Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel | |
|---|---|
 Frankel at the Virgin America OC launch in April 2009 | |
| Born | November 4, 1970 (age 39) |
| Notable work | The Apprentice: Martha Stewart The Real Housewives of New York City |
Bethenny Frankel (born November 4, 1970) is a natural foods chef, television personality and author. She was first introduced to television audiences in the 2005 series The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, where she placed second. From 2008 to 2010, she was one of the original five housewives featured on the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City. In 2010, she starred in her own companion series, Bethenny Getting Married?
Early life
Frankel is the daughter of the late thoroughbred race horse trainer Robert Frankel, a National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee and five-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer, and Bonnie Parisella. She is the granddaughter of Gertrude and Merrill Frankel. Her father was Jewish, and her mother converted after their marriage,[1] She was once a "hot walker" in the stable owned by her stepfather, John Parisella, and she spent every summer at Saratoga Springs, New York, with her mother and stepfather. Frankel graduated from Pine Crest School and attended New York University.
Career
Frankel began her career with appearances in the 1994 movie "Hollywood Hills 90028" and the 1995 movie "Wish Me Luck".
She attended the Natural Gourmet Culinary Institute in New York to become a chef. After she graduated, she formed BethennyBakes, a company that provided wheat-, egg-, and dairy-free baked goods, meals for private clients, and a custom-meal delivery service. The company ceased production upon the launch of Frankel's Skinnygirl brand in 2009.
Frankel was one of 18 candidates in The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.[2] She made it to the series finale before losing to Dawna Stone.[3][4] She was a contributor to Bravo TV's coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Oaks.
Frankel was one of the seven women featured on Bravo's series The Real Housewives of New York City.[5] On June 10, 2010, Bravo TV premiered a series spinoff, Bethenny Getting Married? which follows Frankel through the planning of her wedding to the birth of her daughter and life with her husband Jason Hoppy. The premiere had the highest ratings of any series debut in Bravo history with over 2 million viewers.[6][7] On July 12, 2010, Bethenny confirmed on the Wendy Williams show that she will not be returning for the fourth season of Real Housewives of New York City.[citation needed]
In March 2009, Frankel's first book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published by Fireside. In December 2009, her second book, The SkinnyGirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life was published, also by Fireside. She released an exercise DVD, Body by Bethenny, in spring 2010. The Skinnygirl Rules, an audiobook read by Frankel, was described as a summary of the first two books. She is currently working on two more books, A Place of Yes, and Naturally Fit Pregnancy, as well as a skincare line. She also signs bottles of her low-cal Skinnygirl Margarita for her fans.[8]
Personal life
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2009) |
Frankel married Jason Hoppy on March 28, 2010, at The Four Seasons Restaurant in New York city.[9] The bride wore a dress by Amsale, the rings were by Kristen Farrell, the red velvet wedding cake was by the Pink Cake Box and the event was put together by Shawn Rabideau Events and Design.[10] On May 8, 2010, Frankel gave birth to their first child, Bryn Casey Hoppy, named for Jason's brother Bryan who died in a car accident about 19 years ago.[11] Just 3 weeks after giving birth Frankel posed in a size-4 swimsuit for Us Magazine.[12]
Frankel posed nude for animal rights group PETA in September 2009. The photo was featured on a billboard in Times Square as part of PETA's campaign against the wearing of furs.[13]
Bibliography
Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting (ISBN 1-41659-798-0, 2009)
The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life (ISBN 1-41659-799-9, 2000)
References
- ^ as stated by Frankel herself on "Watch What Happens Live"
- ^ Bethenny Frankel (II)
- ^ Bethenny Frankel: A Reality Star One Year Later - Jack Myers Media Village
- ^ Martha Stewart selects Dawna Stone as her 'The Apprentice' winner - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, message boards, chat and games for unscripted television programs
- ^ Bravo spinoff 'Real Housewives of New York City' debuts in March
- ^ "Ratings: Bethenny Getting Married? the Most-Watched Series Debut in Bravo History". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Bethenny Frankel Leaving Real Housewives of New York City?". National Ledger. June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ Zagat Buzz Blog: Bethenny Will Sign Your Bottle Now, July 21, 2010
- ^ "Bethenny Frankel & Jason Hoppy's Dream Wedding!". OK! Weekly. New York, New York. April 2, 2010.
- ^ "Jason Hoppy and Bethenny Frankel wedding photos!". Starcasm.net. April 2, 2010.
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20367836,00.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Jillian Michaels Reveals She Had a Nose Job". UsMagazine.com.
- ^ "Bethenny Frankel: Nude For PETA". December 15, 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2010.