Garcelle Beauvais didn’t just join the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills—she made history as the first Black cast member on the long-running show. But that was only one chapter in her story. Before reality TV fame, she had already built a diverse and impressive resume that spanned modeling, acting, producing, writing, and even launching her own businesses.
She’s been on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, walked for Calvin Klein, starred alongside Eddie Murphy, written children’s books, hosted a podcast, and founded a home decor brand. Garcelle Beauvais has lived multiple lives in one—and continues to do so, even after reality TV made her a household name.
While Real Housewives of Beverly Hills introduced Garcelle to a new generation, her career was already packed with bold moves and unexpected pivots.
“I knew the lead girl in a Black is Beautiful commercial and I decided to drive to Fort Lauderdale without an appointment and see if the agency she was with would consider representing me,”
Garcelle told Tokyo Journal in 2015.
Her journey before Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Born on November 26, 1966, in Saint-Marc, Haiti, Garcelle moved to the U.S. at age 7 with her mother and six siblings. She spoke only Creole and French at the time and taught herself English by watching Sesame Street. Her early life was far from glamorous, but it shaped her drive.
At 16, she moved to Miami to model. On her way to an agency, a woman at a red light startled her by reaching into her car window. That woman turned out to be the very agency owner Garcelle was heading to see.
“It was the person who had stopped behind me and by chance she was the owner of the agency,” she recalled.
That wild coincidence helped launch her modeling career, which eventually led her to New York and a contract with Ford Models.
Before Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Garcelle had already lived the kind of career people write memoirs about—and she did just that with Love Me as I Am in 2022.
Real estate moves and future plans
According to Celebrity Net Worth, as of March 2025, Garcelle has an estimated net worth of $4 million. In addition to her many jobs and roles, Garcelle has made savvy real estate moves. She owns a $1.2 million home in Northridge, California, and in 2021, she bought a beach cottage in Oxnard with plans to rebuild. By early 2024, she had completed a brand-new 2,700-square-foot home on that property.
These days, Garcelle Beauvais isn’t slowing down. Whether she’s developing new projects, managing her brands, or appearing on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she’s always on the move. And while reality TV may have reintroduced her to the spotlight, it’s clear that Garcelle’s star power goes far beyond the cameras and confessionals.
Producing, podcasting, and pushing boundaries
Garcelle isn’t just about being in front of the camera—she’s just as ambitious behind it. She produced the films And Then There Was You and Resilient Hearts, as well as the short film Lalo’s House. In 2020, she launched the series Cooking with Critters and began hosting her podcast, Going to Bed with Garcelle.
She also created a children's jewelry line called Petit Bijou and launched a home decor brand, Garcelle at Home. That same year, she secured a first-look development deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Entertainment—proof that her ambitions had outgrown the screen.
Her ventures outside of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are a testament to her business acumen. From creative storytelling to brand development, Garcelle isn’t just building a career—she’s building a legacy.
Making history on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
When Garcelle joined Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in its tenth season, it marked a turning point for the franchise. She became the first Black woman to join the main cast in over a decade of the show’s history. Her presence added not only visibility but also depth to the conversations happening on and off screen.
Though the reality show put her under a different kind of spotlight, Garcelle handled it with grace and honesty—even when it came with stress. In a 2022 interview with People, she opened up about how the show sometimes affected her health.
“The more I stressed about it, the more [eczema patches] would come out,” she said.
Still, her role on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills only elevated her platform and reminded audiences that she’s always been more than just reality TV.