cape Town.
The first recurring cast member in the franchise was Jennifer Gilbert, introduced during the third season of The Real Housewives of New York City.
[2][3][4] Housewives who have been featured as friends either before or after being a full-time cast member include Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, Lauri Peterson, Alexis Bellino and Lizzie Rovsek from Orange County; Luann de Lesseps and Heather Thomson from New York City; Cynthia Bailey, Marlo Hampton, Eva Marcille, Shamea Morton, Shereé Whitfield, Porsha Williams and Kim Zolciak-Biermann from Atlanta; Jacqueline Laurita, Danielle Staub, Kathy Wakile and Jackie Goldschneider from New Jersey; Brandi Glanville, Camille Grammer and Sutton Stracke from Beverly Hills; Adriana de Moura, Alexia Nepola, Marysol Patton and Ana Quincoces from Miami; Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, Katie Rost and Keiarna Stewart from Potomac; Cary Deuber from Dallas; and Mary Cosby and Angie Katsanevas from Salt Lake City.