Where Did It Go Wrong With Luann de Lesseps' Marriage To Tom D'Agostino?

The Forgotten Real Housewives of New York: Where Are They Now?

Jill Zarin and Ramona Singer Reunite Over Bobby Zarin’s Cancer Battle: ‘We'll Always Have Each Other's Backs'

People.com:

Real Housewives of New York stars Jill Zarin and Ramona Singer haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye over the years, but they put their famous feud behind them now that Jill’s husband, Bobby Zarin, is in the hospital fighting for his life.

“It’s a whole new relationship for me,” Jill revealed to PEOPLE at her 5^th Annual Luxury Luncheon in the Hamptons on Saturday, which raised money for the International Thyroid Oncology Group, which is researching cutting-edge treatments for advanced thyroid cancer.

“Ramona and I have gotten really close again,” she says. “We’re in a whole different place now. Boy, I never predicted that. I never thought that was coming, ever.”

Their once-tumultuous friendship made an 180-degree turn when Singer reached out to Jill as soon as she heard Bobby was hospitalized for complications in his fight against thyroid cancer — and told her that nothing from the past mattered now that he is so sick.

On Thursday, Jill revealed to PEOPLE exclusively that Bobby was recovering from a recent procedure at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City after his cancer took an unexpected turn last week. “We’re hoping for a miracle,” she said.

RELATED:  Sonja Morgan Confronts Ramona Singer in Tipsy RHONY Rant: 'I Want You to Admit You're Not Happy'

Jill Zarin and 'Real Housewives' Past and Present Attend Southampton Charity Luncheon

Newsday.com:

This weekend, former "Real Housewives" from around the country gathered at Jill and Bobby Zarin’s Southampton Estate for the annual Luxury Luncheon. The yearly event’s mission is to support The Eric Trump Foundation for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The housewives, who are generally known for their crazy antics on the television screen, came out to support a good cause, and had a "drama-free" day.

In attendance was Cynthia Bailey of Atlanta who got a couple of days off from filming the show to attend the event with her accessories line. Similarly, Kristen Taekman of New York made an appearance with her brand, Pop of Color. Other housewives who came out to show their support included Vicki Gunvalson of Orange County, California, Kathy Wakile from New Jersey and Kelly Bensimon, Cindy Barshop and Ramona Singer of New York.

This was the fourth year that the Zarins hosted the annual event that helps children who are suffering with cancer. Bobby Zarin is a two-time cancer survivor.

“We know what it’s like to have a beautiful life together which we’re so lucky to have but children are innocent, said Jill Zarin. "Anything I can do to raise money -- I know I’m good at socializing, networking and introducing people.

She did just that in bringing together celebrities and brands to fundraise for the important cause.

Zarin also shared her thoughts about being in another reality TV show: "Never say never. People said I was fired, but the truth is Bobby said I was done. It was a great four years but we had enough.”

RELATED:  EXCLUSIVE: Luann de Lesseps Is Ready to Bring Jill Zarin Back to ‘Real Housewives of New York’

Andy Cohen Reveals ‘Real Housewives: All Stars’ Will Happen Eventually

ETOnline.com:

“Go to sleep! Go to sleep!”

Bethenny Frankel shouted those infamous words at Kelly Bensimon on The Real Housewives of New York back in 2010 on a vacation known to fans as “Scary Island.”

Now, picture Bethenny doing that to a Housewives star from another city, say Beverly Hills’ Brandi Glanville or New Jersey’s Danielle Staub. Well, king of the Housewives, Andy Cohen, tells ET executive producer Brad Bessey it could happen.

“You know what? We will do Real Housewives: All Stars when the show is just about out of gas,” Cohen reveals. “So right now we had our second highest season of Beverly Hills, New York’s highest ratings since 2012, and Orange County, last season had it's highest rated season in 10 seasons.”

“So, we are nowhere near the point where we need to put eight of them on an island,” Cohen jokes, adding that a Below Deck-style boat adventure is a possibility, too. 

