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Taylor Armstrong
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Taylor Armstrong (born Shana Lynette Hughes; June 10, 1971) is an American television personality. She is known as an original cast member of the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In 2022, it was announced that she would join The Real Housewives of Orange County, making her the first American housewife to transfer franchises.
Key Information
After starring in the show's first three seasons from 2010 until 2013, Armstrong continued to make guest appearances on the Beverly Hills installment between 2013 and 2016. In June 2022, Armstrong starred in the second season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
Biography
[edit]Armstrong was born Shana Lynette Hughes in Independence, Kansas, on June 10, 1971.[1][2] Her family later left Kansas for Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Armstrong attended Union High School and was a cheerleader. She graduated in 1989.[3] She later changed her name to Taylor Ford and moved to Beverly Hills, California, after starting her own e-commerce business. She met her future husband, venture capitalist Russell Armstrong, at a local restaurant in Beverly Hills while waiting to be seated.[4] The two married less than a year later, and Armstrong gave birth to their only child, a daughter named Kennedy Caroline Armstrong, who was born in 2006.
Armstrong first appeared in the public spotlight in 2010, as part of the cast of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.[5] During the series' run, Armstrong's appearance on the show was plagued by rumors of financial issues and domestic violence, and she later confirmed that she had been physically abused by Russell Armstrong and had to undergo reconstructive surgery for an orbital fracture after being hit by him.[5][6]
In July 2011, after the filming of the second season of Real Housewives, she filed for divorce, citing verbal and physical abuse. The next month, her estranged abusive husband died by suicide; she found his body on August 15, 2011, dead from an apparent hanging, at a home he rented on Mulholland Drive following their separation.[7][5][8]
Armstrong is married to John Bluher, an attorney, as of April 4, 2014, in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.[9]
In June 2022, Armstrong starred in season two of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, which premiered on Peacock. Filming was completed in September 2021 at Dorinda Medley's Blue Stone Manor in The Berkshires.
On August 1, 2022, it was announced that Armstrong would be joining The Real Housewives of Orange County as a "friend of the housewives" for the seventeenth season, making her the first American housewife to switch franchises.[10]
Armstrong came out as bisexual on an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County on June 28, 2023, and mentioned in that episode that she had been in a five-year relationship with a woman before she was married to Russell.[11]
On November 29, 2023, it was revealed that Armstrong would not be returning to The Real Housewives of Orange County, after only one season.[12]
Internet meme
[edit]In 2019, a screen-capture of Armstrong on the second season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was used in an Internet meme called "woman yelling at a cat". The meme depicts an upset Armstrong during a heated discussion about her husband's abuse juxtaposed with a photograph of a cat named Smudge. Armstrong reacted positively to the meme. She also talked about her relationship with her ex-husband.[13][14][15]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Hills | Herself | Episode: "When Lauren's Away..." |
| 2010–2016 | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Herself | Series Regular (Seasons 1–3) Guest (Seasons 4–6) |
| 2014 | Couples Therapy | Herself | Season 4 |
| 2022 | The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip | Herself | Season 2 |
| 2023 | The Real Housewives of Orange County | Herself | Friend of (Season 17) |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Taylor Armstrong Biography". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on June 5, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ Poole, Tiffany M. (April 6, 2012). "Beverly Hills 'Housewife' Taylor Armstrong returns to Oklahoma". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ Sherrow, Rita (August 16, 2011). "Husband of Tulsa native and 'Real Housewives' star dies". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ Dawson, Steve (September 12, 2017). "What Happened to Taylor Armstrong – What's The Real Housewives Star Doing Now?". Gazette Review. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ a b c Yvonne Villarreal, "Taylor Armstrong's search for safety". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 2012.
- ^ "Taylor Armstrong Denies Russell's Sister's Claims That Abuse Never Happened On 'Watch What Happens Live'". The Huffington Post. February 8, 2012. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Taylor Armstrong, My Story". taylorarmstrong.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ "RHOBH's Taylor Armstrong Reveals What Her Daughter Thinks of Dad Russell 8 Years After Suicide". People. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Taylor Armstrong Marries John Bluher". People. April 4, 2014. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- ^ Quinn, Dave (August 1, 2022). "Taylor Armstrong Joins Real Housewives of Orange County, Becoming First Housewife to Move Franchises". People. United States: Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Taylor Armstrong will be back on Bravo again, this time as cast member on The Real Housewives of Orange County!
