Ramona Singer

A well known presence both in the fashion industry and in the world of reality TV, Ramona Singer was born in Southampton, New York in 1956. After surmounting a dysfunctional childhood that she would later speak about quite frankly, Singer enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology, eventually earning her bachelor's degree in marketing. She went on to work as a buyer for Macy's, and would later find success as a sales manager for a number of high status labels including Calvin Klein and French Connection. Singer eventually decided to strike out on her own, accepting a $700,000 loan from her father in order to launch her own business, RMS Fashions. She paid the loan back in full, with interest, and the brand proved to be a major boon. Singer would eventually launch her own jewelry line as well, and even opened a wine business. She joined the cast of the then new reality franchise "The Real Housewives of New York City" (Bravo, 2008-2017) in 2008, where her larger than life personality quickly made her an enduring fan favorite. She would write about her experiences as an entrepreneur, a mother, and a celebrity in her 2015 memoir Life on the Ramona Coaster.