BRAVO MEDIA REVEALS THE COUNTESS NO ONE KNOWS IN THE SPECIAL "BEFORE THEY WERE HOUSEWIVES"

Luann De Lesseps Special Airs Wednesday, June 22 at 10pm ET/PT

NEW YORK - June 15, 2016 - Bravo Media peers into the looking glass in the new special "Before They Were Housewives" to expose the surprising inside story of fan favorite Luann de Lesseps on Wednesday, June 22 at 10pm ET/PT. Tracing Luann's long rise from humble beginnings to the "Real Housewives," the show takes viewers deeper than ever before into the Countess's secret past. The special airs after an all-new episode of "The Real Housewives of New York City" at 9pm ET/PT. For a sneak peek, click here: http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/season-8/videos/before-luann-de-lesseps-was-a-housewife.

The following is Wednesday night's programming lineup:

In episode 812 of "The Real Housewives of New York City" airing at 9pm ET/PT, it's like old times for Ramona as she and Sonja get their friendship back on track and plot how Sonja can mend her relationship with Bethenny. Meanwhile, Jules shares a secret business project with Michael, who is both surprised and impressed. Bethenny suffers a health scare during a shopping trip with Dorinda. And as the ladies gather 'round for a high-society dog wedding, Dorinda shares some disappointing news about Bethenny.

"Before They Were Housewives" premieres at 10pm ET/PT. Countess Luann de Lesseps confesses intimate, never-before-heard details of what her life was like before she became a Housewife. The special follows Luann meeting and falling in love with the Count, the Camelot-like days of her marriage, and the events that led to their shocking divorce. Luann also takes viewers on a trip to her childhood home, chronicles her first move to New York City as a struggling model, discusses her time as one of Italy's biggest TV stars and divulges her experiences during her early days as a Real Housewife of New York. Continuing to the present day, viewers meet Luann's new fiancé and find out what's next on her incredible life journey.

"The Real Housewives of New York City" is produced by Shed Media with Pam Healey, Lisa Shannon, Andrew Hoegl, and Barrie Bernstein serving as Executive Producers. Andy Cohen is also an Executive Producer.

"Before They Were Housewives" is produced by Embassy Row with Michael Davies, Julia Cassidy, and Alex Diaz serving as Executive Producers.

About Bravo Media

Bravo Media is the premiere lifestyle and entertainment brand that drives the cultural conversation around its high-quality, interactive original content that focuses on the network's passion points of food, fashion, beauty, design, digital and pop culture. The network's diversified slate includes Bravo's first scripted series "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce," scripted comedy "Odd Mom Out," and unscripted favorites such as Emmy Award-winning "Top Chef," "Vanderpump Rules," "Below Deck," "Thicker Than Water," and the popular "Million Dollar Listing" and "The Real Housewives" franchises, as well as the only live late-night talk show, "Watch What Happens Live." Available in 92 million homes, Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Watch Bravo anywhere: On Demand, online, or across mobile and connected TVs. Bravo has been an NBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and first launched in December 1980.