New York Housewives Want To Make You Sweat

The stars of Real Housewives of New York City get plenty of exercise shopping, pointing fingers, flipping their hair and catfighting. But sometimes, they've got to do a little bit more to really feel the burn.

Out promoting NBCUniversal's Healthy Step-a-Thon in Times Square, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Alex McCord, Cindy Barshop and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps opened up about the workout and diet routines they follow to maintain their—love 'em or hate 'em—toned and slim selves.

"I do work out a lot compared to some people," LuAnn says, describing her Pilates-tennis-crosstraining routine.

And whether it's Ramona's attempt to work out in heels, Jill promoting her new line of shapewear or Cindy showing off her Jimmy Choo sneakers and emphasizing the importance of spray tans (instead of real ones) and drinking lots of water, all of the regimens sound about right for the Housewife in question.

"If I walk home, that'll be the best exercise ever, but I'll probably take a car service," laughed Jill.

"It's definitely bikini time, so it's not just about being fit, it's about looking hot," Kelly admitted.

Credit: E! Online (Natalie Finn)

Photos by Wire Image

Cindy Barshop: amNewYork's Welcome Party

Cindy Barshop attended the welcome party for new columnists at The Chelsea Room on May 18, 2011 in New York City. Also pictured, new columnist Kelly Bensimon.

Credit: Wire Image

Cindy Barshop Rallies For Kids With Cancer

Cindy Barshop lends her support at "The Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup". The event was hosted at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach last month.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by PacificCoastNews.com

The NY Housewives Cast Could Be Replaced

Look out Jill, Ramona, LuAnn, and Alex -- according to a new report, you're all on the chopping block.

Bravo executives were so overwhelmed with the success of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills -- their season finale was the highest-rated episodes in Housewives history -- they're looking at revamping the NYC franchise with all super-wealthy women with over-the-top lifestyles.

Producers believe that the hotel-sized mansions, stretch limos, diamonds, private jets, and record-setting divorce settlements that are part of the Bev Hills housewives' world, that made the show so appealing. They think the NYC show would perform better with that same feel.

So if you have Adrienne Maloof of Camille Grammer-size bank accounts, live in Manhattan, and have always wanted to be on reality TV, you may be in luck, reports The New York Post.

"We're always casting for new housewives in every city," a Bravo rep conceded to The Post. Would the cable net do a wholesale housecleaning and start the NYC show over with an entirely new cast? "We've never done that before," is all the rep would say.

Credit: Radar Online

Kelly Bensimon's New York City Birthday Party

Real Housewife of New York City star Kelly Bensimon celebrated her birthday on Cinco de Mayo with friends including fellow housewife Cindy Barshop at Teqa in NYC.

Kelly came in and was greeted with three huge glass displays filled with Jelly Beans, her favorite! Kelly blew out the candles on a cake made special for her by 'Made In Heaven Cakes.'

Credit: Life & Style

Cindy Barshop: MVP Beauty Awards Breakfast

Cindy Barshop attended Redbook Magazine's 2011 MVP beauty awards breakfast at Bryant Park Grill on May 3, 2011 in New York City. Also pictured, Camila Alves.

Credit: Wire Image

Cindy Barshop Is Hardly A Housewife!

She may look like a happy-go-lucky downtown party girl on Real Housewives of New York City, but these days, Cindy Barshop is more into business and babies than boozy soirees.

“I wake up with my kids, then I work, work, work!” the single mom of 15-month-old twins Jesse and Zoe tells In Touch. As the owner of high-end spa Completely Bare, Cindy runs six New York locations, new spots in Atlanta, Beverly Hills and Dallas, and has plans to conquer Long Island and even Brazil with her state-of-the-art hair removal, tanning, and other beauty services. “When all the employees are in a positive mode and we're moving forward, that’s when I feel really good.”

Despite her full schedule, Cindy guarantees to entertain fans of the Bravo reality show. The bubbly brunette, who says castmates Jill Zarin and Kelly Killoren Bensimon are her friends, foreshadows a rift with a few of the series’ other women. “When we’re away, all of a sudden there’s a big split!” she says, referring to a drama-filled getaway to Morocco with the girls.

And the supermom even gives love a chance this season. “I just went on a couple of dates,” she says coyly, adding that she has a weakness for the rocker type.

Credit: In Touch Weekly

Cindy Barshop: OK! Magazine's Sexy Singles

Cindy Barshop attends OK! Magazine's Sexy Singles party at Lavo NYC on April 20, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

New York Housewives At The TV Land Awards

Kelly Bensimon, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Cindy Barshop, Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen of the Real Housewives of New York attended the 9th Annual TV Land Awards at the Javits Center on April 10, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

Hair Color Plays a Role in Housewives Drama

The Real Housewives of New York City are no strangers to drama, catfights and taking sides, but this season the ladies have taken their differences one step further – division by hair color.

