Tinsley Mortimer

While most audiences became acquainted with her when she joined the cast of the massively popular reality series "Real Housewives of New York City" (Bravo, 2008-), Tinsley Mortimer was a formidable presence in the fashion world for much longer. Born Tinsley Mercer in South Carolina in 1975, Mortimer attended the University of South Carolina for one year before taking a year off to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Washington D.C. At the end of her break, she opted to begin her academic studies over again at Columbia University, where she eventually graduated with a degree in art history.

With her own notoriety as a Manhattan socialite steadily growing, Mortimer would eventually find success in the world of fashion and marketing, selling a line of handbags through Japanese luxury fashion house Samantha Thavasa, and eventually launching her own clothing line, Riccime by Tinsley Mortimer. Mortimer's frequent presence at chic and sophisticated gatherings led to her making a cameo appearance on the premiere episode of the series "Gossip Girl" (CW, 2007-2012), and eventually starring on her own short-lived reality series "High Society" (CW, 2010). Mortimer published a novel, Southern Charm in 2013 before joining the cast of "Real Housewives" in 2017.