Luann de Lesseps

**Luann de Lesseps** (nee Nadeau; born May 17, 1965) is an American television personality, nurse, model, author, singer and philanthropist. She is best known for starring in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City.

## Early Life

de Lesseps was born Berlin, Connecticut. She is one of six children. Her father was of Algonquin and French descent and her mother is French Canadian.

## Career

de Lesseps was formerly a licenced practical nurse in Connecticut, as well as a Wilhelmina model.

In February 2011, she guest starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing a socialite who makes a gruesome discovery.

She wrote a book, Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair which was released April 16, 2009.

de Lesseps released her first single, "Money Can't Buy You Class" on May 25, 2010. She released her second single, "Chic C'est la Vie" in June 2011. She released a third single, "Girl Code" on July 6, 2015. She released her fourth single, "Feelin' Jovani" in June 2019. She released her fifth single, "Viva La Diva" in September 2020 and featured Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Desmond Child.

In February 2017, she played a role in the filmed Maternal Secrets in Bermuda.

In February 2018, she headlined her own cabaret show, called #CountessAndFriends, at Feinstein's/54 Below in Midtown Manhattan. The show features her singing songs alluding to her life as a Countess and reality television star, with appearances from celebrity friends like Rachel Dratch and Housewives co-star Sonja Morgan. In August 2018, she announced she would be taking the show on tour, with engagements scheduled in Long Island and New Jersey.

de Lesseps has been a guest on the show of Monét X Change.

### The Real Housewives of New York City

In 2008, Luann joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series for the first season. She appeared in the first five seasons before returning as a 'friend of the housewives' in Season 6. She then returned as a full-time housewife for Season 7 and has appeared in every season since.

#### **RHONY Taglines**

* Season 1, 2 and 3 - "I never feel guilty about being privileged."
* Season 4 - "I thought I had it good before but I'm just getting started."
* Season 5 - "To some people living elegantly just comes naturally."
* Season 7 - "One should know, never count out a Countess."
* Season 8 - "If you can't be cool, you can't hang with the Countess."
* Season 9 - "The only title I trade Countess for is wife."
* Season 10 - "The most interesting people make the best headlines."
* Season 11 - "I plead guilty to being fabulous."
* Season 12 - "Raise the curtain, lower the lights, I'm taking center-stage in my life."

## Personal Life

### Marriages and Children

de Lesseps has been married twice. She married her first husband, Count Alexandre de Lesseps in 1993 and together they have two children: Victoria (born 1994) and Noel (born 1996). The couple got divorced in 2009.

She was then in a long-term relationship with Jacques Azoulay before they split up.

She married her second husband, businessman Tom D'Agostino Jr. on December 31, 2016. They also got divorced in 2017.

### Philanthropy

de Lesseps is a champion for many charitable organisations including The American Cancer Society, GLAAD and ACE Partnership for the Homeless. She has most recently partnered with The Fortune Society which supports formerly incarcerated inmates by helping them build a successful life path as they re-enter into society.

### Legal Problems

In December 2017, she was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida on charges of disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest, battery of an officer, and making threats against a public servant. She was later released on her own recognisance, but was charged with a third-degree felony on January 25, 2018. After her release she entered an alcohol treatment program. She still suffers with addiction and has admitted that she has lost her socialite status.

In July 2018, she settled the charges stemming from her Palm Beach arrest, by agreeing to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charges of battery, disorderly intoxication, and trespassing. In exchange the felony charge of resisting an officer with violence was dropped, and de Lesseps ageed to fulfill 50 hours of community service, attend two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and to abstain from drinking alcohol for one year.

In May 2019, she was taken into custody over her alleged probation violations and later released. She completed her probation in August 2019.

## Family

**Husbands and Partners**

* Alexandre de Lesseps (Ex-husband; 1993-2009)
* Jacques Azoulay (Ex-boyfriend)
* Tom D'Agostino Jr. (Ex-husband; 2016-2017)

**Children**

* Victoria de Lesseps
* Noel de Lesseps

**Siblings**

* 5 Unknown Siblings

## Bibliography

* Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair - (April 16, 2009)

## Discography

 2011
 2015
 2019
 2020