Heather Jill Gay (née Deans; born June 29, 1974) is an American television personality, businesswoman and author. She is best known for appearing as a main cast member on the reality television series, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, since the show's inception in 2020.
Heather Gay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Heather Jill Deans June 29, 1974[1] |
| Education | Brigham Young University[2] [3] |
| Occupations | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Whitney Rose (third cousin) |
Early life
editGay was born in Carmel, California to parents John & Susan (Carver) Deans.[8] She grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[9]
Career
editTelevision
editGay first gained notability after the premiere episode of the Bravo reality television series, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, in which she has starred since 2020. She has also been featured in the third season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, alongside co-star and cousin Whitney Rose.
In addition to her appearances on The Real Housewives franchise, Gay has also appeared on talk shows including The Wendy Williams Show, Sherri and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. In late 2022, she made a guest appearance on Below Deck Adventure.
Businesses
editIn 2017, Gay and co-owner Andrea Nord, founded and launched a medical spa services company, Beauty Lab + Laser, in Murray, Utah.[10] Beauty Lab + Laser opened a second location in Riverton, Utah in 2022.[11]
Authoring
editIn February 2023, Gay published her book, Bad Mormon: A Memoir, which made The New York Times Best Seller list.[2][failed verification]
Personal life
editIn July 2000, Gay married Frank William "Billy" Gay III at the Laie Hawaii Temple.[3] Billy is the grandson of prominent business executive Frank William Gay and nephew of Robert C Gay, a general authority of the LDS Church and former CEO of Huntsman Gay Global Capital (HGGC).
The couple separated after 11 years of marriage but their divorce was not finalized until 2014.[12]
Gay has opened up about utilizing the diabetes drug "Ozempic" for weight loss purposes with various media outlets. She has lost over 30 pounds according to People magazine. She has received some backlash for using the drug for weight-loss due to her pro-body positivity views.[13][14]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–present | The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City | Herself | Reality show; main cast |
| 2022 | The Wendy Williams Show | Herself | Talk show |
| 2022 | Below Deck Adventure | Herself | Guest |
| 2023 | Sherri | Herself | Talk show |
| 2023 | The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip | Herself | Main cast; Season 3 |
Bibliography
edit- Bad Mormon: A Memoir (2023) ISBN 978-1982199531 [2]
References
edit- ^ a b Safronova, Valeriya (February 2, 2023). "Heather Gay of 'Real Housewives' Knows She's a 'Bad Mormon'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c Bad Mormon. Simon & Schuster. 7 February 2023. ISBN 9781982199531. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Gay, Deans are married". The Park Record. Park City, Utah. August 9, 2000. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Willets, Melissa (February 1, 2023). "'RHOSLC' Star Heather Gay Is a Single Mom Whose Net Worth Is Pretty Impressive". Distractify. Engrost Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Stephan, Katcy (October 15, 2022). "'RHOSLC' Cast on Jen Shah's Guilty Plea, Friendship Fallouts and 'Tumultuous and Traumatizing' Season". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Cuby, Michael (February 7, 2023). "Real Housewife Heather Gay on Jen Shah, Black Eyes, and Writing a Memoir". Interview Magazine. Brant Publications, Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Rissmiller, Mitch (February 7, 2023). "Heather Gay says it feels good to be a 'Bad Mormon'". TODAY.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "JOHN DEANS OBITUARY". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 18, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Smyth, Tom (February 7, 2023). "Real Housewives Helped Heather Gay Actually Get Real". The Cut - New York Magazine. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Beauty Lab & Laser, LLC". Better Business Bureau. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Salt Lake Tribune". She’s known for ‘Real Housewives of SLC,’ but Heather Gay has built a booming business. September 27, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Pierce, Scott (April 1, 2022). "One woman's exit from the LDS Church plays out on 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "RHOSLC's Heather Gay Says She Felt 'Pressure' to Take Ozempic, It Showed Her 'Body Positivity Was All a Big Lie'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ Simpson, Kaitlin (2024-02-28). "RHOSLC's Heather Gay Opens Up Turning to Ozempic: 1st Look". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2024-03-05.