Brandi Glanville Opens Up About Emotional Toll of Facial Disfigurement Battle

Brandi Glanville, best known for her role on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," has opened up about her ongoing battle with a suspected facial disfigurement, which she describes as being caused by a "parasite." In a candid appearance on PageSix's Virtual Reali-Tea podcast, the 52-year-old reality star revealed the emotional and physical toll this condition has taken on her life over the past two years. Glanville, who has recently restarted her antibiotic treatment, conveyed her frustration and desperation in finding a solution to her health problems. "I prefer [my face] when it's a little swollen, to be honest," she shared, highlighting the distress caused by her face’s uneven swelling and the subsequent feeling of looking unrecognizable. "When it's only swollen on one side, it's not great. But the sinking in thing is killing me slowly, because I just feel like I look like a crackhead," she added, illustrating the depth of her struggles. The reality star has experienced fluctuating symptoms, noting that her condition has left her with brief periods of looking "normal," but these days are few and far between. “Over the weekend, it was only swollen on the right side of my face, so I looked like I had a really big meatball in the right side of my cheek,” she quipped, trying to maintain a light-hearted approach despite the seriousness of her situation. Glanville described her facial swelling as "disgusting" and "so gross," comparing the sensation to having her face filled with "oily fluid." The physical changes have not only affected her appearance but have also had a significant impact on her mental well-being. The star revealed that the ongoing struggle has led her into a "deep, deep depression," making it difficult for her to engage in social settings, particularly during festive occasions. "It's hard to hide out during Christmas when everyone's having their parties. It's depressing. It just hurts my brain and my heart," she lamented. The effects of her condition have even reached her family life, as Glanville noted moments where her appearance frightened her children, prompting her to wear a mask at home to shield them from her "scary" face. In a bid for transparency, she shared a photo of her facial disfigurement on social media earlier this month, expressing her hope that by speaking out, she might find support and understanding from her fans. As the year draws to a close, Glanville is focused on her health and recovery. "Honestly, health is wealth and that's all I want," she stated, looking forward to 2025 with hope that her struggles will soon come to an end. Her candid discussion sheds light on the often-hidden struggles of those dealing with health issues, encouraging empathy and awareness in the public discourse surrounding mental and physical health.