"It's just the natural divide, it's like [the San] Andreas fault," LuAnn de Lesseps, referring to California's earthquake boundary, told PEOPLE recently at Bravo's upfront presentation. "You just can't guess when it's going to split."

The Countess is joined by Jill Zarin and new housewife Cindy Barshop to make up "Team Brunette," while Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan are members of "Team Blond" – but Kelly Bensimon says her ombre highlights (dark at the roots, light at the tips) kept her firmly neutral.

"I don't really play sides," she said. "Ramona and Alex and Sonya are incredibly spirited and funny, LuAnn and Jill and Cindy and I just get along. I have a great time with all of them."

Credit: PEOPLE (Mussarat Bata)

Cindy Barshop's Interview With TV Guide

Downtown denizen Cindy Barshop — single mom of twins and owner of the Completely Bare spa empire — is the latest addition to the Big Apple brigade, and she is so keeping it Real.

TV Guide Magazine: You have two baby girls and a business. Why add TV to your workload?

Barshop: I'd just given birth and I am the type who always likes changes. So I think it was a little bit of "baby brain," and a little bit that I enjoy new opportunities.

TV Guide Magazine: Who did you click with?

Barshop: I stayed with my brunette tribe. I immediately clicked with Jill, and I get Kelly. [Laughs] Her whole quirkiness and fun... She's like "granola" good.

TV Guide Magazine: What kind of drama did you get caught up in?

Barshop: A lot. I thought I wasn't gonna have any drama, so I guess Bravo's brilliant because when they mix these girls together — there's a lot going on. Morocco is where most of the separation happens.

TV Guide Magazine: Is there a moment where fans will be like, "We love Cindy"?

Barshop: I think it's when I finally stand up to somebody who nobody usually does.

TV Guide Magazine: How do you think your girls will feel when they're old enough to see you on the show?

Barshop: I think they're going to be proud of me. On reality shows, nobody [looks] perfect. But I think they portray you for how you are. At least, I hope it comes off that way!

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

Credit: TV Guide (Damian Holbrook)

Alex Has A Long Fuse, When It Blows, It Blows!

In the upcoming new Season 4 of Real Housewives of New York, Alex McCord has completely changed her persona. She’s found her voice and no longer stays silent. Here’s why:

“I have finally had it up to here,” Alex tells Hollywood Life exclusively at the premiere party at NYC’s Covet Lounge on April 5. “I have a very long fuse, and when it blows — it blows.” But, when Alex’s newly found voice causes an uproar among her castmates — only a few of the women have her back!

“The biggest difference in the metamorphosis is that I’m actually just saying what I was thinking all along,” Alex tells us. “Both of us [meaning her husband Simon van Kempen] have felt freer. If you don’t say what you are thinking, people will make up all sorts of things that they think you’re thinking and it’s never real.”

Unfortunately some of the women find Alex’s words annoying. “I love Alex. I think she’s a really sweet girl,” Kelly Bensimon explains to us. “But I think one of her biggest issues is that she’s outspoken about the wrong issues — sometimes less is more.”

But some of her co-stars have her back. “I think they are just shocked that she’s stepping out of her shell,” Ramona Singer tells us. “First season she was a quiet mouse. Now she has a voice. And you know what, she comes to my defense a number of times on the show. She’s become a good friend. I just like her. I think she’s real and does things unpretentiously. She’s very genuine person.”

Sonja Morgan also joins the pro-Alex team … most of the time. “I am very friendly with Alex,” she says. “She’s entitled to have her opinion and vent.”

“I’m there for her, but I do have to pull the plug at certain points,” Sonja adds. “I’m not a doormat. I have to draw the line sometimes. But she is my girlfriend regardless. She’s entitled to her emotions and passion.”

Newest housewife Cindy Barshop — who admittedly is closest with the other side including Jill Zarin, Kelly and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps — even stands up for Alex occasionaly. “I didn’t know her when she wasn’t outspoken,” says Cindy. “Now she’s just saying what’s on her mind. Maybe even a few times I even encouraged her to speak up a little more.”

Credit: Hollywood Life (Lindsey DiMattina)

Real Housewives of New York Premiere Party

Sonja Morgan, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, Cindy Barshop and Kelly Bensimon attend the Real Housewives Of New York City Season 4 Premiere Party at Covet on April 5, 2011 in New York City. Also pictured, Simon van Kempen and Mario Singer.

Credit: Wire Image

New York Housewives At 2011 Bravo Upfront

Real Housewives of New York stars Kelly Bensimon, Alex McCord, Jill Zarin, Cindy Barshop, and LuAnn de Lesseps attend the 2011 Bravo Upfront at 82 Mercer on March 30, 2011 in New York City. Also pictured, Simon van Kempen.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Mike Coppola/Getty Images North America

Cindy Barshop: "It's Like Being on Survivor!"

