Sheree Whitfield: RHOA Star, Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur

Sheree Whitfield is a television personality and entrepreneur born January 2, 1970. She gained fame as an original Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member in 2008. Whitfield founded the fashion line She by Sheree, has three children, and has an estimated net worth of $800,000 in 2024.

Sheree Whitfield carved out a space in reality TV history as one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Over 15 years, she became known for memorable one-liners, complicated relationships, and a fashion line that took nearly a decade to launch. Her journey included multiple exits from RHOA, a high-profile divorce, and business ventures that kept fans watching.

Beyond the drama and designer clothes, Whitfield built a career as an author, designer, and media personality. She’s navigated personal challenges, including family health crises, while maintaining her position in Atlanta’s social scene. Her story offers a look at the reality behind reality TV success.

Early Life and Background

Sheree Whitfield was born on January 2, 1970, in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She attended Lomond Elementary School and Byron Junior High School before her life took unexpected turns. As a teenager, Whitfield became pregnant with her first daughter, Tierra Fuller, which changed her path significantly.

Details about her early education remain unclear. Recent discussions suggest she may have left school after becoming a mother, though Whitfield has not publicly confirmed specific educational milestones. What’s clear is that she moved to Atlanta and eventually connected with the city’s social elite, setting the stage for her television career.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta Journey

When Bravo launched The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008, Sheree Whitfield was among the five original cast members. She appeared in Seasons 1 through 4, establishing herself as the self-proclaimed “Bone Collector” who gathered information about other cast members. Her tagline and personality helped RHOA become Bravo’s highest-rated franchise.

Whitfield left the show after Season 4, only to return in Season 8 as a “friend of the housewives.” By Season 9, she’d earned her peach back as a full-time cast member. After Season 10, she departed again, reportedly due to a contract offer she considered too low. She made a guest appearance in Season 13 before returning full-time for Seasons 14 and 15.

In 2024, Bravo confirmed Whitfield would not return for Season 16. This marked her third firing from the show, making her the only Bravoleb with that distinction. Despite the ups and downs, she appeared in over 170 episodes across multiple seasons.

Marriage and Family Life

Sheree married Bob Whitfield, a former NFL offensive tackle, in 2000. The couple had two children together: Kairo and Kaleigh. Their marriage became a central storyline during RHOA’s early seasons as they navigated a contentious divorce that was finalized in 2007.

Much of the divorce drama played out on camera. Whitfield accused Bob of being absent from their children’s lives and failing to meet financial obligations. The split left lasting effects on their co-parenting relationship, with tensions occasionally resurfacing on the show.

In recent seasons, Whitfield shared a new chapter: becoming a grandmother. Her son Kairo welcomed a daughter named Mecca, and Whitfield embraced the role of “glamma” with enthusiasm. She hosted a sip-and-see party for Mecca that featured a step-and-repeat, showing she approaches grandparenting with the same flair she brings to everything else.

Relationship History After Divorce

After her divorce, Whitfield’s dating life became regular RHOA content. Her most publicized relationship was with Tyrone Gilliams, nicknamed “Prison Bae” by fans. Gilliams was incarcerated on wire fraud charges, and their relationship unfolded through prison visits and phone calls that aired on the show. The relationship ended after Gilliams was released, and the two struggled to connect outside prison walls.

Whitfield has also been linked to Martell Holt from Love & Marriage: Huntsville, though neither confirmed a serious relationship. Throughout her time on RHOA, she maintained that finding the right partner was challenging given her standards and the public nature of her life.

Her openness about dating struggles resonated with viewers who appreciated her honesty about the difficulties of finding love after 40, especially as a single mother with a public profile.

She by Sheree Fashion Line

The She by Sheree fashion line became one of the longest-running jokes in RHOA history. Whitfield announced the line in Season 1, promising it would launch soon. Years passed with fashion shows that featured no actual clothes and repeated delays that frustrated both cast members and viewers.

The situation reached meme status when Andy Cohen asked Whitfield at the Season 14 reunion when the line would finally be available. Her response—”September, Spring, Summer”—went viral and became shorthand for vague promises. The phrase made no logical sense but perfectly captured the confusing timeline of her fashion venture.

In 2022, She by Sheree finally launched online with joggers, apparel, and jewelry. The initial release crashed her website due to high demand, forcing customers to wait weeks for orders. Despite the rocky start, the line is currently operational and has received support from celebrities, including Rihanna.

