Braunwyn Windham-Burke came out as a lesbian during an interview with GLAAD released on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old reality star — who recently renewed her wedding vows to husband Sean Burke during an episode of Real Housewives of Orange County — took to Instagram and declared her new status while also admitting she’s dating a woman.
Perched on a staircase at her massive Newport Beach home, Braunwyn looked at ease while revealing her sexuality to her 253,000 followers online and millions of fans around the country.
Braunwyn Windham-Burke — who recently renewed her wedding vows to husband Sean Burke during an episode of Real Housewives of Orange County — took to Instagram and declared her new status while also admitting she’s dating a woman.
‘It feels so good to finally be living my truth. I am a lesbian,’ she captioned the snap. ‘At 43 years old, I’ve finally been able to accept this part of myself and I’ve realized there are no rules about when someone should come out. This is my time.’
Her husband of 20 years, Sean, shared a photo of the couple to his stories and tagged his wife while using a rainbow emoji to share: ‘I love you. I’m proud of you. And I support you. Always.’
The couple have seven children: Bella, 20, Rowan, 18, Jacob, 15, twins Curran and Caden, seven, Koa, four and Hazel, two.
So sweet: Her husband of 20 years, Sean, shared a photo of the couple to his stories and tagged his wife while using a rainbow emoji to share: ‘I love you. I’m proud of you. And I support you. Always’
Strong: The 43-year-old reality star came out as a lesbian during an interview with GLAAD released on Wednesday
In the interview with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Braunwyn proudly stated she liked women and she’s gay.
‘I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ community,’ she told GLAAD’s Anthony Ramos. ‘It has taken me 42 years to say that but I am so proud of where I am right now. I’m so happy where I am. To be able to be comfortable in my own skin after so long is just so nice.’
She added: ‘I’m just now starting to feel like I’m becoming the woman I’m supposed to be. I’ve always known it, but it took me, personally, 42 years to be comfortable in my own skin to say that.’
Through her journey with sobriety — which has been documented on season 15 of RHOC — Braunwyn also found feelings for a woman.
Secret’s out: In the interview with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Braunwyn proudly stated she liked women and she’s gay
Family forever: The couple have seven children: Bella, 20, Rowan, 18, Jacob, 15, twins Curran and Caden, seven, Koa, four and Hazel, two
Memories: Sean and Braunwyn renewed their wedding vows in front of Bravo cameras earlier this year at the Parker Palm Springs
‘I met someone that I was interested in pursuing a relationship with,’ she said. ‘It became something that I didn’t want to hide anymore and I didn’t want to keep secret anymore.’
She added: ‘I love Sean. I love him dearly, he is my person, he is my family,’ she said. ‘But I’m not attracted to men and I never have been.’
While she admitted she’s in ‘unchartered territories’ with Sean, the pair plan to stay together and continue raising their family.
‘Sean and I are still married, I plan on staying married,’ she said. ‘We are not sleeping in the same bedroom right now, but we are in the same house. We are raising our kids together, he’s my best friend. He knows the girl I’m dating.’
Through her journey with sobriety — which has been documented on season 15 of RHOC — Braunwyn also found feelings for a woman; seen in season 14