What Have the 'RHONY' Stars Been Up To Since Last Season?
Who stepped out with a hunky 23-year-old? And who went to battle with…a warthog?
Can we all agree that it's been too long since the Real Housewives of New York City have graced our screens? Luckily, 2014 is bringing with it our favorite Manhattanites, but before we delve into Season 6, let's catch up on what the ladies have been up to over the past two years.
Aviva Drescher definitely has a big year ahead. She is about to release her memoir, Leggy Blonde, which will go in-depth on how the loss of her leg at a young age affected her life and helped her achieve her can-do attitude. "It wasn't until I started writing and looking at things objectively that I realized how complicated my life had been at times and how I just plowed through it," she says of the experience of writing her book.
Over the past year, the philanthropist has continued to show her altruistic side by helping a cancer patient fulfill a dream of seeing a Broadway show and being a staunch supporter of those injured at the Boston Marathon bombings this past April. Besides offering her words of encouragement to her fellow amputees, Aviva presented one of the survivors and friend Heather Abott with her first prosthetic running leg at an event in October.
And Aviva is not the only Housewife who's about to light up the literary scene. Already a bestselling author and award-winning journalist, Carole Radziwill is about to publish her first novel. Called The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating, the romantic comedy centers around a glamorous Manhattanite who must learn to reinvent her life after her sexologist husband dies unexpectedly. The book has a glowing endorsement from no less than Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell who calls it "witty and charming."
Last year, Carole took her royal lineage one step further by presiding over Coney Island's Annual Mermaid Parade as its official Mermaid Queen. She has also split from her rocker boyfriend Russ Irwin since we last saw their relationship unfold in season 5 of RHONY. Will Season 6 show us a new love for our resident princess?
Another Housewife on the lookout for love is none other than Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, who sadly broke up with longtime boyfriend (and RHONY staple) Jacques Azoulay only to hint that she might just get back together with her ex-husband, the Count himself.
And her personal life isn't the only place where things are heating up. Together with fellow housewife Ramona Singer, LuAnn is producing a new Off-Broadway production of a 50 Shades of Grey musical parody called 50 Shades of F**** Up. This season, however, the Countess' role will be different: read all about how she'll fit in this season.
Speaking of Ramona, naturally our multi-hyphenate wine/jewelry/skincare-maker has not slowed down one iota. Ramona had a very big mom milestone when her only daughter Avery graduated high school last year and left home to attend Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Ramona took the family for an African safari to celebrate Avery's achievement, where she also happened to have a pretty scary run-in with a warthog.
Ramona's 27-year-marriage to husband Mario appears to be as strong as ever. She's been tweeting sexy photos of the two of them on the beach during a romantic Mexican vacation.
Fashion and shape-wear maven Heather Thomson had a legal kerfuffle with rival company Spanx when she accused the latter of ripping off her signature Yummie Tummie tanks. The two companies and their famous owners, Heather and Spanx's Sara Blakely, butted heads (pun intended).
The entrepreneur didn't just stand up for herself last year, though. She also stood up for victims of Lyme Disease when she spoke at a Senate briefing last month in an attempt to advance legislative efforts on prevention and research.
Finally, Sonja Morgan might have just had the juiciest hiatus of the bunch. Last year, she stepped out with her new 23-year-old boyfriend, Benjamin Benalloul, for the first time. Despite the age difference, Sonja couldn't stop gushing about how her new beau is "charming, elegant, successful, wonderful." And Benjamin should consider himself a lucky guy as Sonja has been practicing a lavish burlesque show that she's thinking of possibly taking to Vegas at the request of her friend, casino mogul Steve Wynn.
In between all that, she somehow found time to crash the Watch What Happens Live wedding that was officiated by Andy Cohen, which also featured the musical stylings of Jenni Pulos and bridesmaid Lisa Vanderpump. Sonja's role? Sharing her tips on how to keep a relationship hot, of course.
Aren't you glad the ladies are coming back? And who are you most looking forward to seeing on the new season of RHONY? Watch a first look below and sound off in the comments.
[video_clip_url:http://player.theplatform.com/p/PHSl-B/yT7k3t_YLXoZ/embed/select/k7DfqhzMjIh_]
Related Stories
•Meet the New Housewife: 11 Fun Facts About Kristen Taekman
•PHOTOS: Go Inside the New Season of RHONY
•RHONY Reunion's Best Burns