<P> The Real Housewives of New York City (abbreviated RHONY) is an American reality television series that premiered on March 4, 2008 on Bravo . Developed as the second installment of The Real Housewives franchise, following The Real Housewives of Orange County, it is currently in its ninth season and focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women residing in New York City . </P> <P> The series originally focused on Luann de Lesseps (briefly D'Agostino), Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, and Jill Zarin . The cast currently consists of de Lesseps, Frankel, Singer, Sonja Morgan, Carole Radziwill, Dorinda Medley and Tinsley Mortimer . Of the original housewives, Frankel initially left after the third season before returning for the seventh; McCord and Zarin left after the fourth season; and de Lesseps was reduced to a recurring capacity during the sixth season and returned to being a full - time cast member the following season . The remaining housewives joined in later seasons: Morgan in the third, Radziwill in the fifth, Medley in the seventh, and Mortimer in the ninth . Other housewives include Kelly Killoren Bensimon (seasons 2--4), Cindy Barshop (season 4), Aviva Drescher (seasons 5--6), Heather Thomson (seasons 5--7), Kristen Taekman (seasons 6--7), and Jules Wainstein (season 8). </P> <P> While in pre-production, the show was initially titled Manhattan Moms, but it was eventually re-branded to become the second installment of the then - new Real Housewives franchise . The first season premiered on March 4, 2008, and starred LuAnn de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin . Despite the series title, most of the women featured were not housewives . Frankel and Singer owned their own businesses; McCord and Zarin also had careers outside their home . </P> <P> Kelly Killoren Bensimon was added to the cast for the second season, which premiered on February 17, 2009 . Sonja Morgan was added to the cast during the third season, along with Jennifer Gilbert in a recurring capacity . On August 31, 2010, Frankel announced that she would not be returning to The Real Housewives of New York City for its fourth season, becoming the first woman to do so, in order to expand a burgeoning career in spin - offs, books, and her Skinnygirl business . </P>

Old cast of real housewives of new york