Bethenny Frankel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bethenny Frankel
Frankel in 2009
Born	(1970-11-04) November 4, 1970 (age 54) Queens, New York, U.S.
Education	Boston University New York University (BA)
Occupation	Entrepreneur television personality philanthropist author
Years active	1993–present
Spouse(s)	Peter Sussman ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 1997)​ Jason Hoppy ​ ​ (m. 2010; div. 2021)​
Partner(s)	Paul Bernon (2018–2024)
Children	1
Parents	Robert J. Frankel (father) Bernadette Birk (mother)

Bethenny Frankel is an American businesswoman, TV star, and writer. She was born on November 4, 1970. She became well-known after appearing on TV shows like The Apprentice: Martha Stewart in 2005 and The Real Housewives of New York City from 2008 to 2010, and again from 2015 to 2019. Using her fame, she started her own lifestyle brand called Skinnygirl.

Frankel also had her own TV shows, including Bethenny Ever After (2010–2012) and Bethenny & Fredrik (2018). She hosted a talk show called Bethenny (2013–2014) and appeared in the reality competition series The Big Shot with Bethenny (2021). Beyond television, she created BStrong, a group that helps people during disasters. She has also written several books and hosted podcasts.

Early Life and Education

Bethenny Frankel is the only child of Robert J. Frankel, a horse trainer, and Bernadette Birk, an interior designer. Her parents divorced when she was four years old. When she was five, her mother married another horse trainer, John Parisella. Bethenny has said that her childhood was challenging.

Frankel moved many times and went to different schools. She graduated from Pine Crest School in Florida in 1988. She then studied at Boston University for two years. Later, she earned a degree in psychology and communications from New York University. She also studied at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City.

Career Highlights

Starting Out in Business and TV

In 1992, Bethenny Frankel moved to Los Angeles hoping to become an actress. She had some small acting parts and worked as an assistant for famous people like Kathy Hilton and Jerry Bruckheimer. She also worked as a production assistant on the TV show Saved by the Bell. These experiences helped her start her first business, a party-planning company, which was short-lived. She then started another business selling pashmina scarves.

In 2003, Frankel launched BethennyBakes, a company that made special cookies and delivered meals in New York City. This business was featured on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart in 2005, where Bethenny was the runner-up. BethennyBakes closed in 2006.

Becoming a Reality TV Star

In 2008, Frankel became a main cast member on the reality TV show The Real Housewives of New York City on Bravo. Her popularity grew quickly. In 2010, she starred in her own Bravo reality series, Bethenny Getting Married?, which was later renamed Bethenny Ever After. This show followed her marriage to Jason Hoppy and the birth of their daughter. The first episode was very popular, with 2.1 million viewers. She left The Real Housewives of New York City after its third season in 2010.

Frankel in 2009

Frankel also hosted her own talk show called Bethenny, which started in 2013. It ran for one season. She returned to The Real Housewives of New York City in 2015 for its seventh season. In 2019, she signed a deal with MGM Television to create and star in new TV projects. She starred in The Big Shot with Bethenny in 2021, where people competed for a job on her team. She announced her departure from The Real Housewives of New York City again in August 2021.

The Skinnygirl Brand

Bethenny Frankel has also written several books. Her first book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published in 2009. She followed this with The SkinnyGirl Dish and an exercise DVD. In 2011, she published A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life. She also wrote a novel called Skinnydipping in 2012.

In 2009, Frankel created a pre-made margarita drink called Skinnygirl Margarita. This drink became the first product for her company, Skinnygirl Cocktails. In 2011, she sold the cocktail line to Beam Global. However, she kept the Skinnygirl brand name to sell many other products. These include foods like dips, shakes, candy, and salad dressings. She also sells Skinnygirl shapewear, clothing, and kitchen items.

Helping Others

Philanthropy and Activism

Bethenny Frankel is the founder of BStrong, a charity organization. BStrong first aimed to help women, but it has grown to provide disaster relief around the world.

In 2017, BStrong raised a lot of money and supplies for people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Frankel visited Houston to help give out these items. That same year, she traveled to Mexico after an earthquake to help raise awareness and funds. BStrong also raised money and sent supplies to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BStrong raised money to deliver important medical supplies like masks and gowns to hospitals in the U.S. In 2022, she also supported Ukraine by providing humanitarian aid during the conflict.

Frankel has also spoken out about the rights of reality television stars. During the 2023 strikes by actors and writers, she encouraged reality TV personalities to form a union. She believes they should be protected and receive fair pay for their work.

Personal Life

Bethenny Frankel has shared that she has a mixed religious background. She grew up with both Jewish and Catholic influences. She considers herself spiritual and culturally Jewish.

Frankel was married to Peter Sussman from 1996 to 1997. In March 2010, she married Jason Hoppy. They have one daughter together. They separated in 2012, and their divorce was finalized in 2021.

From 2016 to 2018, Frankel dated Dennis Shields. She later met film producer Paul Bernon in 2018. They were engaged in 2021, but Frankel shared that their relationship ended after nearly six years.

Frankel has a serious fish allergy. In 2018, she was hospitalized after accidentally eating soup with fish. Since then, she has spoken out about airlines stopping serving fish on planes. She believes it is dangerous for passengers with severe fish allergies to be around cooked seafood in an enclosed space.

TV Appearances

As Herself

As an Actress

See also

In Spanish: Bethenny Frankel para niños