Leva Bonaparte

Leva Bonaparte (Nowroozyani; born 3 May 1979) is an American restaurateur and television personality. She is known as a main cast member on the Bravo reality television series Southern Charm and its spin-off series Southern Hospitality.

Leva Bonaparte
Born
Leva Nowroozyani

(1979-05-03) 3 May 1979 (age 47)
India
NationalityAmerican (Iranian American)
Alma materAttended University of Manitoba
OccupationRestaurateur • television personality
Years active2013–present
Television
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Children1

Early life

Leva Nowroozyani was born in India on 3 May 1979, as the eldest of three daughters to Persian parents.

Bonaparte moved to Canada with her family at the age of three and later split her time between Bolivia and the United States.

Education

Bonaparte graduated from South Carolina State University in 1999.

Career

Businesses

Bonaparte sold software for her parents' company between 1999 and 2009.

Bonaparte is involved in the Republic Development and Management Group and 26 Industries, a marketing and event management firm.

Restaurants, bars and clubs

Bonaparte and her husband own four restaurants, bars and clubs in the Charleston area.

Bonaparte made her debut as a restaurateur when she opened Republic Garden & Lounge with her husband in the spring of 2013. She opened her second establishment, Bourbon N' Bubbles, on 29 November 2018. She opened her third establishment, 1st Place, on 20 October 2020 (now closed). She opened her fourth establishment, Mesu, on 25 September 2019; .Bonaparte opened her fifth establishment, Lamar's Sporting Club, on 25 August 2023.

Television

Bonaparte has appeared as a main cast member on the Bravo reality television series Southern Charm since the shows seventh season in 2020. She appeared in a guest capacity for the first six seasons. She was the first cast member of color.

Bonaparte has appeared as a main cast member on a spin-off from Southern Charm, Southern Hospitality, since 28 November 2022. She is also an executive producer. The series follows Bonaparte and the staff of her Charleston nightclub, Republic Garden & Lounge.

Personal life

Bonaparte has resided in Charleston since 2003.

Marriage and children

Bonaparte married Lamar Bonaparte on 25 April 25 2013. The couple met on her 29th birthday. Their only child, Lamar "Little" Bonaparte Jr., was born on 29 January 2018.

Filmography

Year Title Notes Ref.
2014–present Southern Charm 41 episodes
2021–2022 Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen 5 episodes
2022–present Southern Hospitality 9 episodes; also executive producer
2022 Entertainment Tonight 1 episode

References

  1. 1 2 Scarlett, Mindy (June 25, 2021). "Leave It To Leva". South Magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Leva Bonaparte". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Raphael, Shannon (November 4, 2022). "Who Is Republic Owner Leva Bonaparte?". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ Raphael, Shannon (October 1, 2020). "'Southern Hospitality' Star Leva Bonaparte Is Business Partners With Her Husband". Distractify. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ Raphael, Shannon (November 7, 2022). "Leva and Lamar Bonaparte Have Four Charleston Restaurants". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ Feiner, Abby (November 6, 2020). "Leva Bonaparte Opens Up About Owning Restaurants with Her Husband Lamar". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Republic Garden & Lounge". Republic Garden & Lounge. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  8. ↑ Barna, Stephanie (May 25, 2012). "Republic Garden & Lounge opening in old Chai's". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  9. ↑ Carley, Brennan (November 29, 2022). "Southern Hospitality Series-Premiere Recap: What Hath Leva Bonaparte Wrought?". Vulture. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Bourbon N' Bubbles". Bourbon N' Bubbles. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  11. ↑ Bubbles, Bourbon N' (November 26, 2018). "Charleston's Bourbon N' Bubbles Announces Grand Opening This Thursday, November 29th". PR Newswire. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ↑ Chambers, Hannah (October 21, 2020). "Southern Charm Newcomer Leva Bonaparte Shows Inside Her Luxurious Bar". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  13. ↑ "1st Place". 1st Place. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ Reports, Staff (February 25, 2020). "1st Place sports bar planned for upper King Street this Spring". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  15. ↑ Sinner, Holy City (October 13, 2020). "Charleston's Newest Sports Bar "1st Place" Announces Opening". Holy City Sinner. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Mesu". Mesu. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  17. ↑ Mader, Alison (September 24, 2019). "MESU set to offer Mexican/sushi fusion on King Street, opening Wednesday". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Lamar's Sporting Club". Lamar's Sporting Club. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ Wise, Warren L (August 9, 2023). "New Charleston restaurant opens Aug. 10; new culinary ventures replacing 2 shuttered cafes". Post and Courier. Retrieved January 13, 2023. [permanent dead link]
  20. ↑ Espinoza, Joshua (August 28, 2023). "Leva Bonaparte Celebrates the Launch of Her New Charleston Bar". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Leva Bonaparte". Bravo TV Official Site. September 24, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  22. ↑ Rosenfeld, Laura (September 24, 2020). "Southern Charm Returns for Season 7 with Some New Faces: Get Your First Look". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  23. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (September 25, 2020). "Here's How Life Looks a Little Different for the Southern Charm Cast in Season 7". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  24. ↑ Chambers, Hannah (November 14, 2020). "Why Leva Bonaparte Finally Joined the Southern Charm Cast After Years with the Group". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  25. ↑ Guglielmi, Jodi (October 29, 2020). "Leva Bonaparte on Being Southern Charm's First Cast Member of Color: 'I'm No Rookie'". People. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  26. ↑ Sorren, Martha (October 29, 2020). "'Southern Charm' Star Leva Bonaparte Has Been Friends With The Cast For Years". Bustle. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  27. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (May 12, 2022). "Bravo Greenlights Three New Unscripted Series: 'Real Girlfriends in Paris,' 'Southern Charm: Leva Land' & 'XSCAPE /SWV'". Deadline. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 Quinn, Dave (December 28, 2023). "Leva Bonaparte Levels Up: How the Southern Hospitality Boss Built an Empire in Charleston". People. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  29. ↑ Tinoco, Armando (October 17, 2022). "'Southern Charm' Spinoff 'Southern Hospitality' Drops Trailer Plus Premiere Date & Has Leva Bonaparte Calling The Shots". Deadline. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  30. ↑ Bonaparte, Leva (April 25, 2017). "Time flies I realize today 💍". Instagram. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  31. ↑ Raphael, Shannon (November 30, 2022). "Southern Hospitality: Leva Says Husband Lamar "Throws the Hammer Down" at Republic". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "Leva Nowroozyani Bonaparte". IMDb. Retrieved January 13, 2024.