Linnethia Monique "NeNe" Leakes (/ˈniːni liːks/; née Johnson; born December 13, 1967)[1][2] is an American television personality, actress, presenter, businesswoman, author, and fashion designer.

She is widely regarded as one of the most notable personalities from The Real Housewives franchise and a prominent figure in reality television and pop culture.

[3][4][5] Born in Queens, New York and raised in Athens, Georgia, she is also known for her recurring character, Roz Washington, on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee.

Leakes made her Broadway debut as Madame in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in 2014, and in 2015, starred as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago.

In addition to her television projects, Leakes had a clothing line on Home Shopping Network, before launching her SWAGG boutiques in select cities across the country.

[6] After graduating from Clarke Central High School in Athens, she decided to further her formal education at Morris Brown College in Atlanta for two years before becoming pregnant.

[7][8] Before Leakes met the producers of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, she had appeared on TV shows like The Parkers thanks to meeting casting director Robi Reed-Humes.

[13][14] Ryan Murphy cast Leakes in his series Glee in the third season in a recurring role as synchronized swim coach and Olympic bronze-medalist Roz Washington.

[19] During the tenth episode of Celebrity Apprentice, after arguments with fellow cast member Star Jones, Leakes walked off the show.

[29] In January 2024, Leakes was announced as a co-host on Zeus Network's Baddies East reunion by cast member Natalie Nunn.

[30] In March 2024, Leakes will star in Hunting Housewives, opposite Denise Richards, Melyssa Ford, and Kym Johnson-Herjavec for Lifetime.

The company produced Leakes' spin-off series I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding alongside True Entertainment, which premiered on September 17, 2013.