 

“We will, and I can't wait to do it,” Cohen adds. “But it's going to be at the end of the line … We'll do it at the end. It's something that we don't waste now. We want to save it for later.”

RELATED:  Every ‘Real Housewives’ One-Season Wonder — All 17 of Them (PHOTOS)

Aviva Drescher, Kelly Bensimon, Alex McCord and Cindy Barshop Talk About Being a 'Real Housewife'

NYPost.com:

During Aviva Drescher’s two seasons on “Real Housewives of New York City,” she was manipulated by producers, vilified by castmates, publicly shamed by her octogenarian father and berated as an “idiot” and “witch” by the Twittersphere.

And she’d do it all again.

“It helped me raise awareness for amputees, and opened up a lot of business opportunities for me that continue to come,” says Drescher, 45, who lost one leg as a child in a farm accident. Though dismissed from the franchise back in October 2014, she is vying to get back on the show.

“I have four children,” she says. “There’s never enough money in New York City.”

Since Bravo launched the “Real Housewives” franchise in 2006 with the Orange County, Calif., edition, it has produced eight spinoffs — including the NYC version, which has cycled through 14 stars since 2008. Over the past decade, the collective brand has tallied nearly 20 post-filming divorces, four arrests, one suicide and enough chatter about rehab stints, cheating and bankruptcy to occupy a year’s worth of Lifetime movies. The eighth season of “RHONY” premieres April 6 with a new sacrificial lamb: pin-thin Flatiron mom Julianne Wainstein.

 -----------------------------------
Once you make the cut, you better deliver.

“It’s not a show that celebrates women,” says Kelly Bensimon (“RHONY” seasons 2-4).

“But that’s just the nature of the beast: He who barks the loudest gets the bone."

---------------------------------
Alex McCord, a star of the first four seasons of “RHONY,” says the show quickly turns “ ‘Hunger Games’-ish,” with women going more and more overboard to increase their airtime and secure spots for the following season.

“It’s about who can throw the biggest, best party,” she says.

During the debut season, her husband, Simon van Kempen, shelled out $5,000 to charter a yacht for her birthday.

“I’m sure he thought, . . . ‘Wouldn’t it look great on camera?’ ” admits McCord, who says that, during “RHONY’s” early years, Bravo didn’t put “a dime” toward events the “Housewives” threw.

-----------------------------------
Meanwhile, Cindy Barshop (“RHONY” Season 4) directly reached out to producers about joining the show to get some press for her laser hair-removal business (she now owns VSpot, a vaginal rejuvenation spa on the Upper East Side).

After an interview at her West Village apartment, Barshop was sent to hobnob with series Queen Bee Ramona Singer.

“They wanted to see how we interacted. I could talk to a wall, but there just wasn’t chemistry,” says Barshop, who adds that Singer “had her own agenda” for acting mute.

On her way out, Barshop and a producer got stuck in the elevator, and the beauty maven turned on the charm.

“They taped me in the elevator and sent the reel to Los Angeles, and a week later they called and said, ‘You got it.’ ”

RELATED: 'The Real Housewives of New York' season 8 update & spoilers: Bethenny Frankel confirms serious health issue, introduces new cast member

Ex-Real Housewives: Where Are They Now

Glamour.com:

Mary Schmidt-Amons
Mary "I don't make money, I spend money" Schmidt-Amons divorced her husband, Rich, about a year ago. The Labels for Love founder also recently launched bodybymaryamons.com, a website that scarily knows where you're clicking in from and appears to have something to do with diet supplements.

Lynda Erkiletian
Lynda's company, The Artists Agency, actually celebrates its 29th anniversary today. That's the good news. The bad news is that she's no longer with Ebong. Boo.

Stacie Scott Turner
I'll admit to falling in love with Stacie's search for her biological father--and I'm sad to say that she and husband Jason, who went on the quest with her, have since gone their separate ways. She's still running her real estate business.

