10 Things You Didn't Know About Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Nene Leakes
Former The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes, known for her no-nonsense attitude and love of the spotlight, has been in the public eye long enough that most fans know all there is to know about her--but there are still some surprising facts they might not be aware of. From which pet she adores most to what TV show she appeared on before RHOA, here are 10 things you didn’t know about NeNe Leakes!
1) She was adopted
Many people don’t know that NeNe wasn’t born with her name. She was adopted and took on her adoptive parents’ surname, Leakes. Later in life, she decided to return to her birth name (Kleber) but changed it again in 2002 to Nene. I decided about three years ago that I wanted my kids to know where they came from, and I wanted my family back home to know them, she told People magazine at the time. It’s essential for me now and for my future. And if you were wondering, there are other famous people named NeNe, but they're all spelled differently (like New York Knicks player Tyson Chandler).
2) Her past was complicated
Nene was born in Newark, New Jersey, to an African-American father and an Italian-American mother. Growing up, her family was poor; at one point, her family lived in a homeless shelter for two years. At 10 years old, she moved with her mother and younger sister to Medford Township, New Jersey, where she attended Franklin Elementary School and later went to Millburn High School. While in high school, she became pregnant but dropped out before graduating.
3) She had to overcome a lot in her life to succeed as she did
There were many times when Leakes thought about throwing in the towel and quitting, but she did not let her fear stop her from following her dreams. Don’t give up on your dreams, she says. If you love to act and you have that dream to be a star, don’t quit just because someone tells you it is impossible. If I could make it through some challenging situations, anything can happen if I try hard enough.
4) What she learned along the way
The one piece of advice she would pass on to her younger self: Stay true to yourself. You can’t fit in with everyone. Stay true to who you are and stay in your lane. When asked what she might say to herself if she could go back and talk with a 20-something version of herself, Nene quickly replied, I would tell myself not to worry about anybody else’s business but my own. It’s a lot easier said than done, though. I mean, everybody worries about what other people think.
According to Nene, her most important lesson came from observing one of her colleagues at an upscale strip club in Miami during their first year. We were celebrating, and I had a drink in my hand and saw that my girl was on stage. This is not something that I would normally do—act like I wasn’t even there. But she was having fun and enjoying herself, so why shouldn’t she? Right then, I decided to give myself permission to enjoy life and have fun as much as possible. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to work hard or take care of business; it just means you don’t have to take yourself too seriously all the time.
5) Nene isn’t concerned with what others think
Although RHOA is notorious for its catfights, fights, and faux friendships, there’s one thing about it that everyone can agree on: Nene Leakes is completely unfiltered. The 54-year-old reality TV star will blurt out whatever’s on her mind with no hesitation at all; in fact, that’s pretty much her catchphrase.
On top of that, she doesn’t give two hoots about what others think or says about her. She famously got into a heated exchange with fellow RHOA star NeNe Leakes (no relation) over whether or not she was black enough for her, with NeNe telling her to stop talking like a white girl. In response, Nene told NeNe to go s*** in your pillow and go to sleep! When NeNe claimed she had nothing else nice to say about her, an unfazed Nene replied: So you have something bad to say about me? Well, I don’t really care.
6) She is relatable
While some people might think that celebrities are out of touch with their fans, Nene can be extremely relatable at times. For example, she recently discussed how her sons had a hard time adjusting to having a new brother at home. This can give viewers and readers an opportunity to connect with her. It also helps when she addresses things like bullying and racism, two issues that affect many people around the world every day.
She does not get along with all her co-stars: Some celebrities enjoy working with everyone on their show, but that is not always true for Nene. In fact, she doesn’t even like some of her fellow cast members. Her feud with Porsha Williams is well-known, and she has also shown tension with Kenya Moore in the past. Despite these differences, she remains the main character in The Real Housewives of Atlanta. According to VH1, viewers can expect more drama from her feuds in future seasons as well.
7) She doesn’t like confrontation
Yes, she stirs up drama on every episode of RHOA, but behind the scenes, Nene is not as confrontational as you might expect. In fact, her bestie from college has been her roommate for nearly 20 years, and she only married Gregg Leakes a couple of years ago. She goes to church every week: With nearly 2 million Twitter followers, it’s easy to assume that everyone knows about Nene's love for God and religion.
She’s a philanthropist: Not only is she well known for her charitable efforts, but she also has been involved in countless non-profit organizations, including Make A Wish Foundation. She isn’t afraid to take risks: While you might think that someone with a net worth of $15 million has never taken a chance in her life, you would be very wrong! From starting out as a stripper to doing standup and playing poker professionally, there’s nothing that Nene won’t try at least once.
8) She can be sweet
In an interview with Jay Leno, Kim explained that her mom taught her how to always be nice and not to speak badly about others. It's something she hasn’t forgotten. In fact, Kim often praises Nene for being a genuinely sweet person. Nene is really one of my favorite people on reality TV, and she once told The Dish Dish. I think that people forget that she is a loving mother and grandmother.
At one point in her life, Nene had a reputation for being something of a diva. According to her Bravo bio, she has even nicknamed NeNe—as in no one. But that was before she made it big on reality TV. She may still have a flair for drama, but fans know now that there's no mean spirit behind it all.
9) There are two sides to every story
Much like with any TV show, there is always a happy medium when it comes to housewives. This means that while we see all of the drama, we never get to see what’s happening behind closed doors. If you are one who believes that there are always two sides to every story (even if both sides aren’t pretty), then you should definitely check out Luenell’s hilarious web series for ThatGrapeJuice.tv and find out more about your favorite television personality, Nene Leakes! Luenell takes on her character, Teresa Fears, in The Other Side: With Teresa Fears, and tells you ten things that you probably never knew about Nene!
10) Gossip isn’t fun for her
While Nene loves a good scandalous story, she’s quick to defend those she loves. She wasn’t thrilled when reports circulated that her husband had an affair with another woman. The rumors have been proven false, but they still upset her enough to address them in an episode of her own show! Rumors and gossip just aren’t fun for Nene when they involve real people who are important in her life.