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Kelly Bensimon: My Life After the Real Housewives

The RHONY alum wrote a new book and launched a fragrance while raising her two teenagers.

By Marisa Laudadio Jun 11, 2014, 11:40 AM ET

What happens to our Real Housewives once they've left a franchise? Each week, we're looking into the lives of past cast members after their exits. This week, former The Real Housewives of New York City star Kelly Killoren Bensimon.

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She's the hard-bodied former model-turned-socialite who left the show—along with RHONY veterans Jill Zarin, Alex McCord and then-newbie Cindy Barshop—after Season 4.

Despite the drama—who didn't love her epic walk-out during the RHONY reunion special after Bethenny Frankel accused her of having psychological issues—Kelly Killoren Bensimon doesn't regret her time as a Housewife.

"I loved being on the show and meeting these women and observing their lives," Kelly told Wetpaint in April.

These days, following her three-season run as a RHONY regular that ended in 2011, the divorced mom of two is still living a glamorous life. She's a regular fixture at New York fashion parties and released her fourth book, I Can Make You Hot: The Supermodel Diet, in 2012, as well as a fragrance called In The Spirit Of just this spring.

"I wake up at 6:30 a.m. and I'm in bed by 11 p.m.," Kelly, who's also a contributing writer for AMNewYork told Stylebistro.com, in May. "Everyone else is like, 'Oh, that was really fun, let's go get cocktails,' and I'm like, 'No, I have to go write this article,' or whatever it is. I don't have that luxury."

But Kelly also says that's not a problem for her. "My day is always evolving. You never know who you're going to meet," she added. "Life is short, why not have fun with it?"

It's an attitude she tries to instill in her daughters Sea, 16, and Teddy, 13 (with her photographer ex-husband Giles Bensimon)—budding celebutants who were featured in Teen Vogue in May. "They make me so proud," Kelly recently gushed on Twitter.

"I always tell my kids, 'Today is never going to come again,'" Kelly added of her advice for her teens, "so if you're not going to have a good time with it, then don't do it."

RHONY fans who've been missing Kelly lucked out this season, because she popped back for a little cameo with LuAnn de Lesseps on last night's episode.

"She was like, ‘Will you walk in this fashion show for me and surprise all the ladies?’ And I obviously told her that I would," Kelly told WetPaint. "It was really fun. I got to meet Carole Radziwill, who’s incredibly smart, funny, and charming. She said she wanted to meet some guys to snuggle with, so I set her up on some dates.'"

Kelly is dating herself (she's remained mum on the identity of her latest paramour) and says she's in a great place in her life. Asked by a fan in May how she stays so gorgeous, Kelly explained that it's simple. "I have passion and follow through," she tweeted, "therefore I'm happy :)"

What do you miss about Kelly? Tell us in the comments.