Love is in the air for Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey.
“I’m very much in love,” Bailey, 57, exclusively told Us Weekly on the Bravo Fan Fest red carpet on Saturday, November 23, at Ice Palace Studios in Miami, Florida. “You know, dating is really not easy, especially at this point in my life.”
She continued, “I am, you know, a little up there, [a] woman of a certain age, but I will say that I just said to God, send me my person. I didn’t give him a list or anything, and Amsterdam showed up, and it’s been almost eight months now, and I’m really happy.”
During a panel later in the night, Bailey gushed over her new beau and revealed that he is on the younger side. “I’m dating an amazing young guy, from Amsterdam,” she said. “I wasn’t looking for a young guy. He found me.”
Bailey confirmed again she met her boyfriend “almost eight months ago” and “it’s been going really well,” saying, “I’m having fun.”
Speaking with Us, Cynthia shared the story of how she first met the younger man, whose name she has not publicly revealed. “Well, we actually saw each other for the first time at an event in L.A. and we didn’t talk, but he did slide into my DMs a couple of days later, and it worked.”
Bailey went on to say that the couple is “not really on social media or anything,” but RHOA fans may be able to catch a glimpse of him on the show.
“You do see some snippets of him,” she shared with Us. “Like, we FaceTime a lot. And every time we would FaceTime, the cameras would be zooming in, so you might get a little sneak peek.”
She added with a laugh, “He doesn’t even watch the show. He has no idea what’s happening.”
Cynthia is set to return to RHOA season 16 as a “friend,” after she was previously a full-time Housewife from seasons 3 to 13 and appearing as a guest on season 15. She told Us she isn’t ready to return as a full-time cast member just yet.
“Not right now. I won’t say ever, but I will say not right now,” she said. “My focus is definitely my acting career. I was a housewife for over a decade. I’m still enjoying being able to focus on other things right now, such as my acting.”
She noted to Us that “acting is my priority now,” but returning as an official friend for season 16 was “a really great way for me to live my best life and also stay connected to Atlanta Housewives.” Cynthia also recently started a podcast called “Humble Brag” with Crystal Minkoff.
“I feel like I’m really in the sweet spot right now,” she said. “I still get to film with the ladies. I get to go on the trips. I actually filmed with them quite a bit, so you guys will see a lot of me in season 16. I have a whole other life as well that I don’t have to share as a non-housewife if I don’t want to.”
She concluded, “I’m really glad I came back, because I had an amazing time. Season 16 is going to be incredible. You guys are in for a treat.”
Reporting by Alexandra Hurtado