Catherine Ommannen
Cat has written her autobiography and a sequel to her autobiography since the show aired. Let's disregard the fact that many world leaders have been captured in a single volume and just focus on how good she looks. (She also recently had a baby girl!)

Michaele Salahi
Michaele and her rocker bf Neal Schon are reportedly considering getting married on TV, while the rest of us are reportedly going "nah, we're good."

Now let's travel back to the origin story that was Real Housewives of Orange County and catch up with some of the first women to hold up fruit on television ever.

Jo De La Rosa
Jo's LinkedIn profile lists her as director of sales for the media company Optimal Fusion. I say: any position other than "Slade Smiley's television in" is a major step in the right direction.

Jeana Keough
The fact that Jeana rarely smiled at anything made her one of my favorites on the first season of RHOC. But I had to grin at this: Jeana recently took daughter Kara, who got engaged last year, to find a dress at Kleinfeld's in New York! PLEASE let this be an ep of Say Yes to the Dress.

DeShawn Snow
Well hey, DeShawn wrote a series of kids' books called Lil' Shawnee aimed at empowering young girls. I can't say anything snarky because I'd be lying if I said this cover, with all its preteen awesomeness wouldn't have brought me to a screeching, captivated halt in the library's YA section back in the day.

Danielle Staub
One-woman drama machine Staub won VH1's Famous Food (I know, I didn't see it either) in 2011--but her restaurant, The Lemon Basket, has since closed. There have been rumors of her returning to RHONJ, but no official word.

RELATED:  Divorced 'Real Housewives': More Than Half Of All Current Cast Members Are Divorced

Cindy Barshop Announces Fox Fur Merkins Will Switch To Faux Fur

HuffPo.com:

Mark it down, folks: PETA just added another "win" to its record.


The animal rights group has successfully convinced Cindy Barshop, former "Real Housewives of New York" star and owner of luxe spa chain Completely Bare, to swap the real fur on her fluffy fox merkins to faux.


Barshop got the attention of media (and plenty of incredulous women) when she introduced two furry bikini line enhancements: the "Foxy Bikini" ($225), in which actual fox fur is applied to the nether region, and "The Carnivale Bikini "($195), which adheres neon-colored feathers to one's bikini line.


While most people (including us) were more perplexed as to why a woman would want a tuft of colorful fluff down there, PETA took issue with the use of fox fur. In a statement to The Huffington Post, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said about Barshop's new offering:


"It's outright sleazy, and it's downright cruel to kill an animal to decorate your privates. She seems to be making the point that fur is for c*nts."


Clever. While initially Barshop defended her fur accessories, saying "I don't believe in cruelty to animals and I don't eat red meat, but that doesn't mean I hate those that do," she has since changed her tune. Now Barshop has reportedly swapped out the real fox fur for the faux stuff, telling Ecorazzi, "I have every intention to fix this by re-introducing the Foxy Bikini with Faux Fur."


PETA, obviously, is quite pleased. In a statement, the group announced:


"PETA is delighted that Cindy Barshop has decided to switch to faux fur for her line of merkins. Kind women know that it's always best to 'fake it'-- when it comes to fur, that is -- whether you wear it above the belt or below."


And they all skipped off into the sunset. Don't you just love a happy ending?

RELATED: PETA Slams Former 'Real Housewives of New York' Carol Barshop's Fox Fur Merkins

Cindy Barshop’s Completely Bare Spas Now Offer Merkins

TMZ.com:

Feathers aren't just for birds anymore ... they're also perfect for vaginas ... this according to former "Real Housewives of New York" star Cindy Barshop.


Cindy has created two new lines of luxury merkins ... which she's now selling at her NY waxing salon -- Completely Bare.


The first line is called the Foxy Bikini, in which the bikini line is waxed bare and replaced with a pubic wig made from real fox fur. They come in a variety of colors ... including traditional pink!


For those who desire a more festive flower -- Cindy also offers the Carnivale Bikini ... in which the pubic region is decorated with feathers in a variety of colors!


