Claim to Fame: Bethenny Frankel began her career as a chef and owner of a natural foods bakery, counting among her celebrity clients Alicia Silverstone, Denis Leary and Mariska Hargitay. After placing second on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, she earned national fame on The Real Housewives of New York and her spin-offs Bethenny Getting Married and Bethenny Ever After. She is the author of four bestselling books: Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself From a Lifetime of Dieting (2009); The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life (2009); A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life (2011); and Skinnydipping (2012), a novel. She also stars in three workout DVDs: Body By Bethenny (2010); Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Workout (2011); and Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Yoga Workouts (2012).
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Bethenny’s Skinnygirl brand now encompasses a line of 12 low-sugar cocktails and wines, snack bars, supplements, shapewear, workout accessories and cosmetics.In May 2012, Forbes named her #97 on its Celebrity 100 list and estimated her 2012 earnings at $12 million. In 2013, Bethenny’s first talk show, Bethenny, produced by Ellen DeGeneres, will debut on Fox.
Health philosophy: “Your diet is your bank account, so you choose where to invest.”
Favorite workout: “I’m a fan of doing my yoga DVD at home. I have a baby, so when she goes down, I do that for 40 minutes. Even 20 minutes a few times a week will calm and balance you.” Bethenny also recently discovered a new love, stand-up paddleboarding.
Favorite lightened-up dish: “I have an incredible low-fat stuffing recipe. I slim down every recipe from sweet potatoes to mashed potatoes to pumpkin pie. You can always remove fat and calories without removing taste.”
Favorite healthy snacks: Whole-grain bread with almond butter, sliced turkey with mustard, low-fat Greek yogurt and granola
Favorite skinny party trick: “Limit yourself to 2 cocktails with water or club soda in between. Stick to clear liquor, and eat a high protein snack while you drink.” And watch the wine—“People are always topping you off!”
Motivational mantra: “Food is not your best friend or your enemy. You can handle this.”