Famous New Yorkers We'd Love To See On The RHONY Season 16 Revamp

On May 7, Bravo released a lineup of new shows coming to the network, including two new series joining The Real Housewives. Show renewals were also updated, including Below Deck, Southern Charm, and Vanderpump Rules. A list of returning cities in the Real Housewives franchise was revealed, except for two important cities: New York and New Jersey.

Not having a clear answer on The Real Housewives of New York’s return has fans concerned. It was distressing when the network gave the series an overhaul after Season 13 with a brand-new, younger cast, but the facelift didn’t land with audiences. Does this mean RHONY is on pause, or does the network need to find new Housewives that are the epitome of New York?

Famous New York Women Who Should Be On The New RHONY

After Bravo left The Real Housewives of New York off its list of shows that were returning in 2026, it became clear the series was in jeopardy. The Cut published an article titled, “Bye Bye, RHONY,” but Executive Producer and host, Andy Cohen, shut down the claim that RHONY was being canceled by commenting on Instagram.

“This is a cute story, except it’s not canceled.”

The network tried to save the series by removing legendary Housewives like Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan and replacing them with fresh and young New Yorkers, but the change didn’t land. Instead, going back to the drawing board and adding older, more established women (like the original seasons) could be the winning ticket.

Fran Drescher

Actress Fran Drescher would make a fantastic choice as an established woman in New York. Fran made it big with her 1993 sitcom, The Nanny, and has been a New York staple ever since. Even more interesting, her cousin through marriage, Aviva Drescher, was a Housewife for two seasons (Seasons 5 and 6). She has great style, a love for New York culture (showing her support for Broadway on social media), and had a unique relationship with her ex-husband, whom she found out was gay once they divorced (as reported by People).

Kimora Lee Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons has been a desired Housewife by fans for years. The New Yorker got her start in the entertainment industry after modeling and climbed the ladder to success from there. She married (and divorced) former musician and producer Russell Simmons, created the fashion house Baby Phat, and had her reality TV show, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. It would be fascinating to see this mogul juggle business while being a mom to five kids who now have their own careers.

In May 2025, Kimora announced she was coming to the E! Network with a new reality show, Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane.

Vera Wang

Iconic fashion designer Vera Wang would be a legendary casting for RHONY. Her fashions are splashed across countless magazine covers and red carpets, and she works with top celebrities. The designer is seemingly at every important New York event and continues to amaze everyone with her flawless looks at 75 years old. Adding a cast member like Vera would go above and beyond for the series. Between her experience in the fashion industry, age, and history in New York, she’s exactly what fans are craving.

Rachel Zoe

Rachel Zoe was at her prime in the early 2000s after her reality TV show The Rachel Zoe Project aired on Bravo. The fashion designer is known for her Boho chic style and has dressed countless celebrities. Her fierce attitude and work ethic would be a great addition to the series, especially after announcing in 2024 that she and her husband of 33 years announced they were divorcing, per US Weekly.

Although Rachel now lives in Los Angeles, filming while she visits and works in New York could still work, especially if she’s a friend of the series as opposed to a full-time Housewife.

The Women of Summer House

Now that Summer House’s Lindsay Hubbard has a baby and a boyfriend who’s not a part of the Bravo cast, many have suggested that she switch shows and become a Housewife instead. In fact, cast members Paige DeSorbo, Amanda Batula, and Ciara Miller could all become Housewives because of their popularity in the Bravosphere and love for the Big Apple.

All women have progressed career-wise and are almost too successful to be on a show like Summer House. It’s time for them to jump ship and join a series, like Housewives​​​​​, that allows even more room to expand career-wise.

What Went Wrong With The Real Housewives of New York?

The Real Housewives of New York lacked something substantial after firing the old cast and adding new faces. While the new cast was beautiful, empowering, and successful, there was one massive thing that was missing that the original cast had: a real friendship.

Some of the new Housewives knew each other through the same circles, but didn’t have the same deep-rooted history the original Housewives had. Storylines, hardships, and good times were far more interesting to watch when the group had known each other for at least five years. Even more importantly, drama wasn’t always created for the cameras with the original group.

Season 15 had low moments with fans after an alleged affair and fake pregnancy became a storyline, as reported by BuzzFeed. Creating false narratives for the sake of the series was not the right move, and fans were outraged. According to The Daily Mail, Andy Cohen was also disinterested, telling audiences on Watch What Happens Live that he wasn’t a “fan” of pranks.

If Bravo wants to save RHONY, the network needs to:

• Totally rework the cast and hire those who actually know each other. Authentic relationships bring the best content for viewers.
• Hiring older women is the key. Original cast members were well into their 50’s. Older Housewives are more established, confident, and have incredible experiences and stories compared to the younger cast members.

Thankfully, Bravo heard fans’ concerns and, according to E! Online, is already looking for new personalities to join Season 16. Adding the likes of Fran Drescher and Lindsay Hubbard would be a great start.

Watch every season of The Real Housewives of New York on Peacock.