But a fancy hoo-ha don't come cheap -- starting price for the Carnivale is $195 and the Foxy is $30 extra.


Barshop won't be back on "RHONY" for season 5, but from the look of it ... she's got things covered.

Discrimination Suit Against Cindy Barshop Dropped

NYPost.com:

Spa owner and former Bravo star Cindy Barshop avoided a hairy court drama when a discrimination case against her was dropped this month.


Former Completely Bare Spa employee Altovise Collier filed a complaint with New York’s Division of Human Rights accusing Barshop of firing her because she was black. Collier claimed she was given only partial information during employee training, which led her to inadequately perform procedures leading to customer complaints.


Collier also claimed other employees joked that she was hired to “inject some color” into the spa. When Collier told Barshop of the alleged treatment, she says she was fired. But the HRC said in its decision to toss the case that evidence failed to show Collier was fired because of her race, and pointed out that several Caucasian and Latino employees were axed in the same period.


Barshop said, “I’m so happy that the truth has come out. I’ve never looked at people based on race, religion, creed, or color. I see people for who they are.”

Cindy Barshop Closes Her Business

Forgive me for having some delight when I came upon this news, but the truth is that I never liked this woman:

Cindy Barshop has shaved plans to expand her Completely Bare hair removal spas after being axed from Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New York.”


Sources say Barshop spent a fortune launching a series of “pop-up” spa locations to capitalize on her reality TV stardom. But in the last month, two Manhattan locations have closed, as well as a spa in Beverly Hills and one in Atlanta.


Barshop was cut from “Housewives” this season, along with Jill Zarin, Alex McCord and Kelly Bensimon.


“[Cindy] made a lot of financial investments into the salon when she signed on for ‘Housewives,’ ” a source said. “But when she left, she didn’t have the platform.”


But Barshop told us the closed locations were smaller shops she intended to keep open for a year. And the Rock Center address was shuttered because Equinox took over the spot.


“They didn’t close because we’re in financial distress,” she told us, adding she’s planning a 5,000-square-foot, $1.5 million location in Roslyn, LI. And she’s in talks with networks for a new reality series centered around Completely Bare.

RELATED: Ramona Singer Dissed By New NY Housewife, Gets Revenge With Pinot Grigio Cake at Birthday Blowout - Exclusive

Cindy Barshop: ‘Women Genuinely Didn’t Like Each Other Anymore’

How would she know? She was only there for one season. In fact I'm starting to think that Cindy's complete bitchfest throughout the last season may've been the biggest reason for Bravo giving so many the heave-ho. I mean she was that divisive and as I said when they first cast her: a dumb choice to begin with:

The “Real Housewives” franchise has proven once again just how real reality TV can be.


Even housewives, and even reality TV stars, get fired.


Bravo confirmed on Saturday the widely-circulated rumors that “Real Housewives of New York” cast members Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Cindy Barshop, and Kelly Bensimon were given the pink slip for Season 5 of the hit series, set to begin filming in just weeks.


The network portrayed the ladies’ departure from the show as “friendly,” writing in the statement, “We’ve had a fabulous run with all the ladies and appreciate them sharing their lives with our viewers.”


At least one of the women on the other side of Bravo’s ax, however, painted a less-than friendly picture.


“Following the reunion it was clear that the women genuinely didn’t like each other anymore,” Cindy Barshop, whose appearance on Season 4 was her first, and last, on the show, told ABC News after her firing was confirmed.


Barshop was referring, of course, to the show’s contentious, two-part finale in April that brought all five housewives together in a crying, screaming and finger-pointing recap of the past season.


The mass firings now leave Ramona Singer and LuAnn DeLesseps as the only two members of the original cast to survive through to Season 5. The third housewife to avoid the ax, Sonja Morgan, a friend of Singer’s, joined the show partway through Season 3.

It's Official: Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, Cindy Barshop And Alex McCord Are Out Of "Real Housewives of New York City"

Shocking and I don't agree with this decision at all. Who cares about Kelly and Cindy, the show just won't be the same without Jill and Alex:

The Real Housewives of New York City is officially down four familiar faces.


Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon and Cindy Barshop, the newest addition to the popular Bravo show, were not asked back for season 5.


"Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and LuAnn DeLesseps will be returning for season 5 of The Real Housewives of New York City," a network spokesperson tells PEOPLE. "We've had a fabulous run with all the ladies and appreciate them sharing their lives with our viewers. It is a friendly departure among the other ladies and we continue to have on-going discussions with them."


In response, McCord told PEOPLE via email: "Of course Simon and I are sad not to continue with RHONY but it's a friendly decision and discussions with Bravo are ongoing for other projects."


Zarin also weighed in, via her rep, who told PEOPLE in a statement: "Jill is humbled by the extraordinary amount of media interest in her response and looks forward to personally opening up about all of this very soon and announcing some exciting new projects."


Rumors about the casting changes began earlier in the week after the Huffington Post, citing sources in the network, announced that Zarin, McCord and Bensimon were fired from the show. At the time, however, their reps – as well as Bravo – said nothing was official.

RELATED: LuAnn De Lesseps Talks New ‘Housewives’ After Casting Shake Up

'Real Housewives of New York' Reunion Part 1 Recap: Ramona Won, Hands Down

Wow, gotta admit that made for great TV, any wonder RHONY remains my favorite 'Housewives' show. The 'Blondes vs. The Brunettes' saga stayed intriguing all season long, but who knew how bitter things would get between the two teams, so much so that I can't see them making up or anyone swtiching sides anytiem soon. That said, I thought Andy Cohen did a tremendous job under what had to be very trying circumstances--he asked all the right questions and called out the 'Housewives' who were clearly being hypocritical. Now granted, I'm definitely with Team Blonde, so call me biased, but here's what I thought of what went down last night anyway:

1) Alex was clearly ready to do battle, getting in on every turn and interrupting Team Brunette members every chance she could get. But I liked how the brunettes tried to play "Ramonja" against Alex, because they're not that close to Alex and Alex desperately wants to be down with the rich, blonde girls (Jill was at her best here, making snide little comments referring to Alex and Sonja not really being that close, but she took it to another level getting nasty and calling Alex an "effing bitch" twice). And while Kelly, LuAnn and Cindy did their best to throw some shots at Alex too (and get her to speak only when spoken to) Alex did get in some great zingers, including the line of the night telling Cindy how she "needs to get laid". However, the problem with Alex still remains her inability to stay calm while making a zinger (practice by watching some tapes of Bethenny when she throws darts) and clearly as long as Simon stays by her side, people will always have a valid reason to not like her (can we please get Alex some friends?).


2) I don't care what "Cosmo" says, Crazy Kelly remains a nutcase. I loved when Andy smacked her down when she was supposedly trying to play "peacemaker" while Cindy and Sonja went at it. And that B.S. story about being "abused"? I'm not buying it, esp. considering that the woman has been arrested before for beating up a guy. Nor am I buying that Kelly isn't phased at all by Bethenny's success. That said, I could go either way on Kelly coming back next season--no one could say she's not entertaining.


3) Ramona, to me, was hands down the winner tonight. She took on the Brunettes with gutso, zeal and plenty of barbs that tore into the hearts of each of them--and she managed to stay calm throughout. Did she go too far talking about LuAnn's kids? Of course. But LuAnn went there first about Ramona's marriage while they were all in Morocco and we all know by now that when it comes to talking about Ramona's family she doesn't play. Ramona also got in some great shots at Cindy and Jill and for the most part put Kelly on ignore where she belongs.


4) Cindy is a bitch. I don't like her at all. She just refused to acknowledge that what she did at Sonja's house, taking that meeting in the kitchen, was flat-out wrong. I don't even have a problem with Cindy picking up her phone or having the stupid meeting, it's just simple etiquette to excuse yourself and ask if you can use another room. Then too, the woman clearly has anger issues--the way she shouts people down and talks down to them is just revolting. And as I've said from the beginning there's this air to her that makes you feel she really thinks she's better than "those people" (i.e. the Housewives)--please Bravo, just be done with her.


