Originally posted Monday, November 5, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Popularity nowadays in the pop culture world is in part measured by Instagram followings, more so than Twitter and Facebook.
While none of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast members approach Justin Bieber (102.5 million) or Ariana Grande (133 million), the four longest-running women on the show all have 2 million-plus followers.
Kandi Burruss is by far the leader at 5.8 million, well ahead of Porsha Williams (3.7 million).
And one of the newcomers Eva Marcille (2.3 million) already has more than Cynthia Bailey (2 million.). The other newbie Shamari DeVoe, who arrives episode three later this month, has a long way to go at 142,000.
Here is a list of current and former “Housewives,” as well as some part timers.
Kandi Burruss (season 2 to present): 5.8 million
She isn't afraid to use her Instagram as a political pulpit. She helped out with a fundraiser for Stacey Abrams last month and has multiple posts about doing work for her. Other recent posts include photos with NeNe Leakes, her daughter Riley and Barack Obama.
Porsha Williams (season 5 to present): 3.7 million
Her feed recently has had plenty of promotional fodder for her hair line and line of sheets. She also had shots of her gender reveal party for her baby and sharing pregnant bodies with Kenya Moore.
Kim Zolciak (seasons 1-5, friend, guest 9-10) : 2.8 million
She blatantly promotes stuff for money, such as a 310 Shake and a throw blanket. She also highlights her kids. (A family shot of them wearing Halloween costumes received 122,000 likes!)
NeNe Leakes (seasons 1-8, 10 to present): 2.7 million
She never looks less than fabulous in photos in Instagram.
Eva Marcille (seasons 10-present): 2.3 million
Her account is primarily a mix of photos of herself and her family, including her recent wedding.
Phaedra Parks (seasons 3-9): 2.2 million
She has been posting a lot of family photos and glamour shots. There is also the occasional upbeat quotation:
Cynthia Bailey (seasons 3 to present): 2 million
In recent weeks, she has promoted the RHOA show, voting (a Stacey Abrams supporter) and Flat Tummy Shakes.
Kenya Moore (seasons 5 to 10): 1.3 million
She posted photos of being pregnant and having her baby (but no baby photos yet.) She also has included recent shots of her with RHOA castmates Cynthia, Kenya and Porsha (not NeNe.)
Sheree Whitfield (seasons 1-4, seasons 8-10): 820,000
Though she’s off RHOA, she keeps busy on her Instagram showing up on red carpets of movie premieres, judging charity events, attending Obama’s recent Georgia rally and attending birthday parties.
Marlo Hampton (guest or friend for several seasons): 745,000
She shows off a more positive, less shady self than she does on the show in her Instagram posts.
Kim Fields (season 8): 733,000
She didn’t quite fit in with RHOA but she’s still pretty darn famous on her own. In recent weeks, she has run into Loretta Swit of M*A*S*H fame, Michael McDonald, Kenan Thompson and on “GMA” for a 1980s reunion with Bonnie Tyler, Nancy McKeon and others.
Demetrial McKinney (friend, guest, seasons 7-8): 542,000
She’s posting a lot of photos recently from the play she’s doing with Snoop Dogg, Eric Benet and Tamar Braxton.
Claudia Jordan (season 7): 435,000
She’s promoting the same Flat Tummy shake Cynthia is! And she was in Miami to stumping for Andrew Gillum for governor. And she posted a photo of herself with Stacey Abrams. She also recently started a morning show in Dallas.
Shamea Morton (guest, friend for several seasons): 233,000
She recently had a baby.
Lisa Wu (seasons 1-2): 202,000
Shamari DeVoe (present, starting season 11): 142,000
She’s promoting her upcoming appearance on the show, which will be either the third or fourth episode.
DeShawn Snow (season one): 15,400
Her appearance on the show preceded Instagram, which is probably why her number is relatively modest.
Tanya Sam (friend, season 11, yet to appear): 7,000
Expect that number to skyrocket once she shows up.
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