Everything You Need to Know About RHONY's Leah McSweeney

The ladies of RHONY are back to serve up the martinis, gossip, and all-around drama, only this year they’ve got a brand new housewife to ramp up their weekly antics. Already deemed this year’s bad girl, Leah McSweeney is causing quite the stir on the New York campus. Here’s everything you need to know about the show’s latest addition as she continues to light up the screen, and why you should probably watch her.

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1 / 10

She’s a native New Yorker

It’s no secret Leah knows her way around the mean streets of New York — she was born there after all. In fact she attended Covenant of the Sacred Heart, aka the same Manhattan private school that Lady Gaga, Nicky Hilton, and Dorinda and Ramona’s daughters went to. However Leah was mysteriously expelled when she was 13 years old, at which time she and her mom moved to Connecticut and embraced the Yankee lifestyle for a while instead.

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2 / 10

She’s a fashion brand owner

In 2004, when streetwear brands were gaining popularity, Leah invoked her inner fashionista and launched Married to the Mob, a brand that focuses on strong female statements and has been embraced by celebrities and fashion mavens alike. So far the label has collaborated with more than 30 brands (like Nike and MCM), making it one of the better known labels in the business.

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3 / 10

Rihanna is a fan

Leah totally keeps tabs on the celebs who have sported her brand, including Cara Delevingne and Rihanna. In fact, when she met the latter at a Met Gala after-party she totally brought it up. What was RiRi’s response? According to Leah, the “Umbrella” singer told her to get over there, and then gave her a huge hug. Now that’s something to add to your resume.

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4 / 10

She was once arrested after a concert

So how did Leah find the funds to launch her successful business? Well that was a matter of making lemonade, so to speak. Once, following a concert, Leah was hanging out with a guy she was seeing when police stepped onto the scene and things with several concert-goers turned ugly. At the time Leah was arrested and had her head slammed into a grate, which led her to pursuing legal action to the tune of $75,000. Not only did the cash fund her future ventures, but she later called the arrest a wake-up call.

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5 / 10

Leah’s a mom

Leah shares her 12-year-old daughter, Kier (nicknamed Kiki) with ex-boyfriend Rob Cristofaro. The pair are still friendly and have managed to shoulder the co-parenting gig pretty well, which we’ll all see snippets of on the show. In fact this entire family seems to get along pretty well, which means we may have some new #ParentingGoals to look forward to as the season progresses.

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She also hustles as a columnist and podcaster

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6 / 10

Leah also hustles as a columnist and podcaster

Fashion isn’t the only creative outlet Leah turns to when she has something to say — she’s also a regular contributor to places like Penthouse, and she hosts a podcast called Improper Etiquette with radio personality Laura Stylez. It’s through those places that she chats about things like being a “boss woman” or doles out relationship advice, rounding out her lifestyle personality quite nicely, don’t you think?

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7 / 10

Her net worth is pretty impressive

So what does being a fashion brand owner, a columnist, podcaster, and an online influencer nab Leah, money-wise? She has a reported $2.4 million net worth, and that bottom line is only expected to start climbing now that she’s also gaining notoriety on the Housewives franchise. Not. Too. Shabby.

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8 / 10

She has a super interesting tagline

Leah’s tagline, “I may float like a butterfly, but I sting like a bitch,” is obviously a play on the Muhammad Ali quote, but it also speaks to her overall personality. She looks sweet and innocent thanks to her blond hair, flashy smile and valley girl voice, but get to know her and she is harder than a diamond when backed into a corner. The other ladies should definitely take note not to underestimate this one.

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9 / 10

She’s very active

If you need an indication of just how into fitness Leah can be, she spent her night in jail all those years ago doing sit-ups. Now she counts boxing, hiking, and sessions with her personal trainer among some of her favourite keep-fit activities. They’re definitely working out for her, wouldn’t you say?

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10 / 10

She’s ready to bring the drama

“I thrive in chaos,” Leah told The Cut ahead of her RHONY premiere. “It’s part of being a good Housewife. Like, you better love chaos and conflict, because it’s part of the show, and it’s part of the dynamic between the women.” The bottom line? Leah isn’t one to back down in a fight, nor is she someone to sugarcoat things. Given that, we can’t wait to see how the rest of her interactions with the other Housewives play out over the remainder of the season.

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