5) I just feel bad for Sonja and was surprised when she broke down about how much her marriage meant to her (tho I can't help but think that what she really misses is the lifestyle). Loved how she took down Kelly for talking about her house like that.


6) LuAnn did well for the most part, but she is in clear denial about how rude and unclassy she can be towards people. I liked how she even called out Cindy for taking the conference call in the kitchen at Sonja's. LuAnn may deny it too, but she also "found her voice" this year, esp, when it comes to reunion shows.


7) Compared to last season's reunion Jill had an easy time of it. Her current feud with Ramona doesn't look like it will end anytime soon, but somehow they always find a way to be friends again. That said I can't wait for Part 2.

Can Bravo Please Do Me A Favor And Get Rid Of Cindy Barshop?

All season I've been struggling to understand why Bravo brought Cindy Barshop onto RHONYC in the first place. She's certainly no Bethenny when it comes to wit. Most of the time you see her on screen she's just there with her mouth wide open. She seems to be very pretentious and flat-out dismissive of the rest of the Housewives antics, which comes off as very self-righteous and "I'm better than these people." She could be a racist. But what she did to Sonja on last night's episode, having a conference call in her kitchen after being invited over and catching a hissyfit at Sonja for making too much noise, just took the cake. The woman is rude, has no manners (really, just reschedule the damn breakfast if got an important work meeting or how about excusing yourself and asking to use another another room?), clearly has no manners and just adds nothing positive to the show. Besides that, like I've always said...7 'Housewives' on a show is just too much. Just be rid of Cindy...please!

Who's Out at 'Housewives'? Alex McCord Responds to New Report, Cindy Barshop Reportedly Not Returning

Popeater.com:

Holy catfight! The 'Real Housewives of New York' reunion special was taped last Wednesday at Capital in NYC and it was full of tears, laughter and betrayal but nothing was as interesting as one Real Housewife talking about the show in the past tense. "Cindy [Barshop] barely spoke at the taping," a cast member tells me, "And when she did talk about her time on the show it was in the past tense. She is definitely not coming back."


Also buzzing around today is a new report by HollywoodLife that in addition to Cindy, original housewife Alex McCord will also not be around for a fifth season, but in an exclusive statement to PopEater, Alex rebuffs such claims.


"If I had a dollar every time an 'inside source,' i.e. a cast member, leaked a 'story' that I was out of RHONY, I'd be a multi-millionairess!" Alex wrote to me.


A spokesperson for Bravo released a statement, telling me "No decisions have been made regarding next season and everything at this point is rumor."


The tradition of the 'Real Housewives' coming together at the end of each season to tape a reunion show has delivered HUGE ratings for Bravo. So much so that these tapings are often edited into at least two hours of TV and have recently even provided footage for a third.


"They started taping at 9:00 a.m. and didn't finish until well past 7," an insider tells me. "The first few hours where everyone is on message is always thrown away and replaced by the more juicy stuff that occurs later in the day when everyone's getting tired and letting down their guard. This year Ramona and Jill go at it."


After the taping, Ramona tweeted that it had been a wild day and that she "survived the reunion." The next day Alex McCord agreed, tweeting, "Intense day of filming yesterday for Real Housewives of New York." However, Jill Zarin, surprisingly seemed to have a great time, sharing, "OMG what a day," late Wednesday night.

God, I hope Cindy doesn't come back, talk abut useless.

RELATED: Bravo Rep On 'Housewives' Departure: 'No Decisions Have Been Made'

Cindy Barshop Files Lawsuit, Says Ex-Employee is the REAL Racist

TMZ.com:

"Real Housewives of NYC" star Cindy Barshop is firing back at an ex-employee, who said she was canned because she's black -- claiming the employee is the REAL racist ... and it's killing business.


Barshop filed the suit today in NY on behalf of her spa company Completely Bare -- claiming ex-employee Altovise Collier wasn't fired because she's black ... she was fired because she sucked at her job.


