Brandi Glanville used to be the blueprint for the "chaos" housewife. She walked onto the screen in 2011 on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) rocking crutches and a short dress, immediately annoying every woman in the room. People loved it. She was the filter-free truth-teller who wasn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with the Richards sisters in a game night from hell.
But look at her today.
Honestly, the Brandi Glanville then and now comparison isn't just about aging or changing styles. It’s a heavy story of medical mysteries, financial cliff-dives, and a legal battle that basically put her career on ice. If you haven't checked in on her lately, you might not even recognize the person she’s become—physically or professionally.
From Supermodel to the "Scorned Wife" Narrative
Back in the early 2000s, Brandi was mostly known as the stunning blonde on the arm of actor Eddie Cibrian. She was a working model—Paris, Milan, the whole bit—since she was 16. She walked for Chanel and Gucci. She lived that high-glamour life until it all blew up in 2009.
The world watched as Eddie left her for LeAnn Rimes. It was a tabloid bloodbath.
When she joined RHOBH in Season 2, she was broke and broken-hearted. She didn't have a house. She barely had a car her dad didn't have to co-sign for. That was the "then." She was the underdog we all wanted to see win. She wrote a New York Times bestseller, Drinking and Tweeting, and it felt like she was finally getting her power back.
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The Medical Mystery That Changed Everything
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025. The conversation shifted from her sharp tongue to her face. Fans started noticing severe swelling. People on the internet, being as lovely as they usually are, accused her of "bad fillers" or botched surgery.
The reality was much scarier.
Brandi spent nearly two years in a medical tailspin. She originally thought she’d contracted a "facial parasite" while filming Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip (RHUGT) in Morocco. She described it as feeling like something was "having babies" in her face. Gross? Yes. Terrifying? Absolutely.
- 2023: Diagnosed with stress-induced angioedema (massive swelling).
- Late 2024: She dissolved every bit of filler in her face to find answers.
- Early 2025: She sought help from Dr. Terry Dubrow (Botched), who suspected a deep-seated infection rather than a parasite.
- August 2025: Finally, a breakthrough.
Working with an infectious disease specialist, Dr. Michael Scoma, Brandi revealed her "parasite" was actually a combination of a bone infection and a deep skin infection (Staph). She ended up with a PICC line—an IV going basically into her heart—to pump in the heavy-duty antibiotics needed to save her face.
By late 2025, she finally started looking like herself again. But the cost was astronomical. She’s gone on record saying she spent over $130,000 on medical bills, exhausting her savings.
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Why Brandi Glanville Then and Now Looks So Different Career-Wise
The "then" version of Brandi was a reality TV staple. If a show needed ratings, they called her. Celebrity Big Brother, The Traitors, My Kitchen Rules. She was everywhere.
The "now" version is much more isolated.
Everything changed during the filming of RHUGT Season 5 in Morocco. An incident involving fellow cast member Caroline Manzo led to Brandi being sent home early. Manzo later filed a lawsuit against Bravo and its parent companies, alleging sexual harassment and assault by Glanville.
Brandi has vehemently denied this. She claims the "false narrative" ruined her life.
Because of the legal drama, the season was shelved. Brandi lost jobs. She said she was "contemplating suicide" during the darkest months because she couldn't work and her looks were failing her simultaneously. To make ends meet, she eventually joined OnlyFans, a move she admitted was born out of financial desperation.
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Where She Stands Today
It's 2026, and Brandi seems to be in a "reset" phase.
She moved into a new home recently, which she’s called a "fresh start." Her health is finally stabilizing. On her podcast, Brandi Glanville Unfiltered, she’s been more vulnerable than ever. She’s not just talking about who’s sleeping with whom anymore; she’s talking about the mental toll of being a "villain" and the reality of aging in a town that hates it.
She’s also managed to get to a decent place with her ex, Eddie. They’ve been co-parenting their two sons, Mason and Jake, for over a decade now. Watching her boys grow up—Mason even started modeling himself—seems to be the one thing that keeps her grounded.
Practical Lessons from the Brandi Saga
Looking at the Brandi Glanville then and now trajectory, there are some pretty loud takeaways for the rest of us:
- Diversify your income. Relying on a single "reality star" paycheck is risky. When the cameras stop rolling (or a lawsuit starts), the money dries up fast.
- Health is wealth. Stress isn't just a feeling; it physically manifested for Brandi as angioedema. Take the "stress will kill you" warning seriously.
- Audit your cosmetic choices. If you use fillers, ensure you have a "dissolve" plan and work with board-certified doctors who can spot an infection before it becomes a bone-deep crisis.
- Document your truth. Whether it's through a podcast or social media, Brandi’s transparency about her medical bills and "ugly" phases actually helped her find the doctor who eventually saved her face.
The Brandi we see now isn't the same woman who threw wine in Malibu. She’s older, she’s been through the medical ringer, and she’s broke but rebuilding. It’s a reminder that even the most "unbreakable" personalities can be brought to their knees by a mix of bad luck and bad timing.
If you want to stay updated on her recovery or see her latest projects, checking out her YouTube series is the best way to see the "now" version of Brandi without the Bravo filter.
Next Steps: You can follow Brandi’s health journey directly on her podcast or her Instagram, where she frequently posts updates on her recovery and new business ventures. Be sure to check for verified medical sources if you are experiencing similar skin or swelling issues, as her case was a rare medical exception.