Bethenny Frankel rose to prominence in the early 2000s as one of the original cast members of reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City, which premiered in 2008. Frankel has since appeared on other reality shows including The Apprentice, Celebrity Apprentice, and Bethenny Ever After; launched her own line of Skinnygirl products; released her second book, A Place of Yes; and become an entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist. From Television Personality to Business Mogul: The Many Faces of Bethenny Frankel
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Early Life
Bethenny Frankel was born in New York City on November 4, 1970. She grew up in a middle-class Jewish family in the Short Hills section of Millburn, New Jersey. Frankel attended Clarkstown High School North and Hofstra University, where she majored in communications. After college, she moved back to New York City to pursue a career in acting and modeling. In 1991, she started working as a personal trainer and nutritionist while also doing publicity work for various authors, such as John Gray’s book Men Are from Mars. Frankel went on to write several books herself, including Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting (2009) and A Place Of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out Of Life (2010). From Television Personality to Business Mogul: The Many Faces of Bethenny Frankel
Personal Life
Bethenny Frankel was born on November 4, 1970, in New York City. She is the daughter of Robert J. Frankel, a horse trainer, and Bernadette Birk, a interior designer. She has one sister, Bryn Hoppy. Frankel attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart before transferring to public school after her freshman year. She graduated from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1988 and from Boston University in 1992 with a degree in communications. After graduating, she worked as an assistant at ABC Daytime’s One Life to Live. Her first marriage was to Jason Hoppy (1990-2013). They have two daughters together, Brynn Catherine (born 2004) and Blakely Hope (born 2010).
In September 2016, Frankel started dating art consultant Patrick O’Connell; they became engaged in January 2018.
Career as a Talk Show Host
Bethenny Frankel first made a name for herself as a television personality on the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City. But her career didn’t stop there. She went on to host her own talk show, Bethenny, which aired for two seasons. And most recently, she’s been appearing as a guest shark on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank. Throughout her various TV roles, one thing has remained constant: Frankel’s business savvy. In 2009, Frankel published a self-help book entitled Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting. In 2011, she launched her Skinnygirl brand with low-calorie cocktails. In 2012, she expanded into other food categories with Skinnygirl snacks and desserts, followed by wines in 2013 and nutritional shakes in 2014. A Skinnygirl lifestyle app was released in 2016.
Career as an Author
Bethenny Frankel rose to fame as a reality TV star on the Bravo series The Real Housewives of New York City. She appeared on eight seasons of the show, starting in 2008. In addition to her television career, Frankel is also a successful businesswoman. She has a line of Skinnygirl cocktails, a pre-packaged food company, and a book publishing imprint. Frankel is also a philanthropist and author. In 2011, she founded the B Strong charity, which provides support for women in crisis.
Career as a Philanthropist
Bethenny Frankel rose to fame as a cast member on Bravo’s reality television series, The Real Housewives of New York City. She appeared on eight seasons of the show, from 2008-2010 and again from 2012-2018. As one of the original housewives, Frankel was known for her quick wit and sharp tongue. She was often involved in on-screen arguments with her fellow cast members. In 2010, Frankel left the show to pursue other business ventures.
Carrer as A Skin Care Entrepreneur
Bethenny Frankel is best known for her role on the Bravo television series The Real Housewives of New York City. However, this entrepreneur and businesswoman has also made a name for herself in the skincare industry. In 2010, she launched her own line of skin care products, called Skinnygirl Solutions. Since then, she has continued to grow her brand and expand her product offerings. Today, Skinnygirl Solutions is a leading provider of natural and organic skincare products.
Carrer As A Fashion Designer
Bethenny Frankel is best known for her starring role on the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City. However, before she was a household name, Frankel was a successful fashion designer. She founded the lifestyle brand Skinnygirl in 2009, which became a multi-million dollar empire. In 2011, she sold the company to Beam Suntory for an undisclosed sum. Today, Frankel is a businesswoman, television personality, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. She has truly come a long way from her days as a fashion designer.
Q.&A.
Bethenny Frankel is best known for her starring role on Bravo’s hit reality show, The Real Housewives of New York City. But this TV personality is also a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. We sat down with Bethenny to learn more about her many businesses and what motivates her to keep growing and expanding her empire.