Barshop then turns the tables on Collier, accusing HER of being the real racist -- "In an effort to mask her own deficient work performance and serial on the job screw-ups, Collier, in a racist fashion, asserts that her race, national origin and skin color were the basis for her termination."


Barshop claims Collier only worked for CB for two and a half months -- and was fired over "disciplinary and other work performance problems, including client complaints."


Collier originally sued Barshop last week -- claiming she was the target of racial discrimination in the workplace.


But according to Barshop, Collier's suit is nothing more than a "defamatory campaign" to ruin her professional reputation -- and she wants at least $5,000,000 to settle the score.

Cindy Barshop Slapped With Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

Well, anyone watching RHONYC this season can see how much of a bug Cindy has up her ass, but who knew that besides catty 'Housewives' she doesn't like black people either?

That's some rough spa treatment.


"Real Housewives of New York City" prima donna Cindy Barshop -- who owns "Completely Bare" spas -- was slapped with a discrimination complaint yesterday by a former employee who claims she was tormented and fired because she is black.


Barshop and about 50 other employees gave Altovise Collier, 25, a verbal dressing-down when she started working at the Fifth Avenue flagship shop in March, according to the state Division of Human Rights filing.


Collier, a state-licensed aesthetician, applied online and was interviewed by phone. She said her employers did not know the color of her skin until her first day of work.


"They were very impressed with me -- until they saw me," said a tearful Collier, of Brooklyn, who relocated from Atlanta to take the job. "I was treated like trash and thrown in the gutter, damn near sleeping in the streets."


Collier, who said she was the only black beautician at the store, claims Barshop underpaid her, forking over only about half of her $700 weekly salary.


Also, Collier was paid in cash, and since she had no pay stub, she couldn't lease or rent an apartment or room. Instead, she slept on friends' couches, she said.


Co-workers repeatedly joked that Collier was hired only to "inject some color" into the spa because the chain was going national, she said.


"Everyone treated me badly, like I was in some sort of sorority hazing," said Collier.

'Real Housewives of New York' Recap: Ramona Is 'Pinot Polar'

TheStir.cafemom.com:

This week’s episode of The Real Housewives of New York City was dubbed “Ramona’d” by Bravo, but it would have been more appropriately titled “Blondes Who Need Muzzles.” Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer were like two little out-of-control yapping dogs biting at people all night.


The first part of the show was a blur because Sonja would not shut up, and I couldn't hear a lot of what was being said about invites and missed invites and the problem with Quogue. Especially when speaking with Cindy Barshop, she wouldn’t let her string more than two words together without interrupting her, usually with an insult. The woman has no filter and big lungs because she doesn’t pause for a breath as she rambles/mumbles.


One thing I was able to make out was that she’s “really well known” for breaking the ice between people. If you remember a few weeks ago, she also proclaimed herself to be “such a great gay icon.” Apparently her talents are known far and wide ... at least to her. Anyway, this week she was determined to do some ice breaking between Kelly Bensimon and Ramona via a surprise attack while Kelly’s kids were present. Brilliant ... not!


Cindy at least had the sense to warn Kelly and tell her not to bring her kids, which was a cool move on her part, but it’s totally going to come back and bite her in the ass because Kelly then confronted Sonja about it and told her in no uncertain terms that it wouldn’t be happening. Stay tuned for Sonja to freak out on Cindy for daring to step on her toes.


Just when it seemed Sonja was going to monopolize the episode with her bad behavior, in waltzed Ramona demanding Pinot Grigio here, insulting people there, and wearing one of the ugliest maroon-colored tracksuits I’ve ever seen.


At Cindy’s birthday party that wasn’t a birthday party in the very unfashionable town of Quogue (which Sonja wouldn’t stoop to enter), Ramona was out of control. LuAnn de Lesseps coined an awesome term for her behavior: “Pinot Polar.” She said when Ramona drinks, you never know what you’re going to get. Cindy and her party guests got Ramona the psycho drunk.

