Heather Gay is back for season 7 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, airing now on Bravo, and she arrives with a new book chapter as well as a new season of television. Born June 29, 1974, she is 52 years old in 2026, and she has turned her journey from devout Mormon wife to bestselling author and beauty entrepreneur into one of the franchise’s most distinctive stories.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Heather Jill Gay (née Deans) |
| Age | 52 years old (born June 29, 1974) |
| Birthplace | Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States |
| Known For | The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (2020–present) |
| Occupation | Businesswoman, television personality, author |
| Business | Beauty Lab + Laser |
| Books | Bad Mormon (2023), Good Time Girl (2024), Eternal Glow (2026) |
| Education | Brigham Young University (BA, Humanities) |
Who Is Heather Gay?
Heather Gay is an American television personality, businesswoman, and author best known as an original main cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City since the show began in 2020. She is the third cousin of fellow cast member Whitney Rose, a connection that has added a family layer to their friendship and their falling-outs on screen. Gay’s candor about faith, divorce, and reinvention has made her a fan favorite, and her confessionals often anchor the show’s most personal storylines.
What sets Gay apart from many reality stars is that her second act is documented in print as well as on television. Her memoir Bad Mormon became a New York Times bestseller in 2023, and her follow-up Good Time Girl arrived in December 2024. In 2026 she moved into fiction, announcing her first horror novel, Eternal Glow, released October 6, 2026, by Podium Entertainment, a campy body-horror story that extends her author brand well beyond memoir.
Early Life & Background
Gay was born Heather Jill Deans on June 29, 1974, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, the third of six children of Susan and John Deans. When she was five, her family relocated to Denver, Colorado. She was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Humanities, a path that led to marriage in 2000, three children, and more than a decade in a marriage that ended in divorce in 2014.
She has said she left the Church in 2019, citing its treatment of gay people and women, and that decision became the emotional spine of her memoir and of several RHOSLC seasons. Rather than presenting the break as a single moment, Gay has described it as a long, painful process of questioning, which is why viewers who followed her early seasons recognize the same themes returning in season 7: loyalty, belief, and who gets to decide what a “good” life looks like.
Career & Journey
In 2017, Gay and co-owner Andrea Robinson founded Beauty Lab + Laser, a medical spa services company in Murray, Utah, which opened a second location in nearby Riverton in 2022. The business gave her an identity outside television and a storyline grounded in work, hiring, and expansion, rather than only in group conflict. It also made her a credible voice on the show’s entrepreneur storylines, alongside Lisa Barlow’s tequila and marketing ventures.
Television followed quickly. Gay has starred on RHOSLC since 2020, appeared in season 3 of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, guest-starred on Below Deck Adventure in 2022, and headlined the 2025 limited series Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay. Her books then broadened her audience: Bad Mormon in February 2023, Good Time Girl in December 2024, and the horror novel Eternal Glow in October 2026, each one timed to a period when her on-screen story was also at its most personal. For the full season 7 cast, see our Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast guide.
Facts About Heather Gay
- She is an original RHOSLC cast member, on the show since 2020.
- She co-founded Beauty Lab + Laser in Murray, Utah, in 2017.
- Her memoir Bad Mormon (2023) made the New York Times Best Seller list.
- Her first horror novel, Eternal Glow, was released October 6, 2026.
- She is the third cousin of fellow cast member Whitney Rose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Heather Gay?
Heather Gay was born June 29, 1974, making her 52 years old in 2026.
What is Heather Gay known for?
She is best known as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, as the founder of Beauty Lab + Laser, and as the author of Bad Mormon.
Is Heather Gay still on RHOSLC in season 7?
Yes. She is a main cast member in season 7, which premiered September 16, 2026, on Bravo.
What books has Heather Gay written?
Bad Mormon: A Memoir (2023), Good Time Girl (2024), and the horror novel Eternal Glow (2026).
What business does Heather Gay own?
She co-founded Beauty Lab + Laser, a medical spa company in Murray, Utah, with a second location in Riverton.
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