Who is Brandi Glanville? She is a former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, model, author and podcast host who is now drawing renewed attention because of a serious, years-long health battle. As of September 9, 2026, Glanville, 53, has publicly revealed several diagnoses, including highly resistant ESBL Klebsiella and Enterobacter with biofilm, coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), Demodex dermatitis and mononucleosis. She also says doctors found a fungal ball in her face that needs to be removed.
The latest revelations came through Glanville’s social media posts and recent coverage of her condition. She has described the physical and financial toll of the illness and the demanding treatment she is undergoing. Her latest updates help explain why she recently told followers that she feels and looks “like death.”
Who Is Brandi Glanville?
Brandi Lynn Glanville is an American television personality and former model who became widely known through Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She joined the franchise during its second season and became a full-time cast member in the following season.
Before reality television, Glanville spent more than 17 years working as a high-fashion model. Bravo’s biography says she worked with major fashion houses and appeared in publications including Glamour and Cosmopolitan.
Her television career eventually made her one of the more recognizable personalities associated with the Real Housewives franchise. She later appeared on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip and other reality programs.
Glanville also developed a career outside television. She became an author and released books including Drinking and Tweeting: And Other Brandi Blunders and Drinking and Dating. She currently hosts the Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast, which has remained an important part of her professional life during her health struggles.
Why Is Brandi Glanville in the News Now?
Glanville is currently making headlines because she has provided one of her most detailed explanations yet about the medical problems affecting her face and overall health.
On September 8, she said she was finally ready to discuss what she had been fighting and revealed several diagnoses. Her list included highly resistant ESBL Klebsiella and Enterobacter with biofilm, coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, Demodex dermatitis and mononucleosis.
She also said doctors found a fungal ball in her face that requires removal.
Glanville has described the situation as a long and difficult medical journey. She has undergone numerous consultations and treatments while trying to determine what was causing the changes to her face.
Her newest disclosures provide more information than some of her earlier updates, when she publicly described the problem as a possible facial parasite without having a clear explanation for all of her symptoms.
Why Does Brandi Glanville Say She Looks “Like Death”?
The phrase has attracted considerable attention because Glanville herself used it while discussing the impact of her treatment.
In a video shared in September, she explained that she has become extremely thin because she is struggling to eat. She also showed the equipment involved in her treatment and described the exhausting routine she must follow every day.
Glanville said she is receiving intravenous treatment for about 18 hours a day. Part of the treatment involves the antibiotic imipenem, with a nurse assisting for several hours while Glanville manages another portion herself.
The treatment schedule has dramatically changed her daily life. She has said that she spends most of her time at home and generally leaves only to record her podcast.
The combination of prolonged treatment, difficulty eating and her continuing facial problems has visibly affected her appearance. That is why her recent comments about looking and feeling extremely unwell have resonated with followers.
What Health Problems Has Brandi Glanville Reported?
Glanville’s medical history has developed over several years, and her explanations have changed as doctors have performed additional tests.
Her facial problems became a major public issue after symptoms emerged around 2023. She previously described facial swelling, lumps, inflammation and significant changes to her appearance.
At different points, Glanville believed a parasite might be responsible. She also linked the problem to issues involving her breast implants.
In February 2026, she said doctors discovered that her breast implants had ruptured. She believed silicone had spread into her lymph nodes and contributed to the problems affecting her body. The Los Angeles Times reported that she had surgery to remove the damaged implants.
Inside Edition also documented the surgery, reporting that her plastic surgeon removed the damaged implants. The procedure took place in February.
However, the surgery did not end her medical problems.
By June, Glanville reported that the facial symptoms had returned. She also revealed that doctors had found a benign tumor in one of the lymph nodes in her face. She said the tumor was not cancerous and could potentially explain some of the fluid moving around her face.
What Is the Latest Diagnosis for Brandi Glanville?
The September 2026 update is significant because Glanville has now publicly named several conditions that she says doctors diagnosed.
They include:
- ESBL Klebsiella and Enterobacter with biofilm: Glanville described these as highly resistant infections.
- Coccidioidomycosis: Also known as Valley Fever, this is a fungal infection.
- Demodex dermatitis: A skin condition associated with Demodex mites.
- Mononucleosis: A viral illness commonly associated with fatigue and other symptoms.
- A fungal ball in the face: Glanville says this requires surgical removal.
