Jill Zarin: Real Housewives of New York 'Was Just a Platform for Me'

Parade.com:

After four dramatic seasons, The Real Housewives of New York has, well, cleaned house, as stars Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, and Kelly Bensimon have not been asked to return for a fifth season.


But Zarin, 48, isn't letting her exit from the popular Bravo series stand in the way of her next venture: the launch of her shapewear line, Skweez Couture.


Zarin talked to Parade.com about her life post-Real Housewives and whether or not fans can expect to see the straight-talking, no-nonsense reality TV star return to the small screen.


On being let go from The Real Housewives of New York.
"I was definitely prepared for it. I had sort of an inkling over the summer that the show might take a turn. As a family, we weren't sure if coming back for a fifth season was going to be the best road for me right now, but we were waiting until Bravo made their decision."


There are no hard feelings — really.
"I believe that what's meant to be is meant to be, so I sort of let it happen. If they asked me back and that was my path, so be it. And if they said that they wanted to make a change for the cast and that was going to be my final season, I was certainly ok with that. I had a four-year run on a very successful show. And it's just now starting to air in Europe. I get about 50 emails a day from the UK, Germany, Israel, and Australia — we're all over the world. The show will continue (good or bad) to live on in reruns on Bravo and any other network."


The end justifies the means.
"I'm very proud of what I did. It was just a platform for me. I'm grateful to Bravo for opening the door for me in this business that I never though I'd be in — the entertainment business. It won't be the last time (I hope) that I'll be on television. I have a couple things that I'm in the middle of that I can't share yet."


On her new shapewear line, Skweez Couture at Lord and Taylor.
"Beauty begins with a great foundation. Women need to know that undergarments are critical to making your clothes fit the best they can and to make you look your best. I felt that there was a lack of assortment in certain types of shapewear. I found a need, and I'm kind of like a problem solver, so I solved it!"