- ^ "Taylor Armstrong Opens Up About Being Bisexual, Including Her 5-Year Relationship with a Woman". Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ Quinn, Dave (November 29, 2023). "Taylor Armstrong Exits RHOC After 1 Season as a Friend: 'Wishing the Ladies All the Best'". People. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "RHOBH Alum Taylor Armstrong Reacts to Being Turned into a Meme". Bravo TV Official Site. October 29, 2019. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ Amanda Mitchell (November 8, 2019). "What is The Cat Meme, and Why Is That Woman Yelling?". Oprah Magazine. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ Soen, Hayley (November 11, 2019). "The story behind the woman yelling at the cat meme is actually pretty dark". The Tab UK. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
External links
[edit]- taylorarmstrong
.com , her official website - Taylor Armstrong on Twitter
- Taylor Armstrong at IMDb
Taylor Armstrong
View on GrokipediaEarly Life
Childhood and Family Background
Taylor Armstrong was born Shana Lynette Hughes on June 10, 1971, in Independence, Kansas.[3][10] Her family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, during her early years, where she spent much of her childhood and attended Tulsa Union High School as Shana Hughes.[11][12] Prior to her entry into public life, Hughes adopted the name Shana Taylor to honor her stepfather, reflecting a personal effort to redefine her identity amid family dynamics.[13] She later changed it to Taylor Ford, inspired by the fashion designer, before assuming the surname Armstrong through marriage.[12][14] Limited public details exist regarding her biological parents or siblings, with Armstrong's accounts emphasizing a Midwestern upbringing marked by these name changes rather than extensive family disclosures.[13]Education and Early Career
Armstrong, born Shana Lynette Hughes on June 10, 1971, in Independence, Kansas, relocated with her family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, during her childhood. She attended Union High School in Tulsa, where she participated as a cheerleader and graduated in 1989.[10][15] After high school, Armstrong moved to New York City to study at New York University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from the Tisch School of the Arts.[16][10] Details on her immediate post-college professional pursuits remain limited in public records, though by the early 2000s, she had established herself in business, eventually owning a consulting firm prior to her entry into reality television in 2010.[17]Television Career
Entry into Reality Television
Taylor Armstrong debuted in reality television as a main cast member on the first season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, a Bravo series that premiered on October 14, 2010.[18][19] The program chronicled the personal and social lives of six affluent women in Beverly Hills, California, with Armstrong selected for her position within the community's elite circles.[20] Prior to this appearance, Armstrong had no documented experience in television or public media, marking her initial foray into the genre as a then-39-year-old socialite married to financier Russell Armstrong.[10][21] The casting positioned Armstrong to showcase aspects of her family life, including her daughter Kennedy, amid the show's format of interpersonal dynamics and luxury lifestyles.[22] Her participation from the outset contributed to the series' early narrative of blending glamour with underlying personal tensions, though specific recruitment details remain undisclosed in public records.[23] This entry established her as a foundational figure in the franchise, preceding later guest roles and crossovers.[24]The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Taylor Armstrong joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) as a main cast member in its second season, which began airing on September 5, 2011.[25] Her introduction portrayed her as a Beverly Hills socialite married to financier Russell Armstrong, with whom she shared a young daughter, Kennedy. The season highlighted tensions in her marriage, including financial strains and interpersonal conflicts with other cast members. A pivotal moment occurred during a season 2 tea party hosted by Lisa Vanderpump, where Armstrong broke down in tears and confided to castmates that Russell physically abused her, revealing emotional distress over maintaining a facade of marital harmony.[26] Russell Armstrong denied these abuse allegations in public statements, asserting they were unfounded and attributing marital issues to other factors.[27] On August 15, 2011, Russell was discovered deceased in a friend's home from an apparent suicide by hanging; investigations revealed he carried over $1.5 million in debts from business ventures and efforts to sustain their lifestyle.[28][4] The suicide occurred amid ongoing season 2 production and airing, prompting Bravo to air a special discussing the event and re-edit episodes sensitively.[29] Season 3, premiering in late 2012, opened with cast members Kyle Richards and others reflecting on the tragedy's impact, while Armstrong appeared sparingly, focusing on grief and single parenthood.[30] She exited as a full-time housewife after season 3, stating the need to retreat from media attention and paparazzi following the personal upheaval.[17] Armstrong returned for guest and "friend of" roles in seasons 4 through 6, participating in events like dinner parties but maintaining a lower profile amid ongoing scrutiny of her storyline.[17]
