Leva Bonaparte Biography
Leva Bonaparte is an American, entrepreneur, restaurateur, club owner, reality TV star, and TV show host. She is best known for being on the Bravo show, Southern Hospitality. The show airs its second season on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
Bonaparte completed her education at South Carolina State University in 1999. From 1999 to 2009, she worked in software sales for her parents’ company. Hailing from Canada, she initially arrived in Charleston two decades ago when her family’s multinational software company established an office in the city. Over the next five years, she divided her time, spending months in Charleston while also undertaking extended stays at the company’s branches in South America and Canada. Currently, she is actively involved in Republic Development and Management Group and 26 Industries, a marketing and event management firm. Alongside her husband, she owns and operates five restaurants, bars, and clubs in the Charleston area. Alongside Republic, the duo currently possesses three additional restaurant and nightclub ventures along the bustling King Street in Charleston.
These include; Mesu, Bourbon N’ Bubbles, and their latest establishment, Lamar’s Sporting Club. As a restaurateur, she made her debut with the opening of Republic Garden & Lounge in the spring of 2013, followed by Bourbon N’ Bubbles on November 29, 2018, and 1st Place on October 20, 2020. She also co-owns Mesu, which opened on September 25, 2019, with Craig Conover. Her fifth establishment, Lamar’s Sporting Club, opened on August 25, 2023. She gained prominence as a main cast member on the Bravo reality television series Southern Charm, starting from its seventh season in 2020. Prior to that, she appeared as a guest in the first six seasons, being the first cast member of color. Additionally, she has been featured as a main cast member on the spin-off Southern Hospitality since November 28, 2022, where she also serves as an executive producer. The series revolves around Bonaparte and the staff of her Charleston nightclub, Republic Garden & Lounge.
Leva Bonaparte Salary
Bonaparte earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.
Leva Bonaparte Net Worth
Bonaparte has an estimated net worth of about $3 Million – $4 Million which she has earned through her career as a businesswoman.
Leva Bonaparte Age
Bonaparte was born on May 3, 1979, in India. She is 45 years old as of 2024, and she celebrates her birthday on the 3rd of May every year.
Leva Bonaparte Height and Weight
Bonaparte stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches tall, and she weighs 125 lbs (75kgs).
Leva Bonaparte Family
Bonaparte was raised alongside two sisters however, she has neither disclosed the names of her parents nor those of her sisters However, this information will be updated when available.
Leva Bonaparte Husband and Children
Bonaparte is married to Lamar Bonaparte a real estate developer who she met on her 29th birthday and the tied the knot on 2013. Together they have been blessed with one child , whom they named; Lamar “Little” Bonaparte Jr. and was born on 29 January 2018. She resides in Charleston together with her family.
Leva Bonaparte On Parenting
Bonaparte describes herself as a “smotherer” when it comes to parenting her son Lamar, Jr., attributing her parenting style to her challenging journey to motherhood. In an interview with PEOPLE at her thriving Charleston nightclub Republic, the backdrop for her Bravo spinoff Southern Hospitality, she opened up about her close relationship with her son, who is turning 6 soon, and why she places a high priority on spending time with him. She said that her parenting style can be directly linked to her struggles with infertility because it significantly influenced how she wanted to raise her child. Moreover, she does not think she would be the type of mother she is today if she hadn’t gone through that. She shares her son, affectionately referred to as “Little,” with her husband and business partner Lamar Bonaparte. Getting pregnant wasn’t a straightforward journey for her.
She recounts five years of undiagnosed infertility, enduring various medical procedures and emotional challenges. The struggle took a toll, making it difficult to be around friends who were having children, leading to moments of isolation and heartache. After a friend recommended a doctor, she underwent Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), ultimately leading to the conception of her son. While becoming a mother fulfilled a long-held dream, she reflects on the unforeseen difficulties of the process, including the physical and emotional toll of fertility treatments. “There’s a lot that people don’t talk about,” she notes, highlighting the challenges of hormonal treatments and the side effects of medications like Clomid, which can induce insomnia, irritability, mood swings, and PMS-like cravings.
Despite the hardships, she sees her journey as a valuable experience that taught her to appreciate every moment with her son. Managing the demands of motherhood alongside overseeing four successful nightclubs and restaurants in Charleston, handling investment properties, and participating in two reality shows poses its challenges. However, she emphasizes making the most of her time with her son by limiting screen time in their home.
Leva Bonaparte Southern Charm
In 2020, Bonaparte added a new dimension to her already hectic schedule by joining the cast of Southern Charm for its seventh season. Becoming a reality star wasn’t part of her initial plans. She had known the cast members for years, having appeared on the Bravo show as a guest annually since its debut in 2014. Bonaparte, who was once Cameran Eubanks’ roommate and had connections with Craig Conover through her bars, felt a natural association with the group. However, she initially doubted her fit for the show, considering herself not typically Southern. Before Season 7, she met with producers, assuming they wanted to discuss the potential storyline involving Conover joining Bourbon N’ Bubbles. To her surprise, they expressed interest in having her on the show. This unexpected turn left her taken aback. When she mentioned her non-Southern background, producers reassured her that she represented the essence of Charleston and the evolving South.
Throughout her time on Southern Charm, she has emerged as a composed voice of reason within the cast. She has courageously addressed significant issues on the show, including the South’s challenges with race and navigating complex dynamics within the tight-knit friend circle of the show. Despite encountering resistance, particularly when advocating for equality during the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement, she remained steadfast. In the face of initial hostility, she clarified that her intention was not to cancel anyone but rather to emphasize our shared humanity and the inevitability of making mistakes. Over time, the tone of messages directed at her transformed from hostility to gratitude, with people acknowledging and appreciating her efforts to foster understanding. This philosophy of learning through mistakes resonates with her, drawing parallels between her approach to business and her experiences on the show.
Southern Hospitality
Her spinoff, Southern Hospitality, which follows her and the staff of her various nightclubs, premiered in 2022. A pivotal factor in her pitch process was emphasizing the diversity within Republic’s staff. She points out that Republic employs a unique kind of worker—individuals who genuinely aspire to be in the hospitality business, not aspiring actors or musicians. This shared commitment has fostered a close bond among the Southern Hospitality cast. The show’s success has also positively impacted Republic, making it more popular than ever. Despite her accomplishments, she remains focused on continuous goals for both the business and the show, understanding that comparisons with others won’t contribute to further success. In the second season of Southern Hospitality, drama takes center stage, promising viewers an intense and eventful journey.
Southern Charm star Bonaparte faces challenges as a boss, including the need to fire two employees in the opening episode for drinking on the job. The addition of new employee Oisin O’Neil introduces a fresh source of tension. She is facing increased criticism for her leading role in Southern Hospitality compared to her time on Southern Charm. As the central figure in Season 2 of Southern Hospitality, Bonaparte, who initially gained reality TV recognition on Southern Charm, co-owns Republic Garden & Lounge, the restaurant around which the show revolves. In this role, she is responsible for managing employees and maintaining order, even having to make tough decisions such as firing multiple individuals. The show’s format draws comparisons to Vanderpump Rules, positioning her as the Lisa Vanderpump of the Southern series.
Despite Lisa Vanderpump’s widespread popularity among reality TV fans, Bonaparte’s reception has been more divisive. While she has yet to respond to the backlash, the season is ongoing, and there’s a possibility that viewer opinions may shift by the conclusion of Season 2 and its subsequent reunion special. If not, there’s speculation that she and her spin-off might face the prospect of cancellation.
Social Media Platform
Bonaparte is very active on her Twitter and Instagram pages. She has 2.4k followers on Twitter and 188.6k followers on Instagram.