When the name Bethenny Frankel is dropped in a room, the first thing that may come to mind is go-getter. Similar to many women who have a drive about them, Frankel never stops until success has been reached. She is an American reality television personality, entrepreneur, and author.
Although she wears many hats, she wears driven extremely well. Frankel received wider notoriety after being cast on the hit Bravo reality television series called “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Although the show still airs without her, she has starred in eight of its twelve seasons since it first premiered back in 2008.
Early Life
Early in life, Frankel knew she was never going to settle for less. Having to grow up at a young age, she witnessed things most children shouldn’t. When she was just at the tender age of four years old her father abandoned her and her mother. Even though her mother remarried, Frankel recalls her childhood as a tough one.
She remembers moving multiple times a year to the point of having to switch schools before going to boarding school. She eventually graduated in 1988 from the Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and continued her education at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City, Boston University for two years graduating with a degree in psychology and communications from New York University.
In 1992, she was bit with the acting bug and moved to Los Angeles, California in hopes of being a famous actress. Although she hit the ground running, it took a while for her career to match her speed. As her acting career was slow to elevate she took on small jobs and acting roles; she even worked as a nanny for Paris Hilton.
Aside from her famous babysitting gig, Frankel hustled hard and was a personal assistant to the famous American film producer, Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife, Linda Bruckheimer. On top of her already full workload, she worked as a production assistant to America’s favorite bayside cast, “Saved by the Bell”.
Building Her Network
Through her various work roles, she crossed paths with many people in the industry. She used these connections to start her first company, called “In Any Event,” a party-planning business. Although it was short-lived, she never let her situation define who she was. She dusted herself off and got back on the horse of life.
By the time 2003 rolled around, Frankel had started a baking business called “BethennyBakes”, focusing on healthy cookies and meal delivery in New York City, which was featured on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, a reality competition series, in 2005. Sadly she didn’t win but was one of two finalists on the show.
Shortly after her company went out of business, Frankel remained a spokesperson for Pepperidge Farms low-calorie line. Now we know most folks would have thrown in the towel, but Frankel didn’t.
Leaving RHONYC
Bethenny Frankel chucked up the deuces to Real Housewives of New York City to pursue other ventures. One avenue specifically was creating low-calorie cocktails! Frankel created the Skinnygirl cocktail company in April of 2011. It was not long after until offers began knocking at her door wanting and loving the idea of low calories cocktails. She later sold the company to Fortune Brands’ Beam Global for an estimated $100 million dollars.
Although she sold it, she was smart enough to know to retain the right to license the brand name for other products. A mogul move, many will call it. By doing so, she was able to profit from a constantly growing line of Skinnygirl projects.
She is also the author of multiple books. In March 2009, Frankel’s book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published and The SkinnyGirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life, was published in December. By the time 2011 rolled around, Frankel published, A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life and in December 2012, published the novel Skinnydipping.
Frankel is also the founder of BStrong, which is a disaster relief organization. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, BStrong was able to raise funds along with the means to deliver personal protective equipment including masks, goggles, gowns, and even sheets to hospitals across America.
What Set Her Apart
Bethenny Frankel may be called many names but diva sure isn’t one of them. This entrepreneur’s relentless hustle has lifted her from the bottom to success. The infamous work ethic has helped her forge an unusual path from rags to riches.
How’d she do it, you ask? The first rule is to always have people take you seriously. Frankel walks in a room and demands to be taken seriously; anything less is not acknowledged. She has complexity but a loveable spirit. That’s a great combo for success.
Her standards may be high for some but she sets her sights on what is immediately in front of her, taking one objective at a time until she has written success all over it. She is always hustling, and if there is something she isn’t too familiar with she indulges until it becomes familiar. This is one thing she wants others to learn to do the same.
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It is important to remember just because it’s tough doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Sometimes running and winning a marathon is worth more than just a quick sprint to the finish line.
Bethenny Frankel reminds us every day that it doesn’t matter where you start but how you finish! Doors will shut as fast as they open, but never let that shatter your spirit. Hustle hard and silence the noise!
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