Cynthia Bailey: I Feel Sexiest When...

She also talks about her secrets to flawless skin.

By Jocelyn Vena Jun 27, 2014, 9:30 AM ET

Cynthia Bailey may be the picture of beauty week after week on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but she lives by the motto that real beauty comes from within.

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“If you have a beautiful spirit, you’ll be beautiful. I always want to carry [myself] with class and integrity. Those things define the essence of beauty,” the model tells Ebony.

Cynthia also shares that she feels more comfortable in her skin now than ever before. "I feel more beautiful because I’m so much wiser. My face has so much more character at this point; it shows my life lessons," she says. And she notes that her photos now have more "depth." "I think it’s beautiful to see my growth."

So how does she keep such flawless skin? "I use daily exfoliants, which help keep skin fresh," she says. "And I also do a mask once a week. I use a moisturizer and eye cream every night."

While she has a beauty routine which keeps her looking glamorous, she also credits her husband, Peter Thomas, for making her feel good about herself no matter how dolled up she is.

"I am married to a man who is completely in love with me," she says. "I can be in long johns, and he still thinks I’m smoking hot. There is a level of freedom and power that comes with that. I feel sexiest when I’m just my natural self."

Cynthia notes that nothing makes her feel bad about herself these days. "I am completely comfortable with who I am and where I’m going,” she says. "I don’t have to apologize for being me. I’m no longer critiquing my body—I look great, back fat and all."