Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey has firmly ruled out the possibility of ever getting married again, despite being in a long-term relationship with a partner who is nearly 20 years her junior. The 58-year-old model and reality star, who first joined the Bravo series in 2010, is currently dating musician LePrince and describes their relationship as happy and stable, but she has no intention of formalizing it with a wedding after two previous marriages ended in divorce.
No Plans to Walk Down the Aisle
Speaking candidly about her views on marriage, Cynthia said: "I've been married twice and divorced twice. It's not a priority for me. I think if you ask him that question, I think he would be very open to getting married. He's never been married before, but he's a little younger than I am." She added that while she is fully committed to the relationship, she no longer feels pressure to formalize it in the traditional sense. "For me personally, I'm just excited to see where this relationship is going and if it continues to be serious, I have no problem being committed, continuing to be committed to the relationship, but I don't know if it looks like for me like I have to get married again. I think there's a way to be together and to be partners and to be his wife without actually signing paperwork because I really feel like I am already."
A Happy, Relaxed Relationship
Cynthia and LePrince have now been together for almost two years, and she described their bond as relaxed, fun, and very much in the moment. "La Prince and I are doing great. We've been together for almost two years now. I literally wake up, I'm like, 'You're still here, OK. You didn't sneak off in the middle of the night.' We're having the best time. I don't know where we're headed, but I'm having the best time getting there." Before her current romance, Cynthia's relationships played out on screen, including her marriage to restaurateur Peter Thomas, which ended in 2017, and her later marriage to sportscaster Mike Hill, which ended in divorce in 2022.
Return to Real Housewives of Atlanta
Now she is back in the spotlight with the latest series of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and says viewers can expect a noticeably different vibe this time around after what she described as a darker previous season. Reflecting on the show's history, Cynthia praised the iconic earlier era, particularly the season six cast, which included long-time friend NeNe Leakes, calling it one of the strongest line-ups the franchise has ever had. "What I will say about the old cast, specifically the season six cast, iconic cast, yes. That was the dream team. It just was like everybody brought it. Everyone had story. All of our husbands were activated. It just was like that was the cast."
New Additions Bring Fresh Energy
But she insisted the current series is not trying to replicate the past, instead crediting new additions for shifting the energy in a different direction. At the same time, Cynthia was quick to defend the current line-up, pointing to the addition of Pinky Cole, 36, the Slutty Vegan founder and Atlanta business boss known for building a cult food brand, and K. Michelle, 42, the chart-topping R&B singer and reality TV personality known for her blunt opinions and explosive screen presence, as the reason the show feels sharper, louder and more unpredictable this time around. She said the mix of personalities has brought back a spark viewers have been missing, adding: "What I can appreciate about this new cast is that we have two new players. We have Pinky Cole and we have K Michelle. We've never had anyone like these two, and they're so different in every way."
A Lighter, More Fun Season
Cynthia also teased that the new season leans more into fun and natural chemistry rather than constant tension, saying: "What you guys are gonna see for season 17 is that we have great chemistry. Of course there's gonna be ups and downs and drama, but we actually have a lot of fun this season." The model returns as a friend, balancing her business ventures while keeping the group centred. With friendships constantly tested and drama unfolding at every turn, she proves to be a steady, calming force in the heart of the storm. Looking back, she admitted the show had lost some of its lighter touch in recent years, but said that is changing again. "When I look back on some of those old episodes, like when they show them on TikTok, I laugh so hard. It's like we were just being ourselves and we didn't even know we were funny." She added that the previous season struggled to find its rhythm, saying: "Last season started off on a dark note and we just never really recovered. This season is a completely different energy."
With a new series on screen and a stable relationship off it, Cynthia appears focused on keeping things simple, enjoying the moment and stepping away from traditional expectations around marriage while continuing her long-running reality TV journey.
