The curtains may have closed on The Real Housewives of New York two years ago, but the original cast members are keeping their bond alive through a lively group chat dubbed the “OG Beauties.” In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Sonja Morgan, 61, dished on the enduring friendships among the RHONY veterans and their hopes for a triumphant return to television.
“We’re on a text chain called ‘OG Beauties,'” Morgan revealed, crediting fellow housewife Kelly Bensimon for the catchy moniker. This digital hangout keeps the ladies—Morgan, Bethenny Frankel, Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Jill Zarin, and Dorinda Medley—tightly connected, no matter where life takes them. Even with Morgan, Frankel, and Singer now soaking up the sun in Florida, the group chat ensures no one misses a beat.
The care in their virtual chats translates to real life, too. Morgan shared a heartfelt anecdote about a recent scare when Singer went radio silent for a few hours. “We were all worried about Ramona because we didn’t hear from her for, like, three hours,” she said. “Then I was like, ‘Here she is, girls—she’s playing golf. She’s fine.’ You know, when you’re golfing, you’re off the grid for five hours!” This glimpse into their group dynamic shows a sisterhood that’s always looking out for one another.
Despite their busy lives, serendipitous run-ins keep the RHONY crew grounded. Morgan recalled a joyful moment bumping into Bethenny Frankel at the premiere of Ryan Murphy’s The Swans. “We were just so excited to see each other,” she gushed. Another emotional reunion came with Dorinda Medley at a women’s empowerment event. “We were in tears when we saw each other backstage,” Morgan shared. “It’s real—the love we have for each other.”
These heartfelt moments underscore the authenticity of their bond, which Morgan says was the secret sauce behind RHONY’s success. “We were friends before the show, all of us,” she explained. “That’s why Andy Cohen’s book says the best franchises are the ones where you’re really friends.” Morgan believes the show’s later struggles stemmed from introducing new cast members who didn’t mesh with the tight-knit group. “When they tried popping in new talent who didn’t know or trust us, it didn’t work,” she noted candidly.
The “OG Beauties” aren’t content to stay off-screen forever. Morgan revealed that the group is actively pitching ideas for a new show, with each member reaching out to producers to make it happen. “We all have our tentacles out there with different producers,” she said. “The want is there—it’s about getting it all together and raising the money for a pilot, especially after the writers’ strike put everything on hold.”
What might this new show look like? Morgan envisions a series centered on their vibrant lives in Florida, a far cry from their New York City days. “It wouldn’t be Real Housewives of New York,” she clarified. “It’d be us girls, sort of like—well, not Golden Girls, but you know what I mean. Timeless lifestyles of women you grew up watching, now living it up in Florida.”
While they work toward a new show, the RHONY alums have stayed in the spotlight. Morgan and de Lesseps delighted fans with their 2023 mini-series Welcome to Crappie Lake, a hilarious fish-out-of-water adventure in Benton, Illinois. Meanwhile, Morgan is hitting the road with her comedy tour, Sonja In Your City, with her next stop scheduled for September 24 in Tampa, Florida.
For now, the “OG Beauties” group chat remains their safe haven—a place to share laughs, check in, and keep their unbreakable bond alive. As Morgan put it, “We’re like a family. No matter what drama comes up, we get through it because we love each other too much to lose a friendship over a silly squabble.” Whether they’re texting about golf games or plotting their TV comeback, these RHONY stars prove that true friendship never goes out of style.