The gods of Mount Olympus have answered our prayers — or maybe it was the gods of Jovani. Five years after The Real Housewives of New York City’s legacy era came to an end, fan favorites Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, Dorinda Medley and Kelly Bensimon are finally back together on E!’s The Golden Life, premiering October 20 at 10 p.m.
The buzz surrounding the series and its first peeks — along with a treasure trove of already iconic moments — have been enough to solidify these five women as Us’ Reality Stars of the Year. Their catchphrases remain part of the pop culture lexicon, their complicated friendships still have fans invested and the hunger to see the ladies together again has earned them a whole new show. “Well, they missed us,” Ramona says of their loyal followers.
This time, they’re living their best lives in the pastel playground of Palm Beach, Florida, where Sonja, 62, and Ramona, 69, now own homes. For two months, Luann, 61, Kelly, 58, and Dorinda, 61, joined them for an epic reunion set against a beachy backdrop instead of the concrete jungle. The new series blends just enough of the old — we see you, Harry Dubin — with the new (think: vulnerable conversations about aging) to make it exactly how we want to experience our favorite Wives 2.0.
Channeling Greek goddesses for Us, the group sat down to discuss this powerful new era in their lives and on our screens.
WHEN THEY KNEW THEY WERE REALITY TV ICONS
Sonja Morgan: I knew they were the goddesses of TV once I saw their first couple of seasons, and I thought, I want a part of that too. [Sonja joined the cast in season 3.] I remember one time Julia Roberts said, “How do you guys do it? Your houses are all perfect, your beds are made, you’re up, you’re dressed, you do your charities, you raise your children.” And Julia Roberts was like, “I can’t do that. I’m in sweats in a trailer until they dress me.”
Dorinda Medley: I knew when I saw the influence all these girls have on women and the power they give off.
Kelly Bensimon: I noticed when people started copying, “I’m up here, and you’re down there.” [Kelly delivered the line to Bethenny Frankel during season 2.]
Ramona Singer: All our catchphrases have become iconic. They’re showing reruns, and all these 20-year-olds are saying, “Oh, turtle time!” and “Oh, make it nice!” and “Oh, you’re the straw that stirs the drink!” and “Don’t be so uncool. Be cool.”
Luann de Lesseps: I think people can see that we have a bond — we’re friends for over 20 years. I think that’s very relatable and part of what makes the OGs of New York successful.
Dorinda: We’ve been through so much together, on camera and off. We’re able to teach each other all kinds of things about different steps of life. I’ve evolved into a whole different person because of these women, because I looked to them for how they run their lives and raise their children and do their work and run businesses.
Kelly: One thing that resonates with the fans is that these friendships run so deep. There’s something at stake. Whether you’re from Illinois, Connecticut, New York, or wherever, all these women around the world feel the same way about their friendships.
HOW FILMING HAS CHANGED
Ramona: When we first started, reality TV was a little more lighthearted. Sometimes now it gets too drama-oriented and fake, and I think fans will be delighted because we are more lighthearted. We’re genuine. We don’t have a script. That’s what makes us so unusual.
Luann: Social media doesn’t get in the way, but it certainly affects the way we feel. That has changed as the show has evolved. We didn’t have makeup artists. We were in just regular clothes. There was no glam squad, there was no stylist. We were just being ourselves. That story has changed over the years — it’s about the glam and the clothes. New York was always very gritty, always very real. We’ve changed and evolved and grown. Our style certainly has.
Sonja: If I can compliment the girls, they were very brave to come on the show at first. They believed in themselves, they believed in their message and they got through it. When they first started, it wasn’t so cool to be on reality TV. And guess what? Now we all know that everyone is very accepting — even top movie stars are followers of ours. It’s changed so much thanks to these girls starting out.
Luann: I remember Sonja going, “I’m scared to go on the show.” She’s been hanging out with the Morgans; I’m married to a French aristocrat. [Morgan was previously married to John Adams Morgan, a great-grandson of J.P. Morgan; de Lesseps’ ex-husband is Count Alexandre de Lesseps.] My socialite friends were like, “Oh my god, you’re doing that?” It was scary. We didn’t know what reality was back then. We didn’t know how popular it would become. We really did take a chance and dove in headfirst.
Ramona: I personally never would accept how so-called “famous” we were. It frightened me. But now I can embrace it, and there’s a reason: We’re genuine. We’re real friends. We fight sometimes really badly, but we do make up. We’re inspirational to women. I never thought when I was younger that I’d look like this at this age. Let me tell you: Life just gets better. My life is just beginning.
