Bethenny Frankel says her daughter, Bryn, may be enjoying a “nepo baby summer,” but she is also learning the value of hard work.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Frankel, 55, shared that Bryn, 16, has been staying busy with more than just travel and time off. While the teen has spent part of her summer away in Greece and recently participated in a short Sotheby’s business program in New York, Frankel said Bryn has also been working and keeping up with summer homework.
“She’s been working,” Frankel said, adding that her daughter has been balancing several commitments throughout the season.
According to Frankel, Bryn is taking her responsibilities seriously. The former Real Housewives of New York City star said her daughter is “very into her work,” which has made this summer feel different from previous ones.
Frankel explained that their usual mother-daughter routine has changed as Bryn has gotten older and become more independent. Instead of spending entire days together the way they once did, the two are now finding smaller windows of time to connect.
She recalled recently going paddle boarding with Bryn for a short time and sharing a mother-daughter brunch in Sag Harbor. Frankel said they are now trying to “steal” moments together whenever they can.
The reality TV alum noted that Bryn is no longer a little kid, so the rhythm of summer life naturally looks different. Rather than carefree days spent boating and doing simple seasonal activities, Frankel said everyone has been busy and constantly moving.
Even so, she said they have still managed to enjoy quality time together, including dinners by the water and outings to places like Sunset Beach and Surf Lodge.
Frankel also joked that Bryn is “having a nepo baby summer,” but quickly made clear that the label only goes so far because her daughter is genuinely working. She confirmed that Bryn has a job in fashion retail and emphasized that it is not connected to one of her own businesses.
That detail, Frankel suggested, is an important part of the story. While Bryn has grown up around fame and public attention, Frankel says her daughter is still being raised to value discipline and effort.
The “nepo baby” conversation itself came from a funny real-life moment between the two. Frankel said Bryn recently asked her what the term meant, prompting a joking response from her mother: “Look in the freakin mirror.” Frankel later turned that moment into inspiration by naming one of the sandwiches at her new Supermodel Café the “Nepo Baby.”
Frankel said the café, which recently opened as a pop-up in East Quogue, New York, was built around real-life ideas and spontaneous moments. She described the project as something organic rather than overly serious.
Earlier this year, Frankel also told Us that despite her public career, Bryn lives a “relatively normal” life. She said her daughter does well in school, is disciplined and applies herself without needing much motivation.
Taken together, Frankel’s latest comments paint a picture of a teenager enjoying opportunities that come with her upbringing while also putting in real effort of her own. For Frankel, that balance appears to matter most.
