People can’t stop talking about Bethenny Frankel’s viral thong bikini at Miami Swim Week.
When The Real Housewives of New York City alum made her runway debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show on Saturday, May 31, she bared her pert bum not once but twice.
The moment turned heads and even earned a shout-out from Lauren Sánchez, who posted an Instagram Story on Monday, June 2, with a video showcasing Frankel, 54, confidently strutting the catwalk in a pink polka-dot triangle top then stripping off a sarong to reveal G-string bottoms.
“We all need this energy!!! And this body! Wow, wow,” Sánchez, 55, enthusiastically captioned the clip.
Frankel also sported a leopard-print Norma Kamali one-piece with revealing side slits along with a cowboy-inspired denim two-piece, which she, once again, cheekily presented from behind.
Many praised her modeling turn, including Frankel’s 15-year-old daughter, Bryn, who complimented her mom’s “cute tush.” Her scantily clad swimwear display sparked significant discussion online.
Addressing the buzz, Frankel posted a TikTok video on Monday, June 2, stating, “So I guess we have to discuss what I looked like on that runway because the internet is so fascinated with my age, my weight, my face, my hair,” she said matter-of-factly.
Frankel continued: “I can tell you with great certainty that every woman [who] was with me on that stage did not look that way two hours prior,” she said, clarifying the pre-show prep that was involved. She added that “a lot of glam, a lot of contouring and a lot of lighting” played a role.
The former Bravo star further explained that she doesn’t follow crash diets or a strict workout regimen and instead maintains a “good relationship with food and exercise.”
@bethennyfrankel Start with loving yourself #loveyourself #body #natural #healthy #qge
Speaking directly to her TikTok followers, fans and presumably a few naysayers, Frankel declared: “My body is natural. I don’t do weights. And the reason my body is natural is because the exercise I do and have always done for my body is natural.”
She then noted: “I’ll go months without exercise and definitely days without doing anything, but I always come back to it.”
Here’s hoping Frankel (and her thong bikini) makes a comeback at Miami Swim Week next year.
