Alexia Nepola, a star of The Real Housewives of Miami (RHOM), has made it clear she’s not thrilled about the idea of Bethenny Frankel, a former Real Housewives of New York City cast member, joining the Miami franchise. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on Tuesday, June 17, while promoting the Bravo reality show, Alexia, 58, shared her candid thoughts on why Bethenny doesn’t fit the RHOM vibe.
“I don’t think we would want her there. She’s not Miami,” Alexia stated firmly. “Miami’s become a very transient city, and I love that and I welcome that. But when you’re going to be in this kind of show, I feel like you have to be a real Miamian. You have to have your roots here.”
Bethenny, 54, announced her move from New York to Florida in April and reportedly purchased a Miami condo for approximately $1.7 million in June 2024. Despite her new ties to the city, Alexia believes Bethenny lacks the deep connection to Miami needed for the show.
Interestingly, not all RHOM cast members share Alexia’s perspective. Lisa Hochstein, another RHOM star, expressed a more welcoming attitude toward Bethenny. During the June 3 episode of iHeartRadio’s Two Ts in a Pod podcast, Lisa said, “I personally like Bethenny. She’s always really nice to me.”
Alexia also touched on her friendship with The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, noting their strong bond. However, she was quick to add that even Teresa doesn’t belong on the Miami franchise. “I feel like there’s a lot of people that want to go to Miami,” Alexia explained. “They could go to Miami, but not to our show. We already have nine girls. We don’t need any more.”
The current lineup for The Real Housewives of Miami Season 7 includes Alexia, Lisa, Larsa Pippen, Guerdy Abraira, and Julia Lemigova, with Adriana de Moura, Marysol Patton, and Kiki Barth appearing as “friends” of the cast. This season will also introduce a new cast member, Stephanie Shojaee, who Alexia says brings a bold energy to the group.
“She’s definitely Miami, and she’s bringing that Miami drama, and I love it,” Alexia teased about Stephanie. “I think she’s been a great addition to the show. She comes full of energy. She’s very opinionated. She has a very strong entrance. Some like it, some don’t. But I think she’s great.”
The Season 7 trailer hints at tension between Alexia and Stephanie, 40, suggesting a clash of strong personalities. “We’re both alphas, and you know what? She needs to calm down,” Alexia remarked. “I’ve been here for a long time. I’ve taken a lot of punches, so you’re just not going to come in and take my crown. We all have crowns, but we have to respect each other. You can keep yours, but don’t try to take mine off.”
Despite their initial friction, Alexia hinted that the two work through their differences, adding, “We figure it out. You’ll have to watch and see because she does bring a lot to the group, and it’s really been great filming with her.”
As The Real Housewives of Miami gears up for an explosive Season 7, fans can expect plenty of drama, new dynamics, and, of course, the signature Miami flair that Alexia fiercely protects.