While we love the Bethenny, we so don't mind Cindy Barshop, the newest member of Real Housewives of New York City who—for lack of a better term—is Frankel's replacement.

"It's a lot of work," Barshop recently told me about filming her first season, the series' fourth, airing April 7. "I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be. It's like being on Survivor!"

OK, she didn't have to eat bugs and swim through swamps, but...

She did have to endure the crazies: Sonja Morgan, Alex McCord, LuAnn de Lesseps, Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon and Ramona Singer.

Cindy admits she lost her cool during an all-girls wannabe Sex and the City trip to Morocco. "I actually did," said Barshop. "I really surprised myself. I guess somebody hit one of my core buttons with my family."

Barshop is a successful business woman, owning a string of waxing salons called Completely Bare. She's also a single mother to baby twins.

But this is reality television. Let's get to the nitty-gritty. Does she have any skeletons in her closet?

She insists there's no rap sheet to be found. "When I was in high school, I got I a little bit of trouble, but no, never booked," Barshop said.

How about a sex tape?

She laughed, "No, but I plan on having one soon—just kidding."

Credit: E! Online (Marc Malkin)

Real Housewives of NY: Meet Cindy Barshop

Three weeks from now, Bravo will (finally!) unleash the fourth season of the Real Housewives of New York City to the masses after postponing the show from its February premiere, which was due to the show still being in production. We haven't seen the NYC women since their tumultuous third season ended last June, which also marked the departure of Bethenny Frankel, who now has her own show on Bravo, Bethenny Ever After.

Even though the show has six women in the main cast, Frankel's departure still left a void that had to be filled. So Bravo producers found a replacement in Cindy Barshop, owner/founder of the Completely Bare salons. Barshop's popular hair removal spa/salon has locations not only in NYC, but in Palm Beach, Florida as well. In other words, Barshop is a self-made woman, which makes her fit right in with the rest of the NYC Housewives financially and socially. Now all we need to know is if she will hold her own in the inevitable catfights that will no doubt come her way.

As reported before, Barshop is the mother of twin girls, Jesse and Zoe, and is all about her business and her kids, which you can see for yourself in this clip of Barshop's NYC apartment.

At first glance of the apartment, you would think that Barshop was completely bohemian or just down to earth, an attribute that would possibly give fellow NYC Housewife LuAnn de Lesseps a rash on sight , but as they say, looks are most definitely deceiving. Barshop is very fashion forward, but has limited closet space and limited space in general. It wouldn't be a surprise if Barshop has a new place to live by the start of season five.

So are you guys ready for Cindy Barshop? And how much of a splash will the "new kid on the block" make in the Big Apple's batch of Real Housewives?

The Real Housewives of New York City fourth season premiere airs on April 7th @ 10/9c on Bravo.

Credit: TV Overmind (Mark O. Estes)

Kelly Bensimon Talks Bethenny & Cindy Barshop

Kelly Bensimon didn't exactly miss Bethenny Frankel while filming the new season of the Real Housewives of New York City.

You'd think it was because Bensimon was so over all their catfighting, but no...

"I only filmed with her a couple of times," Bensimon insisted to me earlier today. "I don't know her at all. I met her a couple of times. We create awesome television. But I wish her well. I don't know what else there is to say because I don't know her enough to say anything."

Frankel's replacement, hair removal queen Cindy Barshop, is a completely different story.

"Cindy's a rock star," Kelly gushed. "She really put the Housewives brand out of balance. She used to work at IBM. She's got 10 Completely Bare [hair removal spas] in New York alone. She's in her forties. She's got two unbelievable babies. She has an unbelievable family. She has set the bar so high."

Guess Bensimon really likes her.

"Who doesn't like a girl's girl who has it all, works her butt off and wears Martin Margiela?" she said. "She's hot, she's cool and she's easygoing."

Credit: E! Online (Marc Malkin)

Real Housewives of NY Premiere Date Finally Set

Get ready for more Big Apple drama, Housewives fans!

After a sudden schedule switcheroo in February that bumped the Real Housewives of New York City's fourth season premiere in favor of the Real Housewives of Miami's debut, the New York women finally have a premiere date.

Come April 7, Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, LuAnn de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Kelly Bensimon, Sonja Morgan and newcomer Cindy Barshop will be back on the air, the network announced via their BravoTV.com The Dish blog Monday.

"From the gang's glamorous jaunt to Morocco, to our already-favorite dig "thug in a cocktail dress" (delivered by the ultimate messenger, Alex McCord), to the Countess finding love again, the new season will definitely be worth the wait," the Bravo blog post read.

Brooklyn-based cast member McCord agrees, and tells Us Magazine fans should clear their calendars for Thursday nights.

"I think this is definitely the best season so far," McCord tells Us. "[But] there was no way they were going to get [editing] done in time."

The Real Housewives of New York City premieres April 7 at 10 p.m. (EST) on Bravo.

Credit: Us Magazine