These are the diagnoses and medical findings Glanville has publicly reported. Her statements should not be interpreted as an independent medical assessment, but they represent the latest explanation she has provided about her condition.
What Is the “Fungal Ball” in Brandi Glanville’s Face?
Glanville says doctors identified a fungal ball in her face that needs to be removed.
Recent reports also describe her sharing images and videos showing a hard growth around the left side of her face. TMZ reported that Glanville showed a firm growth near her jaw and discussed the continuing inflammation and rash affecting her face.
She has also described an ultrasound that appeared to show something moving in the affected area. That claim comes from Glanville’s own account of what a technician and radiologist observed, and it has not been independently established as a confirmed parasite diagnosis in the available reporting.
That distinction matters because Glanville has used the term “parasite” throughout her health journey, while her newest public disclosures include several specific diagnoses and a fungal growth that doctors intend to address.
How Long Has Brandi Glanville Been Dealing With This?
Glanville’s health problems have lasted roughly three years.
She has said her symptoms began in 2023, around the time she was filming in Morocco. The problems eventually developed into facial swelling, lumps, discomfort and visible disfigurement.
Over the following years, she sought help from numerous doctors and specialists. Earlier reports said she had spent substantial amounts of money trying to identify and treat the underlying problem. People reported that she had seen 21 doctors during the search for answers.
Her breast implant problems became an important development in February 2026. Doctors discovered that the implants had ruptured, and Glanville underwent surgery.
The temporary improvement did not resolve everything. By June, she said the facial problems had returned and disclosed the benign tumor. Her September disclosures now add several additional diagnoses and the need for further treatment.
What Treatment Is Brandi Glanville Receiving?
Glanville’s current treatment is intensive.
She has said that she is receiving IV therapy for approximately 18 hours each day. She has shown followers how she administers part of the treatment and explained that a nurse also comes to help with additional IV treatment.
The antibiotic imipenem has been identified as part of her current regimen. Glanville said the treatment affects her ability to eat and has contributed to her dramatic weight loss.
Her treatment plan is expected to continue for months. In her September 8 update, she said she was looking at four to six months of daily IV treatment, along with additional procedures.
She also said she needs the fungal ball removed and plans to address old dental metals. Her latest statement also discussed additional work involving her breast implants.
How Has the Health Battle Affected Her Life?
The medical problems have significantly limited Glanville’s normal activities.
She has said that she spends much of her time at home because of the treatment schedule. Recording her podcast has been one of the few activities she has continued professionally.
The physical changes have also affected her confidence and appearance. Earlier this year, she discussed facial disfigurement and the frustration of seeing symptoms return after believing she had improved.
Financially, the situation has also been difficult. Recent reports say Glanville has spent more than $200,000 seeking answers and treatment, while her ongoing care can cost thousands of dollars each month.
Those expenses come on top of the emotional burden of living with an unresolved condition for years.
Where Does Brandi Glanville Stand Now?
As of September 9, 2026, Glanville remains in active treatment.
Her latest updates indicate that she is still dealing with significant facial symptoms and is preparing for additional medical procedures. The immediate focus is on treating the infections and other conditions she has identified, continuing IV therapy and removing the fungal growth in her face.
She has also continued documenting the experience publicly. Her recent posts show a willingness to discuss the most difficult parts of the illness, including the changes to her appearance, her treatment routine and the effect on her ability to work.
Although the latest diagnoses provide more information than she had previously shared, her medical journey is not over.
For longtime viewers, Glanville remains recognizable as the outspoken reality television personality who became a major figure on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Today, however, much of the public attention surrounding her is focused on her determination to regain her health after years of debilitating symptoms.
Bottom Line
So, who is Brandi Glanville? She is a former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, model, author and podcast host who has spent the past several years confronting a complex and highly publicized health battle. Her latest September 2026 update identifies multiple diagnoses, including bacterial infections, Valley Fever, Demodex dermatitis and mononucleosis, while she also prepares to have a fungal ball removed from her face.
Her current treatment involves lengthy daily IV therapy, and she says the physical effects have left her extremely thin, exhausted and unable to live normally. For now, Glanville’s focus remains on treatment and the procedures she believes are necessary to move forward.
As Brandi Glanville continues sharing her recovery journey, readers can stay informed as new verified updates emerge about her health and career.