Sonja: I learned how to navigate my private life from my on-camera life. People know I don’t have my daughter or family members on [the show]. It just was not going to happen. But I figured out that [doing reality TV] allows me to support my daughter. She’s graduated summa cum laude from UPenn, and that’s because of the viewers embracing and supporting us.
Dorinda: I came on because of Ramona — she’s the one who brought me on. Before that, I was a mother and a wife who didn’t see myself as someone who could run the show. Now I can run my homes, have a job and still be a mother. It’s empowering. I think it’s great to know that at this age, we’re busier than ever.
WOULD THEY EVER SAY “I DO” AGAIN?
Dorinda: I can see Luann getting married again.
Luann: I’m a romantic. What can I say?
Kelly: Bridesmaids!
Dorinda: And I can see Kelly getting married again. I could easily see a wedding for Kelly because she’s manifesting it.
Ramona: I agree with you.
Sonja: I’m finally an empty nester. I’ve created a very peaceful life for myself in Palm Beach. Maybe before I wanted to be married, but I wasn’t really able to. Now I feel like I’m more able to be in a serious, lifelong relationship. But dating is a challenge today. So what I’m going to do now is just slow things down.
Ramona: I’m always open to anything, so I’m never going to say never.
Dorinda: I have a gubby. I don’t want to be married again.
Ramona: I’m sorry, a what?
Dorinda: Gay husband. I’m not really interested in being married again. I’ve done it twice. I think that’s plenty for me. I really love my freedom, and I’m happy. But never say never. I think it’s when you say you’ll never do it that you find yourself doing it. So I’m just open to happiness.
WHO SHOULD JOIN THEIR GOLDEN CIRCLE
Sonja: I think Aviva [Drescher] should be on, but she’s just not available right now. I love Jules Wainstein. I thought she was interesting.
Dorinda: I think some of the girls from Miami could be fun, like Marysol [Patton]. She really gets along like a house on fire.
Luann: And Adriana [de Moura].
Kelly: I like Larsa [Pippen]. And what about Tinsley [Mortimer]? I love Tinsley. I didn’t get to film with her, but she’s a longtime friend. People love her because she’s spirited and fun.
Sonja: I would love to have someone like our girlfriend Veronica Webb. [Kelly and I] used to model with her 30 years ago. She’d be great. And we’ve been running into [’80s pop superstar] Taylor Dayne quite a bit.
Ramona: She’d be fun!
Luann: And she has a place in [Florida].
THE BEST PART OF THEIR GOLDEN YEARS
Dorinda: I just love that you don’t let things bother you the way you used to. You can keep moving and enjoy life. We have freedom, financial freedom and the time to enjoy it. I always say, “I don’t want to wait until I’m too old to enjoy my life.”
Luann: I love that I’m touring the world with cabaret. I would have never dreamed of this. Cabaret did save my life in so many ways. You’ve seen me fall, you see me get back up and rise, and I’m really proud of that.
Kelly: The way that we’re eating, treating our bodies and the way we’re living is different because we can. Strong friendships help, too. You can be married or not, and you can have your children, but your friends keep you grounded and help celebrate you.
Ramona: I feel very blessed. I’ve always been a saver, so I have enough saved that I don’t ever have to work again and live a great life. I’m relaxed. I have no pressure. I have no cellulite and am all muscle because I work out regularly. I believe in laser. I do a Clear + Brilliant every three or four months, and I had a lower facelift seven years ago.
Sonja: You didn’t tell me that.
Ramona: I did. So I’m just looking better because I maintain myself.
Sonja: When we’re younger, we’re told, “Enjoy yourself. Live in the moment.” But when you’re in your 20s, you’re like, What if this, what if that? And you have the fear of missing out, especially today — the youth see everything online. As you gain experience, you start to see that the grass isn’t greener, and you start to be happy with where you’re at, and you start to have self-esteem. I’ve become very proud of my accomplishments, what I’ve been through, how I’ve come out the other side. The only regret when you get to your 60s is, boy, I wish I’d started this sooner. But like me, so many moms out there were so busy raising our kids and taking care of people that by the time you get here, you’re like, Wow, I’m going to really enjoy myself now. Now this is the golden life.
For more on the Reality Stars of the Year, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us — on newsstands Wednesday.
