Bethenny Frankel just posted another bikini photo. If you follow her on Instagram or TikTok, you already know the drill. She’s 55, standing on a beach in Miami or the Hamptons, wearing a string two-piece that looks like it was designed for someone half her age.
And she looks incredible.
But every time a bethenny frankel bikini moment goes viral, the internet starts its usual routine. Half the comments are "body goals" and "how does she do it?" while the other half are people yelling about filters, lighting, or "acting her age." Honestly, it’s exhausting. We’ve been watching Bethenny navigate her body image since the early days of The Real Housewives of New York, and if there is one thing she’s proven, it’s that she doesn’t actually care about the traditional rules.
The Sports Illustrated Moment That Changed Everything
In mid-2025, Bethenny did something nobody saw coming: she walked the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway during Miami Swim Week. This wasn't just a quick cameo. She leaned into it. She wore a pink and black polka-dot bikini from Toxic Sadie, a denim two-piece styled with a black cowgirl hat, and a fierce leopard print one-piece by Norma Kamali.
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She didn't just walk; she danced. She roared. She literally threw her sarong at the audience.
It was a chaotic, high-energy performance that felt very... Bethenny. While some critics on Page Six tried to "mom-shame" her for wearing a thong-style bottom at 54 (at the time), she clapped back with her typical "Just B" energy. She pointed out that the culture at SI was about women supporting women, a sharp contrast to the toxic environments she’s often described in reality TV.
What most people get wrong about that runway debut is thinking it was about "becoming a model." It wasn't. For Frankel, it was a business move and a personal middle finger to the idea that women have to disappear once they hit their 50s. She’s basically saying, "I’m here, I’m toned, and I’m going to wear the tiniest suit I can find because I can."
No Gym, No Weights, No Kidding?
People constantly ask for her "secret." They want the 4:00 AM HIIT workout or the name of her celebrity trainer.
The reality is way more boring.
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Bethenny is vocal about the fact that she doesn't go to the gym. She doesn't lift weights. She’s even said on TikTok, "I tried weights once—it didn't stick." Instead, she swears by beach walks. She aims for 10,000 steps a day, usually on the sand because the resistance is better for your glutes and core.
It’s about "natural" movement. She’ll go months without formal exercise and then decide to walk for an hour every morning because it feels good. She calls it "self-regulating." If she’s been eating more or feeling sluggish, she moves more. If she’s tired, she sleeps.
Her Non-Negotiable Health List
- Sleep: She is militant about getting 7 to 9 hours. She uses an eye mask and a night guard. No exceptions.
- Hydration: Because she manages POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), she uses Nello hydration packets religiously to keep her heart rate and energy stable.
- The "Food Noise" Method: She famously wrote Naturally Thin, which is all about tasting everything but eating nothing in excess. She treats her appetite like a bank account—if she splurges on a margarita, she saves on the next meal.
The Truth About the "Skinnygirl" Aesthetic
There’s a lot of baggage with the name Skinnygirl. In 2026, the word "skinny" carries a different weight than it did in 2011 when she sold her cocktail line for $100 million.
Bethenny has addressed this. She’s admitted that in her 30s, she struggled with "exercise noise" and disordered eating. She was actually 25 pounds heavier then because she was caught in a cycle of binging and restriction. Now, she focuses on being "strong, not skinny," even though the brand name stuck.
When you see a bethenny frankel bikini photo today, you’re seeing the result of decades of learning how to not obsess. She eats "supermodel snacks" (like seaweed wraps with turkey and avocado) but she also drinks the margarita. She doesn't believe in "good" or "bad" days—just choices.
The $37 Amazon Suit vs. Designer Gear
One of the reasons her swimwear content performs so well is that she mixes high and low. One day she’s in a $350 Veronica Beard sandal, and the next she’s claiming a $37 Amazon one-piece is the "suit of the summer."
She actually did this recently. She was gifted a $250 designer monokini and decided to find a "cheapo" version that worked better. She found one with "cutlets" (removable pads) that she swore looked more expensive than the original.
She isn't just showing off her body; she's reviewing the gear. She knows her audience wants to look like her without spending a month's rent on a triangle top. That’s why she’s become a massive influencer in the "Grey Beauty" space—she’s relatable while being entirely aspirational.
How to Get the Look (The Real Way)
If you're looking at those Miami beach photos and wondering how to replicate that confidence, Bethenny’s advice is usually pretty blunt.
- Stop the extremes. The binging and the "I’ll start Monday" mentality is what kills your progress. Just have the bite of cake now and move on.
- Walk outside. Forget the treadmill if you hate it. Get some sun. It’s better for your brain.
- Invest in "Glow." She swears by L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion for that "runway" skin finish. It’s $17 and covers a multitude of sins.
- Accept the "Trainwreck" days. She’s the first to post a photo without makeup, looking exhausted. The bikini photos are the highlight reel, not the daily reality.
Bethenny Frankel has turned the simple act of wearing a swimsuit into a masterclass in personal branding and age-defying confidence. Whether you love her or find her "too much," you can’t deny she’s changed the conversation for women over 50.
To really nail the look yourself, focus on your posture and find a suit that actually fits your frame rather than a trend. Check your local retailers for high-waisted options if you want more support, or go full Bethenny with a string tie if you're feeling bold. Most importantly, stop waiting for the "perfect" body to go to the beach—just go.
Next Steps for Your Summer Style
Start by auditing your current swimwear. If a suit makes you feel self-conscious or "anxious" (as Bethenny calls it), get rid of it. Replace it with one "reliable" suit—like that $37 Amazon find—and commit to a daily 20-minute walk. You don't need a $60,000 launch to feel like a mogul in a bikini; you just need to stop listening to the noise.