Who Are the Next Gen NYC Cast's Famous Parents
They got it from their mamas (and papas).
If you think the cast of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC are little fish in a big pond, think again. This bold young crew is taking the Big Apple by storm, with many following in the footsteps of their rich and famous parents who paved the way for their kids to take center stage. From Real Housewives to fashion designers, to hip-hop and fast-food moguls, meet the icons who raised some of these young Bravo legends in the making.
Ariana Biermann
Parent: Kim Zolciak-Biermann
A First Child of Bravo since 2008, Ariana made her television debut when mom Kim Zolciak-Biermann was introduced as part of the original cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The former nurse-turned-reality star was a full time cast member for five seasons, later returning as a friend and even getting her own spinoff, Don’t Be Tardy. Spanning seven seasons with a title inspired by the first single of her musical career, Don’t Be Tardy followed Kim and her marriage to former NFL player Kroy Biermann, and their anything-but-ordinary life with a miniature team of six children between them. As a stepfather to Ariana and her older sister Brielle, Kroy legally adopted the two shortly after marrying Kim, and the family has been on a rollercoaster of cameras, babies, and dramatic divorce filings ever since.
Riley Burruss
Parent: Kandi Burruss
Fellow Georgia peach Riley also appeared alongside her mom Kandi Burruss as a youngster on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. One of the longest running Housewives in Bravo history, Kandi was a main OG cast member and recently concluded a 14-season run. With a resume as lengthy as it is impressive, Kandi is also an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, actress, and entrepreneur. In addition to being a member of the ‘90s girl group XSCAPE, Kandi has written songs for a litany of A-list artists, notably winning a Grammy in 2000 for her work on TLC’s hit “No Scrubs."
She also co-wrote and produced “Tardy for the Party” with fellow Housewife Kim Zolciak, which ultimately led to a fallout between the former castmates. Kandi has appeared in multiple spinoffs about her life, including Kandi and The Gang, which went behind the scenes of one of her Atlanta restaurants that she owns with husband Todd Tucker. With a flourishing empire in music, entertainment, cosmetics, and more, Kandi remains a powerful role model for her daughter, proving time and again she cannot be outworked.
Gia Giudice
Parent: Teresa Giudice
Gia has graced TV screens since she was 8 years old as the eldest of The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice’s spunky daughters. While on RHONJ, Teresa rose to fame as a fan favorite, from her lovable mispronunciations and “Teresa-isms” to countless iconic moments, including the Season 1 table flip heard around the world that cemented her place in Housewives history. Teresa has since launched several businesses, including a line of bellini cocktails, a hair care line named after daughter Milania, and a series of bestselling memoirs and cookbooks. Often seen on the show cooking mouthwatering Italian meals for her family, Teresa is working on plans to open a restaurant — on top of her biggest role: being a mom.
Brooks Marks
Parents: Meredith and Seth Marks
Though he didn’t grow up on camera like some fellow Next Gen castmates, Brooks and his sister Chloe entered the Housewives fold in 2020 alongside mom Meredith Marks when she debuted as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Originally from Chicago, Meredith and her husband Seth put down roots in Salt Lake City, Utah, where viewers have been following the amusing Marks family dynamics for the last five years. Though she’s never been a practicing lawyer, Meredith holds degrees in both law and business, and has found success in a variety of ventures, including fine jewelry, caviar, and high-end fashion. Seth is also a successful businessman, with supportive househusband and now Next Gen dad at the top of his resume.
Ava Dash
Parents: Damon Dash and Rachel Roy
Ava is no stranger to rubbing elbows with big hitters as the daughter of hip-hop mogul Damon Dash and fashion icon Rachel Roy. Her dad, nicknamed “Dame Dash,” co-founded music label Roc-A-Fella Records and clothing brand Rocawear with rapper Jay-Z. Damon owns several businesses under the Dash Group umbrella and founded media company Dame Dash Studios. Ava's mom, Rachel Roy, is a mogul in her own right as a successful fashion designer and founder of the skincare company, Ancient India. Rachel is also a writer, contributing columns for several major publications and co-authoring a young adult novel, 96 Words for Love, with Ava.
Hudson McLeroy
Parent: Zach McLeroy
Another Atlantan in the mix, Hudson comes from a hardworking family of massive self-made success. His father, Zach McLeroy, is the founder and current chairman of fast-food chain Zaxby’s (a play on his name). The elder McLeroy started the highly successful chain in 1990 with his childhood best friend, and it has since grown to have over 600 locations, primarily in the Southern United States. Working tirelessly to build his business from the ground up, Zaxby’s continues to grow in reach and popularity, soon to be making its way up the East Coast near his son in the Big Apple.
Catch new episodes of Next Gen NYC every Tuesday on Bravo at 9p ET/PT and streaming next day on Peacock.
