by Gina Scarpa and Chandra Clewley

 

Kelly Killoren Bensimon joined The Real Housewives of New York City last season and famously bumped heads with Bethenny Frankel during the entire "I am up here, you are down here" conversation they had at a downtown bar. It seems the bad blood is behind the two now, as other dramas unfold in season 3. Kelly is the former editor of Elle Accessories, along with being a model and an author of several books including American Style and The Bikini Book. Bensimon currently lives in downtown New York City with her two daughters. She spoke with Reality Wanted today to let us know all about the Jill vs. Bethenny feud, her Playboy shoot, and why she decided to become one of The Real Housewives of New York City.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you initially decide to do the show and be part of this series?
A. Kelly: This is The Real Housewives so it's all these different women. It's about how we get along and how our lives are parallel. You're not getting a sneak peek into my real life. You're seeing me and how I relate to these women. I had my own show before and that's really more Kelly Bensimon. This is how I deal with uptown women. I was going to be on another show with Tim Gunn and then Bravo said that they needed to get some more interest on this show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you have any concerns about showing your children on television?
A. Kelly: I don't really show my family life that much. If this was the Kelly Bensimon show, you'd see more of my real life. I'm from the Midwest, I have two kids, I have the same problems as everyone else.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are you still in the Hamptons and are you writing?
A. Kelly: Yeah, I have my house on the beach and that's a really big part of my life. We always say, "New York is where we work and the Hamptons are where we live." I write for Hamptons Magazine.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Being on The Real Housewives will get you in a lot of gossip columns. How do you feel about that aspect of your fame?
A. Kelly: I know all the writers and I help them. I give each person a different story. For example, I'm giving you a different story than I'd give someone else. I'm trying to market the product. Everyone loves gossip and everyone's a voyeur.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The feud between Bethenny and Jill has really escalated this season. Can you chime in on why you think it has become such a big thing?
A. Kelly: I can't really give any input because I don't know their relationship. It's not my job to judge. At one point, somebody's gotta give and say I'm sorry.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You attempted to make up and clear the air with Bethenny this season. You two seem to have a tough time communicating. Is it just a personality conflict?
A. Kelly: No, let's be honest. I didn't know her before the show. She thought I was going to ruin her moment in the sun. This is a bigger pie. We don't socialize in the same circles and I only spend 20 minutes with her at a time filming.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are you still offended about the comments that Ramona made about your breasts at Jill's Saks Fifth Avenue event?
A. Kelly: I don't really have a problem with Ramona. It's like an improv class. To be honest, this is gonna sound mean but I don't care. I'm here, I'm getting paid. People expect me to be something I'm not. I'm a normal Midwestern girl. The reason I'm on this show is so that I can give a better life to my children and be more charitable. That's the only reason. I want to make a big impact on America so that I can make a bigger impact on the world.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Which Housewife are you the closest with?
A. Kelly: I really like Jill. She‘s a good person and a good parent. She's a normal person. She's incredibly maternal, which is so unusual in New York. She's a bigger pie kind of person. I like people that are real.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is going on with you now?
A. Kelly: I have a new jewelry line that's coming out in a little bit. I'm working on so many projects. The whole Playboy issue really thrust me into a totally different world and that's he world of health and beauty. People are obsessed with my opinion on it. They ask about cellulite and it's like, "When you're smiling, no one's looking at your cellulite." Life is so short and I'm just working on my projects to help donate to Feed America. One dollar feeds five people. Instead of focusing on weight, we should focus on hunger and feeding people.

 

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa and Chandra at twitter.com/chandraclewley

 

For more Real Housewives links, visit SirLinksALot.net