Naked Houses, New Seasons, a Titanium Spine & Zero Patience for Men: Amanza Smith Tells All
By Chad Teixeira
Amanza doesn’t do fluff. Not in her interiors, not in her interviews, and definitely not in her relationships. Best known for her sharp eye on Selling Sunset and an even sharper tongue, she’s spent the past year selling more than just luxury homes. After a near-fatal spinal infection left her hospitalized for weeks and fused with metal, she returned with a titanium backbone and a fresh perspective. Between filming Season 9, designing bold artwork for London galleries, and raising two teenagers solo, Amanza is rewriting what resilience looks like in real time.
Forget the glossy comeback narrative. Amanza isn’t interested in sympathy or approval. She’s navigating a new kind of balance that includes art, ambition, and a no-nonsense approach to dating. “I think I’d like to date three people for five months and then choose one,” she says, deadpan. It’s not a punchline. It’s a blueprint. Glamorous but grounded, she’s unfiltered about the reality of modern womanhood: grief, grit, growth, and the freedom to design a life that fits, whether there’s a man in it or not.
But don’t let the glam fool you. Behind the LA sparkle and streaming drama is a woman who has faced down pain, panic attacks, and the pressure to keep showing up. Her honesty cuts through the noise with calm clarity and deep humanity. This isn’t about bouncing back. It’s about rebuilding; with steel in her spine, paint on her hands, and no time for performative perfection. Amanza is living louder, and this time, she’s telling the story her way.
You wear so many hats, from real estate to TV to motherhood. How do you manage it all?
It feels like I run on a hamster wheel, because there’s always so much to do. Sometimes I feel like I really kick ass and get a lot done, and other times I’m like, “What did I even get done?” I’m always working on something, whether it’s art, the show, kids, entrepreneurial things, mental health, just keeping myself somewhat sane.
What first drew you to luxury real estate, and was it always a passion?
I’m so honest. I’m just gonna be honest. I needed to make as much money as I possibly could… It wasn’t like a dream of mine to be a real estate agent. Jason encouraged me to get my license, and it was an easy decision because I saw my friends making money. But it was more like, “Okay, let me just get it, I could make extra money.”
You previously did a lot of staging work. Is that still something you’re involved in?
I don’t do staging anymore, because I sound bougie; I’ve evolved. I didn’t have a warehouse of product, so it required way more work, sourcing every piece. I did enjoy the design aspect, though. Now I take on little design clients here and there, maybe one room or I’ll design furniture. But lately, I’ve been putting my art in a lot of the properties we stage.
Has your artwork led to any exciting new opportunities?
We’ve had a couple of big developers come into the office and say they’d love to commission some pieces. I’ve also got a couple galleries that represent me, one in London. I did my first big solo exhibition in London at the end of April. Right now I’m focusing on my art work and exhibitions.
With your eye for interiors, are there any luxury home trends you’re loving - or hating - right now?
Everything’s naked. All the houses are naked right now. Very neutral, taupe and nudes. I hope to see more colour, maybe not like a Skittles box, but a bit more than just stone. I’m personally sick of it… but I’m also a little more edgy than the average bear.
What would be your dream luxury home, no budget limits?
I’d have to have a full salon, one for me and my daughter, and a little barber shop for my son. Sauna, spa, maybe a live-in Botox nurse… a fireplace in my bedroom, an art studio, a spray-tanning room, a karaoke room with a full-on performance stage, headset mics, and a giant lyric screen. Oh, and a six-lane bowling alley.
How has filming Season 9 of Selling Sunset been for you?
I’ve been totally chill this season. I haven’t really been involved in the drama… except for one event that takes place, it was a pretty big deal. I get very vocal about how I feel, which isn’t always me on the show. You’ll see me speak up. But after that, I was just like, “F**k this. I’m sitting back.”
You’ve spoken openly about your health, can you share what happened?
I was in the hospital for a month. I had two major spine surgeries. I have a titanium vertebrae, two metal rods, and six screws in my back. They said if I’d waited 24 to 48 more hours, I would’ve been dead. It was called osteomyelitis, a blood infection that nearly reached my heart and spinal cord. It took months to wrap my head around it. I almost died.
How has that experience affected your life and your family?
Over last year, I missed a lot of time with my kids. I didn’t see them the whole time I was in the hospital. A friend of mine, Diane, actually saved my life and moved into my house to take care of the kids. Luckily, they’re 13 and 15, so they’re self-sufficient. I was really lucky.
And finally, what’s the update on your love life these days?
I think I’d like to date, like, three people for about five months until I choose which one could be my boyfriend. I’m ready to date… but then I enjoy just walking around looking like a toe, painting until whenever I want. So I don’t know. I just said it out loud, and I’m like, “Yeah, that’s why you’re single.”
@amanzasmith