Chateau Sheree: The Mansion Saga

Chateau Sheree, Whitfield’s custom mansion, provided another multi-season storyline. She purchased land and began construction on the estate, which was supposed to showcase her success and taste. The project faced constant delays, budget issues, and construction problems that played out over years of filming.

Cast members routinely questioned when Chateau Sheree would be finished, making it a running joke similar to her fashion line. The home became a symbol of Whitfield’s ambitious vision and the challenges of bringing that vision to reality. After years of work, the mansion was eventually completed, and Whitfield moved in during later seasons.

The final product featured multiple bedrooms, elegant finishes, and the space Whitfield had envisioned. While the construction saga tested her patience and finances, she ultimately achieved her goal of creating a home that reflected her status and style.

Other Business Ventures and Appearances

Beyond RHOA and fashion, Whitfield published a novel in 2017 titled “Wives, Fiancées, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta.” The romance novel follows Sasha Wellington, a fashion designer who launches her fashion house in Atlanta and navigates relationships with athletes and socialites. The plot clearly drew from Whitfield’s own experiences, though she fictionalized the details.

In 2024, Whitfield appeared as a contestant on Season 2 of The Traitors, a reality competition show. She competed alongside fellow RHOA alum Phaedra Parks and made it far in the game before being eliminated. Her appearance showed audiences a different side of her personality and introduced her to viewers who may not watch RHOA.

Whitfield has also made guest appearances on shows including The Game, Iyanla: Fix My Life, and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. She served as executive producer for Selling It: In the ATL and continues exploring opportunities beyond reality TV.

Net Worth and Income Sources

As of 2024, Sheree Whitfield has an estimated net worth of $800,000. This figure comes primarily from her RHOA salary, which varied depending on whether she was a full-time cast member or a friend of the show. Full-time housewives typically earn six-figure salaries per season, while friends earn considerably less.

Her income streams also include She by Sheree sales, though exact revenue figures are not publicly available. The fashion line likely provides supplemental income rather than serving as her primary source of earnings. Real estate investments, including Chateau Sheree, contribute to her overall net worth but also represent significant expenses given construction and maintenance costs.

Public appearances, sponsored social media posts, and other media opportunities add to her income. Whitfield has leveraged her RHOA fame into a broader personal brand, though she hasn’t achieved the same business success as some of her co-stars, like Kandi Burruss.

Personal Challenges and Family Health

In March 2023, Whitfield shared that her father had passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. She had been estranged from him for much of her childhood after her parents divorced, making his death particularly complicated emotionally. She posted a tribute on social media that included photos of him in his military uniform and expressed gratitude for the support she received.

Exactly one year later, in March 2024, Whitfield revealed her mother, Thelma Ferguson, had also been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She explained this was why she’d been less active on social media, as she’d been caring for her mother and processing the back-to-back diagnoses. The situation was especially difficult given she’d just lost her father to the same disease.

Whitfield has used her platform to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia, encouraging followers to cherish time with family and support research into treatments. She’s been open about feeling helpless watching both parents suffer from cognitive decline while trying to keep them comfortable.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Sheree Whitfield gave reality TV some of its most quotable moments. “Who gon check me, boo?” became an instant classic during a Season 2 fight with Kim Zolciak. The phrase has been referenced, remixed, and memed countless times across social media and pop culture.

Her role as the “Bone Collector” established an RHOA archetype: the housewife who always knows the tea and isn’t afraid to share it. This positioned her as both a source of information and conflict within the cast dynamic. Her willingness to confront other housewives and call out inconsistencies made her valuable to producers.

Whitfield’s impact on RHOA extends beyond catchphrases. She was part of the original cast that made the Atlanta franchise Bravo’s most successful. The show’s early seasons, featuring Whitfield, NeNe Leakes, Kim Zolciak, and others, set the template for what RHOA would become.

Despite three firings, Whitfield maintained relevance in reality TV circles. Her appearance on The Traitors introduced her to new audiences and showed she could succeed in different formats. Whether she returns to RHOA in the future remains uncertain, but her place in the show’s history is secure.

Her story illustrates both the opportunities and challenges of reality TV fame. She built a recognizable brand but struggled to translate that into lasting business success. She achieved wealth and recognition but also faced public scrutiny of her personal life and relationships.

Whitfield continues engaging with fans on social media and pursuing opportunities beyond RHOA. She remains active in Atlanta’s social scene and focuses on family, particularly her role as a grandmother. Whatever comes next, she’s already cemented her status as an OG housewife who helped define the franchise.