Kelly Bensimon teases Bravo return, questions if ‘RHONY’ cast is ‘really real’

Reality TV

The second coming of Kelly Bensimon could be upon us. 

More than a decade after dropping her apple, the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, 53, teased a return to reality TV in an exclusive interview with Page Six. 

“I’m not a person that’s like, ‘No, I’m not doing that.’ I never say never. You never know where you’re going to see me next,” she said of rejoining “RHONY,” also revealing that “secret” projects are in the works. “I definitely love reality TV.”

If she did come back to Bravo, though, Bensimon would hope to show viewers different sides of herself beyond cartwheels, jellybeans and confrontations with Bethenny Frankel.

Today, the former model is the proud mother of two adult daughters and a real estate maven at Douglas Elliman who has sold $100 million in properties this year alone. 

Kelly Bensimon
Kelly Bensimon has successfully transitioned from reality star to real estate maven.
Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com

“What I did regret [during my time on ‘RHONY’ is] that they didn’t get to see my real life. You have to remember I was on in 2009 and 2010 and being a single working woman was not sexy,” said the star, who shares Sea Louise, 23, and Teddy, 21, with ex-husband Gilles Bensimon.

“I think there was a lot of fear and a lot of stigma associated with that back then. I’ve raised two amazing girls and I’m so incredibly proud of both of them,” she continued. “I think it would’ve been an amazing opportunity — or will, now — to showcase how you can have it all, how you can raise children on your own, how you can work really hard and smile your way through it.”

"The Real Housewives of New York City" Season 4 cast
Bensimon (pictured here, third from right, in a promo shot for “RHONY” Season 4) spent three seasons as a full-time “Housewife” from 2009 to 2011.
Joe Pugliese/Bravo

Bensimon — who has made guest appearances on “RHONY” over the years — also shared her thoughts on the most recent season, which has been criticized by viewers for a disjointed dynamic between OG cast members Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan and newbies Leah McSweeney and Eboni K. Williams.

“How do I feel about them today? It’s just a new time and I think that one of the things that is really difficult about reality TV is being able to be real on camera — and just being really real and not selling what you want people to see,” she said. “So, I think if there was one thing to change, it’s [for them] to really go deep.”

(From left) Sonja Morgan, Leah McSweeney, Ramona Singer, Eboni K. Williams and Luann de Lesseps
(From left) Sonja Morgan, Leah McSweeney, Ramona Singer, Eboni K. Williams and Luann de Lesseps make up the Season 13 cast of “RHONY.”
Bravo Media

While Bensimon’s future on “RHONY” remains a mystery, she pondered the idea of one day participating in Peacock’s “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” spinoff. 

“Since I retired, I’ve met so many other ‘Housewives’ who are just amazing,” the multi-hyphenate noted. “I love women. I work with a lot of women and who doesn’t want to hang out with five women on a trip and have the best time ever? Like, I do. Sign me up! Yes, please.”

In the meantime, Bensimon is enjoying hosting her “Hey Guys, Hey” podcast and doling out real estate advice to former co-star Singer, 64, an aspiring agent

“Ramona texted me, I think it was right before Labor Day weekend, and she was heading off to Aspen and she was like, ‘I definitely want to have a coffee with you. Can we please meet?’” recalled Bensimon, who gave fans a peek inside her career this year in a cameo on “Million Dollar Listing New York” Season 9.

“And I was like, ‘Sure, of course,’” she added. “Anyone that wants to do something different, I support them 100 percent.”

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