Real Housewives of Cheshire: page 3 star Leilani Dowding joins cast

Leilani Dowding RHOC

by Georgina Terry |
Updated on

And we bet Dawn Ward is going to love her. KIDDING - Dawn Ward is always...wary of new additions to the cast of the ITVBe show

What's the best thing about Cheshire? Other than the cheese, obvs.

That's right! It's the Real Housewives of Cheshire and all the dramz surrounding the life of the incredibly glitzy inhabitants of Alderley Edge.

We will never (NEVER) give up hope of a triumphant return for our true reality TV love Magali Gorré and, while there's no sign of that just yet, there is a very exciting addition to the cast.

Page 3 veteran and former Miss Great Britain Leilani Dowding will be strutting into the show, after moving back to the UK from LA with her rocker boyfriend Billy Duffy, lead guitarist and songwriter of rock band The Cult.

Dawn Ward
©Getty

We can hardy wait to see Dawn Ward's face.

Remember how sweet she was when Nermina Pieters-Mekic joined? LOL.

Check out: axed Real Housewives of Cheshire stars - where are they now?

Gallery

Axed Real Housewives of Cheshire stars - where are they now

Magali Gorru00e91 of 24
CREDIT: ITV

Magali Gorré

"If you're gonna cross me, you'd better not cross me. You don't mess with Magali."Magali starred in Real Housewives of Cheshire in 2015. Although the housewife only appeared in series one and two, after shouting-matches and rifts, she definitely left a lasting impression on her co-stars. Magali even found herself wrapped up in a twitter-spat with RHOC star Ester Dee in spring 2018, when Ester claimed she didn't know who Magali was.

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Magali Gorré

Five years on, Magali is still living the highlife. The football-mum prides herself on her luxurious lifestyle, which she regularly shares with her 100k+ Instagram followers. Ahead of series 14 in 2021, Magali told Manchester Evening news that the show was more set up than viewers are lead to believe. "They ask 'how was your day?' and 'what's happening in your life?' and you tell them what's going on," she said. If you don't have anything going on in your life you have to set up situations. But I always had a storyline and something going on."It's not really reality."I was always myself but it looked like I was psychic because I knew what would happen."

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Missé Beqiri

Missé Beqiri joined the RHOC cast in April 2016 for series three, but by series five in March 2017, Missé had been demoted to a 'guest housewife'.

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CREDIT: Instagram @ Misse Beqiri

Missé Beqiri

The model divorced her footballer husband of two years, Anders Lindegaard and got together with Jake Hall - yes, Chloe Lewis' ex from TOWIE. Missé and Jake went on to get engaged and have a daughter together, River. But it hasn't all been plain-sailing for the two reality stars - as Jake received a brief restraining order to stay away from Missé in December 2018. The pair are back together and co-parenting baby River and Missé's son from her marriage with Anders. Missé's was left devastated in December 2019 when her brother Flamur was shot and killed in South West London.

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Ampika Pickston

Ampika Pickston was an original housewife - joining the RHOC family in series one and lasting until 2017, when she left after series five.

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Ampika Pickston

After a long on/off relationship with partner Mark, Ampika revealed in July 2018 that she was engaged after a new whirlwind romance. Whilst Ampika continues to keep her mystery romance under wraps, she promotes her own weight loss company - Skinny Revolution throughout her social media.

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CREDIT: ITV

Leanne Brown

Fans were shocked when OG cast member Leanne Brown didn't return for series six in spring 2018. After an upsetting feud and long court battle with ex-bestie Dawn, Leanne decided to call it quits on the ITVBe show.

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Leanne Brown

Leanne still keeps her fans up to date with her enviable WAG lifestyle - and reportedly even has a tell-all memoir in the pipeline.

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CREDIT: ITV

Stacey Forsey

Stacey Forsey became a guest-housewife in series one (no - we don't remember either) before joining the cast full time for series three - six.She was demoted to 'friend' status by series seven.

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Stacey Forsey

Nowadays the artist-turned-writer promotes her lifestyle brand and book, Scrumplicious Sweet Treats: Gluten, Dairy and Egg Free, through Instagram. According to her social media, she's still great pals with Seems Malhotra, who still stars on the show. She's proud mum to a teenaged boy and girl and over lockdown launched her own YouTube cooking channel called Baking With Stacey.She wrote, "As the days get shorter, the nights get longer and the weather gets colder, there's nothing quite like a cosy night in with a heartwarming meal, so that's exactly what we're baking today! This sweet potato hash is my take on my mums recipe for a traditional potato hash, made with plenty of vegetables rich in bioflavonoids and succulent shin beef. Best of all, it takes minimal prep and requires minimal cooking as you just throw it all in one big pot and leave it to do its thing!"

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CREDIT: ITV

Nermina Pieters-Mekic

Nermina lasted just under a year on the hit ITVBe show before producers made her a 'guest-housewife'.

