salahi200.jpg

Courtesy: Bravo

Michaele Salahi, star of Real Housewives of D.C., has revealed that she's battling multiple sclerosis.

The reality star's disease is discussed in the new book Cirque du Salahi: Be Careful Who You Trust, written by journalist Diane Dimond. In the book, Dimond also tells the inside story of what happened before, during, and after Michaele and husband Tareq Salahi's November 2009 appearance at the Obama administration’ first state dinner.

The couple, best known for being the "White House Crashers," made headlines last month after they appeared on ABC's The View to promote Bravo's D.C. Housewives. While taping the segment, Tareq Salahi accused Whoopi Goldberg of hitting his wife which led to an "elevated and heated" exchange backstage.

As for why she has kept her MS a secret for 17 years, Salahi tells People, "No one wants to be seen as sickly. And I didn't want to be pitied. The only way I can deal with it is to smile and act like I can get through it."

Salahi, 44, is reportedly posing nude for Playboy later this month. Cirque du Salahi hits stores today.