‘RHONY’ Alum Bethenny Frankel Engaged to Boyfriend Paul Bernon: He ‘Makes Her Happy’
Congrats! Real Housewives of New York alum Bethenny Frankel is engaged to boyfriend Paul Bernon after finalizing her divorce from ex-husband Jason Hoppy.
“She’s always said she’s fine being by herself, but she’s 50 now and having a life partner, someone she can call her husband, is more important to her now,” an insider exclusively reveals to In Touch about the couple’s engagement. “She wants the commitment and Paul makes her happy.”
The couple first sparked engagement rumors on March 20. In photos obtained by In Touch, the former Bravo star, 50, enjoyed a swim in the ocean in a printed one-piece with a huge sparkler on her left hand on full display. She also rocked a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, several bracelets and a watch.
The Skinnygirl founder is currently on a trip with her 43-year-old boyfriend, whom she started dating in October 2018, and daughter Bryn, 10, whom she shares with Jason, 50.
Bethenny and the businessman wed in March 2010 but split in December 2012. The “Just B with Bethenny Frankel” podcast host filed for divorce the following month. After a long and contentious custody battle, the exes finalized their divorce in January, Page Six reported.
The Apprentice alum moved on with Paul in 2018. They split in October 2020, but by Valentine’s Day, Bethenny confirmed she and the film producer were back together. “Behind every woman … (you fill in the blanks here.)” she captioned a photo of herself wearing an evening gown with the moviemaker peeking out from behind her. “Happy Valentine’s Day xoxo #Loveyourself.”
Less than a month before the reality star revealed she was back with the Paul, the twosome was spotted holding hands in Boston in January. Two weeks before that, they were photographed holding hands at artist Romero Britto‘s studio, which he shared via Instagram.
Bethenny addressed the split during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show just weeks after the couple parted ways. “You know, not everything works out and so many people have tried to define my life — our lives — with, ‘When are you getting engaged? When are you having a baby? When are you getting married?'” she explained. “And I’ve just realized more in life, with people being more open and honest about their lives and what they want, that everything doesn’t have to sort of end in a blue box and a bow. We’ve had a great, great relationship and I’m really happy. Not everything has to end badly, some things just don’t continue and it’s not negative, it’s just life.”
Before her relationship with Paul, Bethenny was romantically involved with ex-boyfriend Dennis Shields. The couple were together off and on for two years before he passed away in August 2018.
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