Bethenny Frankel Talks Letting Go Of Stress & Stepping Back From SkinnyGirl

On last night’s episode of The Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny Frankel revealed her plan to sell part of her Skinnygirl company. While Frankel admits she’s been “protective” of the company, the mother, activist and reality star knows she’s been taking on too much — and is finally ready to take a step back.

Of course, Frankel’s not taking too big a step back: she’ll remain the face of the company, and likely retain creative control. Mostly, she’s looking for someone to “build the brand,” and indicates that “multiple offers” are already in play. Skinnygirl was founded back in 2009, but Frankel says she still feels, at times, like a “young girl struggling to make it work.” She has to remind herself that the brand is already wildly successful — evidenced by the 2011 sale of Skinnygirl Cocktails for an estimated $100 million, and by the host of successful Skinnygirl products that have followed it (candy, salad dressings and jeans, to name a few). With Skinnygirl, Frankel has proven herself as a successful and innovative businesswoman, a subject she’ll speak to at BlogHer Food on May 8, a conference for female entrepreneurs and content creators hosted by SheKnows’ parent company SHE Media.

Frankel has also had a tough few years: in 2016, she settled her divorce with ex-husband Jason Hoppy; and in 2018, ex Dennis Shields passed away. There have been high points as well — she started a relationship with businessman Paul Bernon, who she credits with having “saved her life” back in December, and signed a multi-year deal with MGM Television back in March. But overall, the balancing act simply got to be too much. “I don’t have time to drink water,” Frankel laments. “I need a break.”

After all, Frankel has spent a decade building Skinnygirl, putting in work with no idea how hectic her life would become. “All of the seeds that I planted years ago didn’t factor in for divorce and custody battle, a relief effort that I put on, a death, etc,” Frankel shared. “It’s every day, all day. I’m with [my daughter] Bryn for every activity, and then it’s boom — on a plane to North Carolina. Then boom, on a plane to Florida for relief.… I’m not going on like this.”