Braunwyn Windham-Burke became a reality TV star practically overnight.
Braunwyn toldEntertainment Tonightit was a “dream come true” to be cast on the show.
Here’s the untold truth of Braunwyn Windham-Burke.
ButBraunwyn’s marriage to Seanwasn’t always perfect, as infidelity almost split the Burkes up years ago.
“I just didn’t want to be a single mom anymore,” she revealed.
Braunwyn and Sean would later go on to have marital issues, but more on that later.
“I always felt a little bit not right, especially in social situations.”
She also revealed toPeoplethat her own father died of a heart attack due to alcoholism.
Braunwyn found herself going down that same path before admitting to herself and others that she had a problem.
“It was a huge weight off my shoulders,” she later said on Bravo’sWatch What Happens Live.
Braunwyn recounted her history of alcoholism further in a personal op-ed published inGlamour.
She started drinking alcohol when she was just 14.
Whenever she’d drink, she’d drink until she passed out or became sick.
“I started taking Xanax and drinking, and it spiraled.
It was awful.”
Braunwyn Windham-Burke has a total of seven kids with hubby, Sean Burke.
“Braunwynn, you have more than a basketball team of kids,” she quipped.
“We still felt like someone was missing.”
By the time she used up all her embryos, Braunwyn had seven children.
It’s probably a nice break for the mom who said she spent almost 18 yearsbreastfeeding!
Conversely, while living in Miami, Braunwyn felt as though people looked at her as being more conservative.
Once an Orange County girl, always an Orange County girl it seems.
“I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 19 years now,” Braunwyn toldThe Orange County Registerin 2019.
“So when [producers] initially reached out to me I said, ‘You know what?
“I’ve learned a lot about myself,” she added.
“I like women.
I’m gay,” she exclaimed in the December 2020 interview.
“It’s taken me 42 years to say that.”
And though it was a surprise, true “Housewives” fans may have already suspected it.
Although Braunwyn was never openly gay on the show, there were certain clues she was queer.
Like the time Braunwynmade outwith former co-starTamra Judge.
However, “Real Housewives” fans should’ve seen the shakeup coming.
After all, almost every couple who has televised theirvowrenewalson the show have later broken up.
Look atVicki and Donn GunvalsonandShannon and David Beador.
Need we say more?
However, this situation isn’t as simple as two people merely drifting apart.
“We are not sleeping in the same bedroom right now, but we are in the same house.
We are raising our kids together, he’s my best friend.”
He even knows who Braunwyn is dating.
That same month,Page Sixspotted Braunwyn and Sean in Santa Barbara celebrating their daughter’s birthday.
Looks like this open marriage thing is working out for them so far.
Even so, she seems to be able to give each child the attention and support they deserve.
Braunwyn toldPeopleher daughter gave her the green light to discuss her struggles on the reality show.
“She said, “Anything ‘cause I wanna help whoever I can,'” Braunwyn shared.
“We’ve always been drinking buddies.”
Despite the fear, Braunwyn knew she had to sober up.
She toldEntertainment Tonightshe quit drinking on January 23, 2020.
However, this wasn’t the first time she’d tried to get sober.
“I went to rehab 10 years ago, this is not new,” she revealed.
She thought she could do it on her own and just stop drinking, but it proved too difficult.
“She got me through a day that was so hard I was physically shaking.”
They’re clearly #friendshipgoals.
“I had to get it cut out.
I have a huge scar.”
Braunwyn shared with fans the news via an Instagram story (perBravo) to caution fans.
In one photo, she wrote “Get checked often!”
to remind people to be on top of their health.
Braunwyn isn’t the only housewife who’s been diagnosed with skin cancer, either.
According to Bravo, alumTamra Judge was also diagnosed with skin cancer.
Yes, you read that right.
It looks like Braunwyn and her family live pretty lavishly in Orange County.
However, it looks like they’ve won in this situation.
Braunwyn gave viewers a tour of her new estate onBravo, and we’re officially jealous.
“We have so much fun in here.
We bet they do!
How does she do it?
According toBravo, she also loves working out atOrangetheory, a group fitness studio with locations across the country.
Braunwyn is clearly proud of her bod.
She loves sharing sexy swimsuit photos of herself, likethis one, with her many, many Instagram followers.
Braunwyn also likes sharing fitness and diet tips.
“I work out to be strong instead of skinny,” she explained to one user.
“It kinda shifted my entire mind set.”
Braunwyn also swears byBelly Bandit, which helps her get rock hard abs after every pregnancy.
Two years after the big reveal, Braunwyn toldPeoplethat her sobriety is still a work-in-progress.
“It was learning how to deal with what I never thought I could.
The second year was where the real work began.”
She has also found strength from helping others who are trying to get sober.
She frequently uses herInstagramto do just that.
She also reminded viewers that they’re never alone.
The couple broke up several months later.
In 2021, Braunwyn dated fitness instructor Fernanda Rocha, according toE!
Braunwyn toldThe Sunin 2022 that Brito is in fact her girlfriend, and they even live together part-time.
“I am definitely smitten,” she told the mag.
She continued, saying, “I have a beautiful relationship.
I met her in New York and she feels like home to me.
There’s no other way to describe it.”
While speaking toThe Sunin April 2022, Braunwyn said that she shares an NYC pad with Brito.
“I’m living my life authentically as a gay woman.
I’m in love, it just feels good.
