Nene Leakes Still Doesn't Know How Ryan Murphy Got Her Phone Number

"There are many different metrics one can use to measure a Real Housewife, from wealth to wine tossed, but perhaps the most valuable is memeability. And nobody has produced more memes than Nene Leakes. As an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Leakes was a critical force in putting the Bravo franchise on the map. Over the course of her ten-plus seasons, she produced countless iconic moments: telling Kim Zolciak, "Close your legs to married men"; expressing her horror at Kenya Moore's white refrigerator; hosting her "Girls and Gays Never Forget All White Party Seafood Soire.""

"Even after she abruptly left a reunion episode, kicking off a six-year hiatus from Bravo (during which she filed and later dropped a lawsuit against the network), her RHOA GIFs and screenshots continued to dominate group chats and comment sections. The meme-makers' collective dedication seems to have paid off, because Leakes is finally returning to the Housewives family this year in Ultimate Girls Trip, a 20th-anniversary edition of the spinoff that incorporates Housewives from various series, past and present."

"When did you know you made it as a reality star?I felt like I had become very known when I walked into the airport. Seriously, because when I walked into the airport, everybody was like, "Nene, Nene, Nene, Nene." I'm like, How do all these people know me? I must be somebody. What did you buy with your first paycheck?The first thing I bought, like everybody, was a car. A Range Rover."

"If you were to describe your onscreen persona in five words, what would they be?If I had to describe my TV persona, it would not be truly who I am, but I would say my TV persona is good girl, bad girl. In your face. Tell it like it is. Fun. Over"

Nene Leakes is credited with producing highly memeable moments that kept her presence strong even after leaving a reunion episode and taking a six-year hiatus. Her iconic lines and scenes include telling Kim Zolciak to “Close your legs to married men,” reacting to Kenya Moore’s white refrigerator, and hosting a themed party. Leakes is returning to the Housewives franchise in Ultimate Girls Trip, a 20th-anniversary spinoff featuring Housewives from multiple series. She describes realizing her fame when people recognized her in an airport. She says her first paycheck went toward buying a Range Rover. She also characterizes her on-screen persona as a mix of good and bad, direct, and fun.

Read at Vulture