The Real Housewives of NY: The good, the bad and the interesting

June 15, 7:31 PMNewark Reality TV ExaminerRobyn Gormish

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Bethany Frankel       Photo: The Insider

Bethany Frankel

 Before joining “The Real Housewives of NY” Bethany was on another reality TV program, she was a finalist on “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.” She made it to the series finale before coming in second to Dawna Stone. Prior to appearing on “The Apprentice,” Bethany starred in the 1994 movie "Hollywood Hills 90028" and acted in the 1995 movie "Wish Me Luck".

Bethany’s attended the Natural Gourmet Cooking Institute in New York. After she graduated, she created a company which provides wheat, egg, and dairy-free baked goods, meals for private clients, and a custom meal delivery service. Her clients reportedly include Michael J. Fox, Brooke Hogan, Alicia Silverstone, and Paris Hilton.
On March 10th, 2009 Frankel published the New York Times best seller, “Naturally Thin: Unleash Your Skinnygirl & Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting.”

She was also a contributor to NBC's coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Derby and 2009 Preakness Stakes and Bravo's coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Oaks.

Jill Zarin

Jill Zarin is married to Bobby Zarin, owner of "Zarin Fabrics.” Jill is also involved in numerous charities that are frequently featured on the show. Jill has a teenage daughter named Allyson Shapiro Zarin who is inflicted with a form of arthritis called Spondyloarthropathy. The episode "Runway Run-In" featured Jill organizing a charitable event to raise consciousness for her daughter's condition. 

Kelly began working as a model at the age of 15, she was the third wife of French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon, and the couple has two daughters, born in 1999 and 2001. Kelly and Gilles divorced in July 2007. She now resides in New York City and East Hampton.

Kelly began her modeling career in New York City. She has appeared in magazines such as ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and Harper's Bazaar and was also the face of Clarins. Kelly has also written several books including, “The Spirit of the Hamptons”, “American Style" and “The Bikini Book.” Kelly also wrote a column in Page Six Magazine called “The Socializer: Kelly Killoren Bensimon.”

Kelly Bensimon         Photo: Bravo

Bensimon launched her jewelry line "Kelly" at Bloomingdale's in fall 2007. A pendant featured in this jewelry line has recently become the subject of a lawsuit. The owl design that Bensimon displays and promotes on “The Real Housewives of New York City” was allegedly not designed by Bensimon, but by designer Celeste Greenberg, founder of jewelry line Tuleste Market. A legal case has been initiated by Greenberg for copyright infringement and breach of contract. The case is pending in New York Supreme Court as of May 4, 2009.

Kelly Bensimon was also arrested on March 5, 2009 and charged with assaulting her boyfriend Nicholas Stefanov. Stefanov filed an in-person criminal complaint with the NYPD and was photographed as part of the complaint with visible facial wounds. The criminal complaint stated that Bensimon hit Stefanov "with a closed fist," thereby causing informant to suffer a laceration below informant's left eye and substantial pain."

An initial criminal hearing was held on March 31, 2009; the case has been continued until June 8, 2009. The specific charge is "Assault with Intent to Cause Physical Injury, a Misdemeanor" according to the New York State Unified Court System, Case 2009NY017759.  Kelly Bensimon accepted a deal on June 8, 2009, that will purge her of misdemeanor assault charges if she completes two days of community service and stays out of trouble.

"I'm very pleased," Bensimon said. "Justice was served."

Ramona Singer 

Ramona Singer   Photo: TV guide

Ramona Singer is an entrepreneur who runs a business, “RMS Fashions” featuring clothing and jewelry as well as an anti-aging skincare line. Ramona lives in Manhattan's Upper East Side with her tennis pro husband Mario and their teenage daughter Avery.

Ramona has stated that she was alone until she was 37, and has been married for 18 years. She claims to be 52, but if she was married at 37 and has been married for 18 years, she is at least 55.

Ramona graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, with a B.S. Degree in Business.

Alex McCord 

Alex McCord, the youngest of the cast at 36, is married to Simon van Kempen, a hotel manager, and has two children, Francois and Johan. Alex is a former actress and model.

There was also much debate about the nude photos that came out on the internet.

Alex McCord       Photo: NY Post

“I did the photos after the birth of our second son,” McCord said. “I was shocked at how quickly my body came back. I just sort of thought, ‘Wow!’ At that time I had the opportunity to meet a lot of photographers.”

She was a graphic designer for over nine years. In March 2009, McCord was laid off from her job in visual merchandising for Limited Brands/Victoria’s Secret. She is now consulting for Second Time Around, a luxury consignment chain.

She and van Kempen currently reside in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Alex and her husband are now are writing an urban parenting book. "It's not about how to discipline. It's about things like how to get a passport for an infant when you don't have a birth certificate yet," she says. "It's gonna be fun." 

LuAnn de Lesseps 

LuAnn de Lesseps    Photo: MSNBC.com

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