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Nermina Pieters-Mekic

According Nermina's website, the aspiring pop-star has begun a new chapter of her life focusing on re-establishing her music and modelling career in the UK and worldwide, whilst enjoying her suburban life with her husband, dogs and horses. Last year, the former reality star gave birth to a baby girl with husband Erik.**Who is Nermina Pieter-Mekic's husband Erik Pieters?**Erik Pieters is a professional footballer who currently plays for Burnley. He's also previously played for Utrecht, PSV Eindhoven, Stoke and Amiens, as well as the Dutch national team. As well as their daughter Alaya-Rose, who was born in April 2021, Nermina and Erik also share four dogs. Following Alaya-Rose's birth, Erik admitted he was worrried about missing the big moment due to his football commitments, however luckily that wasn't the case.He told OK!, "I was worried I could be at a game a four-hour drive away. I was so pleased I was there, because it was beautiful."

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CREDIT: ITVBe

Lauren Simon

OG housewife Lauren lasted an incredible eight series on the show and was loved by fans for saying exactly what she thought. Remember that squirm-inducing scene with Taylor Ward and Sam Reece? Exactly.

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CREDIT: Getty

Lauren Simon

We were devastated when Lauren quit the show before series nine. Her on/off friend Dawn Ward said, "Lauren has some personal stuff going on."Lauren's an amazing person, I am missing her to bits. I speak to her daily but she has other commitments at the minute that she needs to concentrate on."In January 2020 it was revealed that Lauren was back in the bosom of the RHOC family - yaaaaas - and, in the latest season, fans watched as she announced the unsettling confession that she's actually slept with a ghost. Uhhh, what?

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Perla Navia

Perla Navia was a housewife from series seven to ten, and was introduced as the yoga teacher of Rachel Lugo's husband John.

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CREDIT: Getty

Perla Navia

Perla announced she would not be returning for series 11, and wrote on Instagram, "And the time to hang my heels is finally here! Leaving the show was a difficult decision but necessary."I will miss every single person from the unbelievably production crew that make the show happen, they work endless hours to create the magic and peeps I take my hat off to you! Thank you."Since leaving the show Perla has stepped up her yoga career and launched her own fitness and wellness studio in her hometown of Wilmslow. In 2021 Perla had a chance reunion with Dawn Ward after the former 'wives bumped into each other during lunch. Despite their rocky relationship on screen, Dawn wrote, "Sat watching the England game and had the biggest surprise when @perla_navia turned up to say hello."I love this beautiful human being so much made my night. Beautiful inside and out!! #friends #specialfriends".

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CREDIT: ITV

Leilani Dowding

Page 3 model Leilani Dowding lasted just one season (ten) in the show but in her brief appearance managed to rile many cast mates, including Dawn Ward and Christine McGuinness.

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CREDIT: ITV

Leilani Dowding

Leilani revealed in January 2020 that she would not be returning to the show. In March 2020, she and her rocker boyfriend, The Cult's guitarist Billy Duffy, became engaged.

Ester Dee19 of 24
CREDIT: ITV

Ester Dee

Czech-born Ester Dee joined RHOC in 2016 and shocked her cast mates when she opened up about her complicated love life with secret husband Jon Temple and fiancé Rob Lloyd.

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CREDIT: Getty

Ester Dee

Ester quit the show in August 2020, admitting she "hadn't been happy" while filming the last two series, and hit out at the "incorrect" editing. And, since leaving, she has claimed that former co-star Nicole Sealey was "not her cup of tea" after the pair became involved in a seemingly ongoing feud. Uh oh...

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CREDIT: ITV

Christine McGuinness

While she was never an official Housewife, Christine McGuinness made a number of appearances on the show between series seven and eleven.

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CREDIT: Getty

Christine McGuinness

Christine announced she was departing RHOC at the same time as Ester. She said, "I've got to make time for other things and with any time that I've got I need to spend it with the family and children."

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CREDIT: ITV

Dawn Ward

OG Housewife Dawn Ward is one of only two cast members to have starred in all twelve seasons of the ITVBe show (the other is Tanya Bardsley).

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CREDIT: Getty

Dawn Ward

But after series 12 finished airing on screens, Dawn announced the end of an era when she revealed she wouldn't be returning to the show that made her famous.In a heartfelt statement released on Instagram, Dawn said, "Everyone who knows me knows I'm all about my family, so I've decided that after 12 seasons on the show I would like to concentrate on projects with them."

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Leilani said: “After 15 years of living in LA, my partner Billy Duffy and I decided to move back to the UK. We’ve decided to make Cheshire our home and we’re so excited to be back.

"When the opportunity arose to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire, I thought it would be so much fun, I jumped at the chance!”

We're sure her appearance on the show will be more exciting than the above would imply.

Watch: Eamonn and Ruth reveal This Morning secrets you need to know

As well as Dawn and Nermini, Leilana will be rubbing shoulders with Tanya Bardsley, Rachel Lugo, Ester Dohnalová, Seema Malhotra, Perla Navia and Hanna Miraftab and Christine McGuiness.

Lauren Simon is still notable by her absence though, alas.

Remember whenDan Edgar and Gemma Collinsfrom TOWIE turned up in the RHOC? That was an odd time.

The Real Housewives of Cheshire returns to ITVBe this autumn

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