The Stunning Transformation Of Heather Rae Young

When Netflix's hit show "Selling Sunset" hit the streaming platform, it took the world by storm. The amazing properties in the Hollywood Hills, the high-stakes office environment, the drama between model-gorgeous real estate agents — the show has it all. Of course, many of us avid viewers were hooked on the inner personal drama that was the feud between Christine Quinn and Chrishell Stause, according to Us Weekly. And, of course, who could forget when Stause's heavily public divorce hit the star during filming? But, while there was so much drama happening between Quinn and Stause (and you know that Davina Potratz was always up in other people's business), agent Heather Rae Young largely focused on the business.

Sure, Young was in and around the drama but, of all the agents who worked at the glamorous Oppenheim Group, she seemed to be one of the least frazzled when newcomer Stause joined the firm in Season 1. Since then, her star power has only increased, especially given her engagement to HGTV star Tarek El Moussa. So, who is Young, and what was her life like before "Selling Sunset" made her a star? Here's the stunning transformation of Heather Rae Young.

Given how gorgeous Heather Rae Young is, you'd think that she was definitely the queen bee in high school. It seems as though every high school has one — the girl who rules the hallways, and always looks just about perfect. While the Oppenheim Group definitely is filled with different queen bees (looking at you, Christine Quinn), Young's actual days in high school were far more relaxed than you might imagine. 

Because she grew up in such a small town, Young's high school was made up of students from a number of different communities surrounding her own, and by her estimations, her class had more than 100 students. In a sit-down with MotorTrend, she made it clear that, even though the class wasn't super small, "we didn't have separate cliques in school." "We still had different types of kids but everyone was friends with each other," she said. And, as far as her senior superlative goes? Young almost won for best hair because, as she put it, it was consistently smooth and silky. Although, the realtor did admit that, due to photoshoots, her locks have "seen some damage."

A cornerstone of "Selling Sunset" is the glamorous looks and lifestyles of the real estate agents. But, before Heather Rae Young was called to the lights of the Sunset Strip, she pursued a career in the modeling industry. What drew her to such a profession in the first place? She told MotorTrend that when she was just 14 years old, she saw her very first issue of Playboy magazine. Belonging to the father of a boyfriend at the time, she was taken aback by the beauty she saw and wanted to pursue the same for herself. "It sounds stereotypical, but I thought Playmates were the most beautiful women in the world," she told MotorTrend. "I looked up to them and I wanted to be glamorous and sexy like they were." 

After she set her sights on booking a job with the storied publication, Young worked on her modeling chops and booked gigs, but it wasn't until she worked with photographer Josh Ryan that she made a conscious effort to go for the Playboy approach. She got herself a manager, an agent, and finally felt ready to send her shots to the Hugh Hefner-led empire.

The modeling world has a few publications that truly stand out from the rest — Vogue, Sports Illustrated, and, of course, Playboy. Heather Rae Young may be known as a successful realtor nowadays, but she was previously known as Miss February — she was the Valentine Playmate in a full centerfold of Playboy. Young — who was 22 at the time — was ecstatic over her modeling accomplishment, and told Playboy that she never would've imagined accomplishing such a feat within the industry. "I'm so thrilled to be representing the love month because I have tons of love in my life," she said. "I loved Playboy when I was growing up in those mountains, and now look at me: I'm Miss February! Unbelievable." 

On the process of becoming one of the magazine's iconic centerfold models, Young told MotorTrend that it was "such an honor" to be picked by Hugh Hefner, himself, for the all-year-round feature. "I felt like I dreamt the whole thing, but when I found out that I was going to be Miss February, it meant the world to me," she said of the experience. "One of my lifelong dreams came true."

While it may not surprise you now to hear of Heather Rae Young being interviewed, it might shock you to find out that her path crossed with two of late night's most renowned hosts before she even made her way to "Selling Sunset." Yes, that's right, Young appeared on the "Tonight Show" when it was hosted by Jay Leno, and she also made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show, too. 

In her sit-down with Women's Fitness, she spilled about the experiences. "It was super fun and nerve racking doing a live skit. And they didn't tell me what he was going to do or what I was going to read beforehand. So, it was all on a whim," Young shared about the experience. "When I walked off the stage I said, 'Did I black out?' because I don't remember what I said. But I did good!" We were surprised too to learn that Young had a brush with what sounded like improv comedy, but given how quickly she has to think on her feet during "Selling Sunset" — in addition to her stage presence — it's not super shocking.

After making a splash in the real estate industry, Heather Rae Young became a prominent agent with a successful firm behind her. Yes, we're talking about the Oppenheim Group, the central focus of the hit show "Selling Sunset." Of course, Young joined the firm before the show took off. Not only this, but she was very happy to defend her real estate record and that of the firm when it was questioned by none other than Chrissy Teigen. 

Teigen took to Twitter and said that, in all her years of being in and around Hollywood real estate, she had never heard of the agents at the Oppenheim Group. Young was not having it. "My response to that is, I have had my real estate license since 2014. I've been with The Oppenheim Group since 2015. I sold my first house within three months of having my license ... you can look up the proof," she said, as noted by E! News. She went on to say that she and other agents had been in business for "almost six years" at the time Teigen handed down her criticism. "Maybe because she doesn't know us doesn't mean we're not real real estate agents," Young clapped back.

The long-distance relationship between Heather Rae Young and her boyfriend was definitely a defining feature in Season 1 of "Selling Sunset," and it turns out that her relationship also stopped her now-fiancé, Tarek El Moussa, from going out with her when he initially wanted to. As noted by People, El Moussa asked Young out on a date, but she responded by saying that she had a boyfriend, so his efforts were halted — or so he thought. El Moussa recalled that he bumped into Young again with some friends, asked her out on a date again and, luckily for him (because being rejected not one, but twice, is a bit cringey), she said yes. 

The two were first spotted as a couple over a Fourth of July weekend in Redondo Beach, California, and soon became social media official — which is basically like announcing your engagement at this point. "My heart is so full and happy," Young wrote on Instagram about her new man. "Sometimes someone comes into your life and you just know they are meant to be there." Young and El Moussa got engaged in July 2020, as noted by People at the time.

Heather Rae Young will be able to add another line to her resume. As noted by Fox News, Young has been slated to launch the Oppenheim Group's new office, located in Newport Beach, California. The location move will be a welcomed change for Young, no doubt, as her fiancé lives in Orange County, California — when we talk about Los Angeles traffic, that 45-mile drive can take up to two and a half hours. 

But don't worry. Young will still be a part of "Selling Sunset," as she is taking on a "popping into the Orange County office" approach to the new opportunity. Calling the move a "long time coming," Jason Oppenheim, the top selling agent at The Oppenheim Group, seemed very supportive of Young and the new venture. "Heather is going to be working out of that office and my best friend is going to be managing the office," Oppenheim said. "The office that we're looking at is insane. I mean, it's insane. So, hopefully, I'll be signing the lease soon." How will the potentially new Newport Beach office fold into the existing realm of the Oppenheim Group and "Selling Sunset"? We'll just have to wait for the new season to find out.