Rachel Zoe, the iconic celebrity stylist, is making a triumphant return to reality television with her casting in the upcoming season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH). At 53, Zoe is stepping back into the spotlight after ending her hit show The Rachel Zoe Project in April 2013, when her eldest son, Skyler, was just 2 years old, and she was pregnant with her second son, Kaius. Now, with Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 11, Zoe’s life has evolved dramatically, and she’s ready to share her journey with the world.
The news of her RHOBH casting came as a shock to Zoe, who learned of it while on her way to Skyler’s middle school graduation. “I actually cried,” she told PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘How is this even possible?’ The whole thing is wild. It’s been a very surreal time, honestly.” Zoe officially announced her new role on June 6 via social media, nine months after revealing her separation from her husband of 26 years, Rodger Berman, 56.
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For Zoe, the decision to join RHOBH wasn’t about fame or fortune—contrary to circulating rumors. “I’m not doing the show for the money,” she says, dismissing such claims as “so ridiculous.” Instead, her return to television is deeply personal. “While building my different businesses and raising my kids over the past 10 years, I’ve discussed coming back to TV in different ways,” Zoe explains. “But for me to go back, it had to be when I really felt like I had a lot to share and a lot to say. Publicly, my life has shifted in many ways personally and professionally. I felt like it was the time now to sit with an amazing group of women and really talk about my new life and what that looks like.”
Zoe acknowledges that her glamorous career and lifestyle may seem unattainable to some, but she finds joy in connecting with fans who relate to her story. “I know that sounds silly, because I’m a fashion person, and my life may not be that relatable, but I go through very real, very relatable things and emotions,” she says. “I live my life in a very normal, relatable way most of the time. To sit with women and talk about that is a great way to share what I’m living through. I think I have a really strong message to share now, and that’s really why I wanted to do the show.”
Reflecting on her first foray into reality TV with The Rachel Zoe Project, which premiered in 2008, Zoe notes how much the media landscape has changed. “In 2008, I think there was maybe Twitter, but not what exists now,” she says. “Now, one incorrect thing gets said, and it’s around the internet in like 60 seconds. That’s been a little surreal.” Back then, tabloids dominated, but today’s viral online narratives require a thicker skin—something Zoe has developed over the years.
The Rachel Zoe Project was groundbreaking, offering viewers an inside look at the fashion industry and inspiring countless young people to pursue careers as stylists. During a recent trip to New York, Zoe was approached “at least twice a day” by fans who credited her show with launching their dreams. “It gave that insight and inspired young people to live their dream, which they didn’t even know existed, because a lot of people didn’t know what a stylist was,” she says proudly.
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Filming RHOBH has been a vastly different experience compared to her earlier show. “It’s very organic,” Zoe describes. “When cameras roll, I don’t feel them, I don’t see them, and I pretend they’re not there. The best way to do this is, like, let’s just roll and be organic about how we create this. So it’s been fun.” Her signature style mantra remains unchanged, as she admits to “winging it” with her wardrobe, pulling pieces from her archives without overplanning.
On RHOBH, Zoe has enjoyed filming with new friends like Bozoma “Boz” Saint John, whom she met through her podcast and “fell in love with,” as well as longtime friend Kathy Hilton, whom she’s known for 20 years. “Kathy had a lot to do with why I’m doing the show,” Zoe reveals. “She’s such a great friend and a great person.”
As Zoe embarks on this new chapter, she’s driven by a desire to share her authentic self with the world. “There are so many reasons why I’m doing this, but overall, it just felt like the right time,” she says. With her trademark style, resilience, and relatability, Rachel Zoe is poised to make waves on RHOBH and inspire a new generation of viewers.