Bethenny Frankel, 54, hits back at body shamers after she shocked fans with thong bikini runway appearance

Daily Mail​

02-06-2025

Bethenny Frankel has hit back at body shamers after she shocked by flaunting her frame in a thong bikini at a recent swimsuit show.
The Real Housewives of New York alum, 54, left very little to the imagination as she strutted down the runway in various swimsuits - including flashing her backside in the tiny garment.
After the appearance ignited fierce backlash online, Frankel took to Instagram to reveal how she felt about baring all on the runway and praised her own 'natural' body.
She said: 'It's time for women to start focusing on and realizing that what's on the inside will lead to being happier with what's on the outside.
'As the internet is so fascinated with my age, my weight, my face, my hair, I can tell you with certainty, every woman that was with me on that stage did not look that way two hours prior.
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'The images you and your daughters see of women, Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé... that there is a lot of work that goes into that, a lot of glam, a lot of make-up, a lot of contouring.'
I've never been vain, I never wear make-up, I believe in being healthy and good skin, I believe there is a time for everything...
'I look like a train wreck most of the time. I do not crash diet, I don't go to the gym, I walk on the beach, everything I do has balance, i have a good relationship with food and exercise.
'I was 25lbs heavier in my 30s, I was fixated, I would binge and then starve, eat out of self loathing and being lonely...
'I created the term food noise, it's that noise saying I was good and bad yesterday
'I don't have that, I have today is a beautiful day, I'm going to go and do a beach walk for myself
'My body is natural; I don't do weights. I'll go months without exercise, I have a good relationship with food, its the noise that is why we are struggling
'Allow yourselves to have what you want and not beat yourself up when you indulge.'
Frankel's claims received a mixed response online as fans commented about how she had previously pushed her 'supermodel diet', had undergone breast augmentation and was on social media 'putting on make-up every day.'
'My body is natural; I don't do weights. I'll go months without exercise, I have a good relationship with food, its the noise that is why we are struggling' she said
Others praised her for rocking 'the best body of her life' on the runway.
After a video of Bethenny on the runway was shared to TikTok, many of her avid fans couldn't believe how young she looked.
Hundreds rushed to the comment section to discuss her stunning appearance, and some even branded her as 'unrecognizable' thanks to her new 'do.
'Is that really Bethany Frankel?!!?! If so what did she get done? Where? Who? How much?!?!' one user asked.
'That hair just took off a decade! She is [fire],' gushed another.
'She looks great but I barely recognize her,' someone else added.
'Wow, I've never seen her look so good,' a fourth comment read.
A fifth said, 'Is she in the witness protection program? She's unrecognizable.'
Bethenny recently revealed the reason she moved from New York to Florida.
Frankel's claims received a mixed response online as fans commented about how she had previously pushed her 'supermodel diet', had undergone breast augmentation and was on social media 'putting on make-up every day'
The reality TV personality said she felt like she was 'drowning' so she ultimately decided to move her and her daughter Bryn out of the city.
She previously explained that their move was for 'personal and professional reasons' and sparked fan concern that she was relocating for political motives.
In a TikTok video she posted earlier this month, she said that a 'series of events transpired' earlier this year so she decided to sell their home.
'The morning of March 19th, this wasn't even a thought and by that evening, a series of events transpired and we decided it was the best move to move here,' the star said.
'Within five weeks, [we] had sold and bought a home in both places. We'll keep this apartment, but I sold my home and bought a house in Florida,' she said.
Frankel said living with just her daughter Bryn, whom she shares with ex-husband Jason Hoppy, in an overly spacious house 'was drowning me.'
'It was just the two of us,' she said. 'It was a massive property, and I made the decision to buy that property when I was in a different stage of my life.
'I thought it would be this, like, big family home and that I'd be entertaining there a lot.'
She continued: 'The house was drowning me because it had an apple orchard, it was a historical house, it had all this property, and it was beautiful and amazing for a big family with kids and grandparents.
'It just ended up being a place that I spent a lot of time alone [in] because I didn't really know many people in that community. It was lonely.'
She said she didn't want to be 'home alone' so she decided to 'simplify' their space.
'My simplification is someone else's complication because I'm still going to be in a beautiful home, but I just took on too much,' she explained.
'And the idea of something was different than the reality of it,' she continued.
Frankel also added that she originally planned to downsize in four years when her daughter would be heading off to college, but she decided to go ahead with it now because of a 'moment.'
'This situation was drowning me and something else was distracting her and neither of us would say it out loud because this is just what it was,' she said cryptically.
'The moment it became about her, I was able to be honest with myself about how I felt and it freed both of us. I think I'll be lighter and brighter and happier in the coming months.'
Frankel added: 'I'm excited for this next chapter.'