Which Self-Professed ‘Classy’ Real Housewife of New York Is Actually Classy? Anybody?

Terrific article on the Real Housewives of New York City from NYmag.com:

LuAnn de Lesseps


Why She Thinks She's Classy:
-Has branded herself that way through many forms of media, including her book and her dance single, “Money Can’t Buy You Class.”
-Appears to believe in an osmosis-type superiority that results from partnering with Europeans, as evidenced by her aristocratic ex-husband, a Count who gave LuAnn the title she will never relinquish, even in death, and current boyfriend Jacques, a French David Schwimmer look-alike in the wine distribution business.
-Is against discussing pubic hairstyles, even in a friend’s private spa [see: Cindy Barshop].


Why She Might Not Actually Be Classy:
-Wrote a book stating class is the art of being yourself, then later admitted that she wasn’t “being herself” because she didn’t actually write it.
-Clings to pretentious Countess title, although it has not officially been recognized by anyone in the royal family.
-Is completely unaware when she’s being condescending toward others, as shown in the episode when she made a classroom of inner city girls sit through a reading of “her” book, and in every episode when she moans out at least a couple of “Dahhhhling”s.
-Seems to wear excessively large turquoise jewelry pieces for the express purpose of reminding everyone that she’s half Native American.
-Tone-deaf dance single and accompanying video.


Jill Zarin


Why She Thinks She's Classy:
-Co-runs the oft-mentioned Zarin Fabric Warehouse, which only carries the best of the best, and also “runs in a fabulous circle of people” — her tagline during the opening credits of seasons 1-3.
-Has now changed her tagline to “Good or bad, I know who I am, and I own it,” which speaks again to the Countess-endorsed art of being yourself.
-Enjoys taking the less fortunate under her wing, meaning friends who are going through a sad sack period or who are currently without husbands.
-Is a loyal wife to mensch Bobby, a gem who reflects well on her.
-Spearheaded an expensive redecoration of her Upper East Side apartment that landed it the cover of Traditional Home magazine.


Why She Might Not Actually Be Classy:
-Says she knows who she is and owns it, but continually has no idea when she’s being awful and then denies culpability.
-Appears to begrudge the successes (both financial and emotional) of friends once they emerge from their sad sack periods.
-One of the biggest shit talkers on the show, also has a habit of aggressively probing into details of the others lives, most recently when she met housewife Cindy Barshop for the first time and immediately began pressing Cindy about why she has infant twins when she’s clearly old and single.
-Made sending her daughter to fat camp part of her own story arc.
-Related: Launched a line of body shapes for young girls called “Skweez.”

Ramona Singer

Why She Thinks She's Classy:
-Prides herself on being an independent businesswoman and received the “Celebrity Entrepreneur of the Year” award in recognition of her clothing resale company; also has a line of skincare products, HSN jewelry, and Ramona brand Pinot Grigio.
-Designs and sells faith-based jewelry with husband Mario.
-Is happily married, but extremely vocal about the fact that she will never rely on a man for his money.
-Tends to be instinctively true to herself (especially when breaking into dance) and makes a sincere effort to be true with others, going so far as to tell housewife Alex’s husband Simon that she found him creepy, then openly retracting that statement after he grew on her like a fungus. -Named her daughter Avery.

Why She Might Not Actually Be Classy:
-Pushes a faith-based jewelry line that she insists is about faith, when it’s really about making money.
-Unlike Jill Zarin, does very little talking behind her girlfriends’ backs, but does a fair amount of shit talking to their faces.
-Along the same lines, conducts extremely inappropriate employee interviews, telling one young woman — fresh out of college — that she needed to do something about her acne and then handed her a Ramona skincare product.
-Recognized by the other women as something of a spaz, especially when she gets a little Pinot in her.

Jill Zarin, LuAnn de Lesseps, Cindy Barshop, Sonja Morgan, Alex McCord & Ramona Singer @ 2011's TV Land Awards