NeNe Leakes Reflects on Season 1 Style: ‘Girl, Take It All Off and Start Over’
NeNe Leakes has never been one to shy away from telling it like it is — and that honesty extends to herself, especially when it comes to her fashion choices from Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
The OG peach and Swagg Boutique owner recently opened up in an interview with The Lookbook, offering some unfiltered (and hilarious) advice for her younger self — and let’s just say, Season 1 NeNe would not be spared.
“Oh my God, Season 1 NeNe would need to just do everything over,” she laughed. “I mean no, gosh, she should take her hair off and throw it away, change her makeup — like, really, girl?”
From bold wigs to ultra-glossy lips and dramatic eyeshadow, NeNe’s early look was full of attitude — but also, as she now admits, full of lessons.
“Season 1 NeNe needs to just take it all off, girl. Everything. Isn’t that crazy how you look in the mirror and you think the mirror’s telling you the truth, but my mirror lied to me a lot of times.”
It’s this kind of realness that fans love NeNe for. While many celebrities might shy away from poking fun at their past, NeNe embraces it with her signature humor and a good dose of self-love.
Over the years, fans have seen NeNe’s style evolve right alongside her confidence and on-camera presence. From bold prints and powerful jumpsuits to elegant red carpet gowns and custom pieces from her own boutique, she’s gone from reality TV rookie to certified fashion diva.
But it wasn’t just a stylist or glam squad that brought that evolution — it was the camera.
“Now when you get on camera,” NeNe explained, “the camera really tells you your angle, what’s not your angle, don’t wear that eyeshadow no more, fix that eyebrow, change the hair — oh God, the camera really says a lot. It does.”
For NeNe, being on TV gave her the opportunity to see herself the way the world did — and to grow from it. And that growth wasn’t just skin-deep.
“I learned to see myself differently,” she shared. “Not just in style, but in how I carried myself, how I showed up. You learn your power over time.”
Now, after nine seasons on RHOA, NeNe has become more than a fashion icon — she’s a blueprint. From her business ventures to her personal reinvention, she’s walked the walk, stilettos and all.
And while she may poke fun at her past looks, she does so with love — because Season 1 NeNe was the beginning of something unforgettable.
“She tried,” NeNe grinned. “She didn’t always win, but she showed up. And look where she got me. So hey — throw the wig away, but thank her too.”
