From Reality Star to Digital Mogul: Bethenny Frankel's Latest Ascent
The Genesis of a New Empire: Supermodel Brand's Vision
Bethenny Frankel, celebrated for her reality TV appearances and business acumen, asserts that her current role as a food and beauty influencer is the most profitable chapter of her career. She confidently states that the earnings from this new phase far exceed those of her most successful year with Skinnygirl.
Influencer Income: A Lucrative New Frontier
Frankel founded Skinnygirl Cocktails in 2009, a brand she sold for over $100 million just two years later. Now, she introduces 'Supermodel,' a collection of low-calorie bagels, spreads, and coffees, inspired by the viral food tips she's shared across her social media platforms. When questioned about the profitability of her influencing career, Frankel remarked, "My best year with Skinnygirl doesn't compare to this." She further added, "It's phenomenal. It's truly amazing. This is by far the most successful I've ever been."
Ambitious Expansion: Surpassing Past Triumphs
Frankel is ambitiously planning to broaden the 'Supermodel' brand's reach across various food categories, aiming for nationwide distribution, physical stores, and cafes. She expresses absolute certainty that this new venture will eventually surpass the success of Skinnygirl.
Strategic Decisions: Balancing Reality TV and Business Growth
In a May interview on Emma Grede’s Aspire podcast, Frankel disclosed that her brand deals and social media influencing alone generate over $20 million annually. In March, she declined an offer to rejoin her former 'Real Housewives of New York' castmates for their upcoming E! reality series, 'The Golden Life,' citing potential negative impacts on her current business and the network's inability to meet her financial expectations.
Reconciliation and Lucrative Collaborations
However, just a month later, Frankel surprised fans by collaborating with former RHONY castmates Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan on a high-profile campaign for RoC Skincare in Paris. She explained to the Daily Mail that this partnership was not only financially rewarding for everyone involved but also served as a healing experience, helping to mend the lingering issues from the "toxicity of reality TV." She noted that Singer and Morgan were "thrilled" with their compensation, confirming a mutually beneficial outcome.
Culinary Innovations at the Supermodel Cafe
Frankel's Supermodel Cafe, which recently debuted its first pop-up in the Hamptons, offers healthier alternatives to her beloved treats, such as bagels, cheesecakes, and her acclaimed chicken salad. She highlighted that her special chicken salad recipe uses "half the mayonnaise" of a conventional version, making it a better-for-you option without sacrificing taste.
Hamptons Pop-Up and Gourmet Offerings
The inaugural Supermodel Cafe pop-up launched in East Quogue, New York, and will run until September 12. Visitors can enjoy Frankel's "protein-rich, 150-calorie bagels," created in collaboration with Goldberg's bagels, as well as her signature chicken salad. The menu also features two luxurious caviar-topped bagels: the 'Rage Bait' bagel for $38 and the 'Nepo Baby' bagel for an astonishing $43. Additionally, a gluten-free cheesecake with 10 grams of protein and 102 calories is available, alongside six unique lattes developed with her coffee partner, Cumulus.
A Legacy of Entrepreneurial Acumen
Frankel first gained public recognition as a contestant on NBC's 'The Apprentice: Martha Stewart' in 2005, where she was the runner-up. She later rose to greater fame on 'The Real Housewives of New York City.' In 2009, she launched Skinnygirl Cocktails, selling it two years later for an estimated $100 million to $120 million. She maintained ownership of the Skinnygirl brand name for products beyond alcohol, expanding it into various categories, including denim, eyewear, deli meats, popcorn, salad dressings, and shapewear
