Bethenny Frankel isn’t one for labels. The Skinnygirl entrepreneur, 46, exclusively tells Us Weekly that she’s still close to banker Dennis Shields, despite rumors that she’s newly single.
“Dennis is in my life,” Frankel tells Us of Shields, who she started dating over the summer. “He is an amazing person who I love and care about very much.”
Her statement comes after she sparked questions about her love life when she told Entertainment Tonight that she’s in “purgatory” and has “pulled back” from dating.
“I want my message to be about women’s independence versus being defined by relationships, which is exactly the opposite of the message of B Strong. Men can be wonderful partners, but they don’t define us,” the Real Housewives of New York City star tells Us.
She adds: “For the first time, I realized that I have to save myself and then help save others. That is my priority.”
Back in December, Frankel exclusively revealed to Us that she partnered with Dress for Success to create the B Strong: Find Your Yes initiative for women. She started a charity to help those “in abusive situations, women at a crossroads, women in dire straits financially.”
Frankel, who previously romanced financier Michael “Mac” Cerussi III, finalized her messy divorce from ex-husband Jason Hoppy in July. The exes are parents of daughter Bryn, 6.
In September, Frankel exclusively told Us what she looks for in a significant other. “Integrity and kindness now are so much more important than I ever even realized, because I didn’t realize how many people don’t have it,” she said at the time. “I think I’ve been pretty sheltered in my emotional estimation of people. I’ve gotten pretty surprised.”
