It’s only been a matter of days since Bethenny Frankel revealed she was exiting “The Real Housewives of New York City”, but reports indicate producers may have already found her replacement.
According to Us Weekly, fashion designer Leah McSweeney has been tapped to fill the spot vacated by the 48-year-old Skinnygirl mogul, who announced via Instagram on Wednesday that she’s exiting the show ahead of its upcoming 12th season.
McSweeney, CEO and founder of female fashion line Married to the Mob, is reportedly friends with “RHONY” cast member Tinsley Mortimer, who joined the show in its ninth season.
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“Leah and Tinsley are friends and have filmed together,” a source tells the magazine. “Leah is a great addition to the show. She’s glamorous, fun and wild in all the right ways.”
McSweeney, 36, is no stranger to reality TV; as Us Weekly reports, she appeared in a 2010 episode of the Bravo’s “The Millionaire Matchmaker”, and also made a cameo on VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: New York”.
If Bravo has indeed cast McSweeney as the latest Big Apple Housewife, it would jibe with some info dished by “RHONY” star Luann de Lesseps during an interview with Michelle Collins’ SiriusXM radio show on Monday when she dismissed rumours that Missy Pool (a close friend of Housewife Ramona Singer) would be joining the cast.
RELATED: ‘RHONY’ Cast Shocked By Bethenny Frankel’s Sudden Exit
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Luann, 54, told Collins. “I think they already cast somebody else. Can’t tell you who, but I think they did!”
In her announcement, Frankel said there was no ill will surrounding her exit, issuing a statement to Variety explaining that it was time for her to “move on and focus on my daughter, my philanthropy and my production partnership with Mark Burnett, producing and starring in shows which represent a shift in the conversation for women. With the changes in modern culture, I want to highlight the strength, confidence and unstoppable power that women have.”
ET Canada has reached out to reps from Bravo for comment.
The 12th season of “The Real Housewives of New York City” will return to Slice sometime next year.