Former Real Housewives Of New York City: Where Are They Now?
Published on October 5, 2016. Updated October 2, 2019The Real Housewives of New York City began back in 2008. It was the second show created within the Real Housewives franchise and many of the women from the original season are still on the show today! Fans have been able to follow the professional and personal lives of LuAnn de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel and Ramona Singer since day one which is one of the reasons the show has such a loyal following. On the other hand, we’ve seen a lot of women come and go from the show and we can’t help but wonder where they are now! Some of these women are still chasing the limelight while others have quietly settled down to focus on their family. Here’s a look at 7 former Real Housewives of New York City to see what they are up to now!
7. Alex McCord
Alex McCord was always the black sheep of the Real Housewives. Not only did she live far away in Brooklyn, but her personality didn’t quite mesh with the other women. She appeared on The Real Housewives of New York City from season 1 through 4, but was fired alongside Jill Zarin and Kelly Bensimon after season 4. Soon after being let go she got a gig at Rumorfix doing video blogs about her time on the show and revealing behind-the-scenes secrets. She also blogged for The Stir about RHONY. Even though she talked ill about reality television, or at least the atmosphere of Bravo’s Real Housewives, Alex and her Australian husband, Simon, appeared on another reality show called VH1 Couple’s Therapy in 2012. Simon and Alex also wrote a book about raising their kids in the city, Little Kids, Big City. The married couple are still together raising their two kids, Francis and Johan, but they moved from the big apple and now live in Australia so the kids can be closer to their grandparents.
6. Cindy Barshop
Barshop was only on The Real Housewives of New York City for one season. She appeared in season 4 as a single mother of two who was juggling her business and family. Today Cindy Barshop still runs her Completely Bare empire and lives in New York City with her twins. She opened up locations in NYC, Long Island and Scarsdale, but according to Reality Tea, she had to shut down several locations in 2011. The business is reportedly only operating in the New York area now, but she has expanded her business with a line of at-home waxing kits. In 2014 she hired a new CEO and partner so that she could take more time off to spend with her children and relaunched the business as Spruce & Bond. She also opened a new a brand new business venture called VSpot Medi-Spa. Her twins are now 6-years-old and she is still single. She is still friends with a few of the Housewives like LuAnn, Dorinda and newbie Jules Wainstein, but she’s still at odds with Sonja Morgan.
5. Heather Thomson
This Yummie-Tummie entrepreuner was a main cast member on The Real Housewives of New York City from season 5 to season 7. Fans were pretty sad when Thomson announced she wouldn’t be returning for season 8, but not all that surprised considering she didn’t seem to get along too well with the newly returned Housewife veteran Bethenny Frankel. Since leaving the show she still runs her company Yummie by Heather Thomson and lives in the city with her husband and two kids, Jax and Ella. Jax is still struggling with his health issues, but it seems from Heather’s social media that she remains positive about the outcome. She’s still very close with Kristen Taekman and Carole Radziwill and returned to the small screen briefly as a guest in season 8 to say her famous line, “Holla.” Heather recently traveled to Africa and climbed the famous Mount Kilimanjaro — pretty awesome!
4. Aviva Drescher
Drescher was a main cast member on RHONY for two seasons, 5 and 6. She made one of the most legendary exits from the show when she slammed her fake leg on the table during the season finale. It’s safe to say that moment has gone down in the hall of fame for reality TV stars. Since being fired from the show, Aviva and her husband, Reid appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars in 2015. They are still raising their four kids in the city and Drescher continues to promote awareness for amputees. She is the spokeswoman for One Step Ahead and can still be found in the media trash talking the cast members and producers behind the Real Housewives franchise.
3. Kelly Killoren Bensimon
This former model and Elle Accessories editor was on The Real Housewives of New York City from season 2 to season 4. The time she spent on RHONY was very up and down and she didn’t seem to bond well with the other housewives, especially Bethenny Frankel. Bensimon was let go along with Jill and Alex, but she’s managed to continue on with her career just fine. Since leaving the show she wrote two books, I Can Make You Hot: The Supermodel Diet in 2012 and A Dangerous Age in 2016. She made follow up appearances on the show as a guest in seasons 6 and 7 and continues to model. Kelly also runs a style blog on her website, KKBLoves. In 2011 she was on the cover of Shape magazine, and was a guest editor for Avenue magazine, as well as appearing in a pictorial spread. Her family was on the cover of New York Family in 2012 and she recently launched her HSN jewelry line called Kelly Killoren by Kelly Killoren Bensimon and has made appearances on Bravo’s scripted show Odd Mom Out. Kelly also runs a style blog on her website KKBLoves.
2. Kristen Taekman
Kristen Taekman had a pretty rough summer in 2015 when her family was swept up in a media storm after her husband was revealed to be included in the Ashley Madison leak. His name was found on a list of users for the infidelity site along with how long he was a member and how many times he accessed the site. Shortly after this was released, Taekman announced she wouldn’t be returning for season 8 after only being a cast member for two full seasons in 6 and 7. When asked about the reasoning behind her departure she said it was because she didn’t fit in anymore. Her close friend and fellow Housewife Heather Thomson had also recently quit. She also said she wanted to focus on her family and other business ventures. Taekman is still living in New York City with her two kids and husband, Josh. She’s busy running her Pop of Color nail polish line and fashion blog, Last Night’s Look. She’s still close with Thomson — they recently shared a family vacation together in Florida!
1. Jill Zarin
Jill Zarin was the original star of The Real Housewives of New York City before she was dethroned after season 4 and given the boot from the show. She had a big blowout fight with fellow Housewife Bethenny Frankel and Jill became isolated from her cast members. She quit in a heated email to producers and cast members, but when she tried to take it back the producers officially fired her. From her few and far between interviews in the media it’s clear Zarin wasn’t happy about leaving the show. She felt like she was unfairly fired. She hasn’t exactly kept a low profile since leaving the show — in 2011 she was on Oprah’s Where Are They Now?, Watch What Happens Live in 2012, an episode of ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap in 2014 and Millionaire Matchmaker looking for a boyfriend for her daughter, Allyson, in 2015. Despite being let go from the Real Housewives franchise, Zarin keeps busy with her various business ventures like Skweeze Coutour body shapewear line, Jill Zarin Jewelry for HSN Collection, a bedding collection and she continues to help her husband, Bobby, with his famous Zarin Fabrics warehouse. She is still at odds with Bethenny Frankel, but seems to have made amends with the other women on the show. In 2015, Bobby’s thyroid cancer returned and he is currently receiving treatment.