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Home • Celebrity

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows

Besides social media, no medium gives us a more in-depth look at life in the spotlight than reality television. The likes of Tia and Tamera, SWV, and Toni Braxton turn down the glitz and glam to reveal that celebrities really are "just like us" — family drama and all. Now that Flex and Shanice are joining in the ranks of celebrity reality stars, we're taking a look at celebs who have revealed their personal lives for the cameras.
By Dreux Dougall and Yolanda Sangwe · Updated October 27, 2020
01
The Braxtons

Besides social media, no medium gives us a more in-depth look at life in the spotlight than reality television. The likes of Tia and Tamera, SWV, and Toni Braxton turn down the glitz and glam to reveal that celebrities really are “just like us” — family drama and all. Now that Flex and Shanice are joining in the ranks of celebrity reality stars, we’re taking a look at celebs who have revealed their personal lives for the cameras.

Traci, Evelyn, Toni, Towanda, Tamar and Trina Braxton (not pictured) give us a first-hand look into their family dynamics on their wildly successful reality show Braxton Family Values.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Paul Archuleta/ Getty
02
Flex and Shanice

The bubbly couple lets cameras in on life as a “broke celebrity” in the OWN reality show Flex and Shanice. Kudos to their honesty!

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
OWN
03
Kandi Burruss

A former member of XScape, Burruss is now a star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and has had two spin-off reality shows on Bravo, The Kandi Factory and Kandi’s Wedding.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Michael Rowe
04
Tia Mowry Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housely

The beloved twins we’ve watched growing up had their own reality show —Tia and Tamera — on the Style Network. The ended it in January 2014 after three seasons.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Michael Rowe
05
Kimora Lee Simmons

For four seasons we loved being voyeurs in the fabulous life of Kimora Lee Simmons on her show Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. The show ended in 2011.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
06
Run’s House

Featuring a successful family and ambitious children, hip-hop icon Rev. Run’s family reality show, Run’s House, earned obvious comparions to The Cosby Show. Through six seasons we got to watch Rev. Run and wife Justine Simmons raise Vanessa, Angela, Jojo, Diggy, and Russy.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
07
T.I. and Tiny

T.I. and Tiny’s family-friendly VH1 reality show Family Hustle (2011) earned them comparisons to the Rev. Run’s family. It’s currently in its fourth season.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
VH1
08
Keyshia Cole

Songbird Keyshia Cole’s reality show career thrived along with her music. She has starred in two shows — The Way It Is (2008) and Family First (2012) — both of which chronicled her family life. She’s currently working on her third reality show, slated to premiere in 2015.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Mark Davis/ Getty
09
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown

Whitney and Bobby both appeared on the ill-fated Bravo reality show Being Bobby Brown in 2005. It’s where we first got to hear Houston say her famous “Hell to the no” line.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Getty Image
10
LaLa Anthony

LaLa Anthony has revealed her hectic life as a wife, mother and career woman on her VH1 reality series, LaLa’s Full Court Life, for five seasons.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
11
Monica

Monica chronicled her return to the spotlight and life as a single mother on her BET reality show, Still Standing (2006).

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Johnny Louis/WENN.com
12
Diddy
Diddy
Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Getty Images
13
Chili
Chili
Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Getty Images
14
LisaRaye McCoy
LisaRaye McCoy
Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
David Livingston/Getty Images
15
Flavor Flav

Public Enemy hypeman Flavor Flav’s show Flavor of Love (2006) ran for three seasons and became one of VH1’s most watched programs.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
16
Salt N’ Pepa
Trailblazing Hip Hop supergroup Salt-N-Pepa reunited to perform their endless catalogue of hits and fan favorites at the 2009 ESSENCE Festival.
Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
17
Brandy and Ray-J

Brandy and her brother Ray-J hashed out their family drama on their reality show, Brandy and Ray-J: A Family Business (2010). Ray-J also had his own dating reality show, For the Love of Ray-J (2009) and currently stars on VH1’s Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
18
Ice-T

Ice-T and wife Coco have starred in the E! reality show Ice Loves Coco (2011) for three seasons.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
19
Toccara

America’s Next Top Model alumni Toccara tried to find love on the Donald Trump-produced reality dating game show The Ultimate Merger (2011).

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
20
Fantasia

We watched the American Idol winner work through many struggles—including a suicide attempt—on two seasons of her reality show, Fantasia For Real (2010).

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
21
Russell Simmons

We got a glimpse of the hip hop mogul’s hectic life juggling his career, fatherhood and spirituality on his reality show, Running Russell Simmons, which aired for one season.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
22
Mary Mary

For three seasons the sisters give us an intimate look into their lives as they make tough decisions about marriage and their careers on Mary, Mary.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
23
Tamar and Vince

The musicial couple work to find the perfect balance between marriage, parenthood and fame in their lip-popping series, Tamar & Vince on WeTV.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
24
SWV

Our favorite 90’s R&B group shows us how much is at stake when trying to get back on top nearly fifteen years later in SWV Reunited on WeTv.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
25
K. Michelle

From Love and Hip Hop Atlanta to Love and Hip Hop New York the soulful singer has finally landed her own show following her journey to the new K in the VH1 series, K. Michelle: My Life.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Rob Kim/Getty Images
26
Beverly Johnson

The legendary supermodel showcased life after the spotlight on her OWN reality show, Beverly’s Full House, co-starring her daughter Anansa Sims.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
27
LaToya Jackson

The enigmatic singer let camaeras in on her life as a Jackson on Life with Latoya on OWN.

Keeping it Real: Celebrities Who've Had Reality Shows
Courtesy of OWN