See Bethenny Frankel’s Journey from Wannabe Actress to SkinnyGirl Mogul

Bethenny Frankel Hollywood Hiills 90028 photo

Bethenny the Actress: Hollywood Hills 90028

In 1994, a decade and a half before Real Housewives, Frankel starred in this little-seen low-budget thriller about a new girl in town who turns out to be a serial-killer maniac (of course).

Bethenny Frankel Hollywood Hills 90028 photo

Legacy Entertainment

Don't Mess with Bethenny: Hollywood Hills 90028

If looks could kill... Bethenny's character would have dropped us all with that nasty stare!

Bethenny Frankel apprentice martha stewart 2005 photo

Bethenny the Reality Star: The Apprentice: Martha Stewart (2005)

Frankel brought her signature straight-talking style to Martha Stewart Apprentice, calling out her teammates on their dishonesty and poor planning. Her smarts and can-do attitude took her far on the show, landing her eventually in second place.

Bethenny Frankel real housewives new york photo

Bethenny the Housewife?: Real Housewives of New York

In 2008, Frankel became one of the original cast members on Real Housewives of New York—despite not being a housewife or, for that matter, married. She developed a loyal fan base, who loved her no-nonsense attitude and sharp wit. Her one-liners (“I’m sweating like a whore in church”) were high points of the show.

Bethenny Frankel advocation for PETA 2009 photo

Bethenny the Advocate: Ad for PETA

“Fur? I’d rather go naked,” reads the 2009 billboard featuring Frankel’s butt—and the rest of her undressed backside—with the New York skyline behind her. By posing for PETA, she joined the ranks of stars including Christina Applegate, Kelly Osbourne, and Charlize Theron in very publicly declaring her objection to wearing fur.

Bethenny the Mogul: Skinnygirl Margarita

Frankel was working as a chef focusing on healthy food and drink when she invented the Skinnygirl margarita, which she subsequently launched as a low-calorie ready-made cocktail in 2010. It was followed by the Skinnygirl sangria and white cranberry cosmo. She sold the company to Beam Global for a reported $100 million.

Bethenny Frankel Bethenny Ever After photo

David Giesbrecht/Bravo

Bethenny's Happy Place: Bethenny Ever After

After leaving behind The Real Housewives,, Frankel continued to be followed by the cameras in Bethenny Getting Married? and, the subsequent year, Bethenny Ever After. It’s satisfying for fans to watch this smart, likable woman go from accomplished-but-unhappily-still-single to having it all: a lucrative brand, a happy marriage, and a beautiful baby girl.

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Bethenny the Bride: Wedding Day

On March 28, 2010, Bethenny married Jason Hoppy at the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York. The engagement, her early pregnancy, and the wedding planning were all chronicled on Bethenny Getting Married?, her first solo show after quitting Real Housewives. In the wedding episode, dressed in her gorgeous Amsale gown, she memorably peed in an ice bucket while waiting to walk down the aisle.

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Bethenny the Mommy: Bethenny Gives Birth to Bryn Casey Hoppy

Bethenny and Jason became proud parents to little Bryn Casey Hoppy on May 8, 2010. Bethenny poses here with her darling baby girl at only two and a half weeks old. They both look ridiculously good, considering the timing!

Bethenny Frankel Body by Bethenny DVD cover 2010

Bethenny the Body: Body by Bethenny DVD (2010)

One of the things that has always defined Frankel is her slim physique. In this workout DVD, Frankel focuses on yoga and strength-training moves, followed by a brief “Booty Blast.”

Bethenny Frankel Skating with the stars photo

Bethenny on Ice: Skating with the Stars

As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, new mom Frankel joined the cast of the inaugural (and thus far only) season of Skating with the Stars while filming Bethenny Ever After. After her first performance on the show, she described the experience as “vaguely reminiscent of childbirth.” Just as on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, Frankel made it all the way to the end and was the runner-up for the grand prize.

Bethenny the Author: A Place of Yes

Frankel’s third book, subtitled “10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life,” was released in March 2011. Like Naturally Thin and The Skinnygirl Dish, A Place of Yes quickly became a New York Times best-seller. Her book tour sold out large auditoriums of women who drank cocktails and listened to her dish about following your heart.

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Bethenny the Red-Carpet Hottie: October 2011

Frankel has never been shy about showing off her slammin’-hot bod; after all, she’s the original Skinnygirl. Here at a recent SiriusXM Radio event at New York’s Studio 54, she rocks shiny short-shorts and bare legs.