Taylor Armstrong
"Real Housewife" & NYT Best-Selling Author
Biography
Taylor Armstrong stars in the hit Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Debuting to critical acclaim in 2011, the Beverly Hills franchise won a Critic’s Choice Television Award for the success of its inaugural season. The show enjoys a worldwide following, and each week viewers tune in to watch the drama unfold in Beverly Hills. Read More >
But Armstrong had her own drama, and behind the glamorous façade of The Real Housewives she hid a dark secret: her husband, Russell, had been physically, verbally, and emotionally abusing her for years. Following the familiar pattern of many domestic violence survivors before her, Armstrong had also witnessed domestic violence in her home as a young child—the abuse of her mother at the hands of her father. Thankfully, she was able to break the cycle of violence; after six years of abuse with Russell, she found the courage to leave. Tragically, soon after Russell took his own life. Armstrong and her young daughter, Kennedy, found themselves starting over while the whole world watched.
Armstrong has been interviewed on Entertainment Tonight, Dr. Phil, The Today Show, The Ellen Show, E!, Extra, Access Hollywood, Rachael Ray, Wendy Williams, and Watch What Happens Live, as well as dozens more, including local programs across the country. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, People magazine, US Weekly, Life & Style, In Touch, OK!, The Hollywood Reporter, The Enquirer, and others.
She recently authored her first book, Hiding from Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding the Courage Within, an autobiographical account of Armstrong’s life and personal experience with domestic violence, which became a New York Times bestseller. A longtime advocate for victims of domestic violence, she has been a volunteer and a spokesperson for the 1736 Family Crisis Center for nearly seven years. She recently established The Taylor Armstrong Foundation in order to further her mission; the foundation works to raise awareness, educate the public, and help victims recover and reinvent their lives. Read Less ^
Speaker Videos
Breaking the Cycle of Violence
Hiding from Reality on The Today Show
Physical Signs of Abuse on Entertainment Tonight
Surviving Domestic Abuse in the Spotlight
History of Domestic Abuse
Home & Family Appearance
Speech Topics
Hiding from Reality: My Story of Love, Loss & Finding the Courage Within
In this captivating talk, Taylor Armstrong relates the deeply personal story of how she found herself in a relationship of inequality, her struggle with both deep love and fear of her husband, and how she summoned the courage from within to finally leave him. In her characteristic witty, lighthearted manner, Armstrong also shares illuminating - and even humorous - anecdotes, both about life (good and bad) with her husband, as well as her experiences as a cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where she often found herself battling with friends who struggled to understand the extent of her abuse. Armstrong shares: Read More >
- Contributing factors in creating a relationship based in domestic violence - self-esteem issues, financial inequality, and abuse - and how to recognize when you or a friend may be in an unhealthy relationship.
- Insights for friends and family of domestic abuse survivors who may not understand the complicated relationship between abuser and abused. Armstrong illustrates this with stories from her experience on Real Housewives, where many of her own close friends questioned the abuse because she still expressed love for her husband.
- The importance of finding one's voice and the courage from within to get out of an abusive relationship.
This is a must-hear speech for anyone whose life has been touched by domestic abuse, from survivors and family members to support professionals. Read Less ^
