“The answer is proud” — Bethenny Frankel responds to critics of her Miami Swim Week runway outfit

Bethenny Frankel is refusing to allow online hate to ruin her moment. Following criticism for her runway debut at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show during Miami Swim Week, the 54-year-old reality TV personality and businesswoman is speaking out and standing up with pride and purpose.

Critics questioned Frankel's looks on social media as she walked in a leopard-print thong bikini, especially in light of parenthood. Many questioned what her teenage daughter would think and criticized her for exposing flesh at her age.

On Sunday, June 2, Bethenny Frankel addressed the criticism head-on by sharing a video on Instagram with the caption:

“The answer is proud”

Frankel reiterated the query that trolls had asked:

“You miserable people said, ‘What would your daughter say?'”

The founder of Skinnygirl informed her followers that she had just received a call from her daughter, whom she nicknamed "Peanut," congratulating her on her modeling performance. She said:

“ Peanut just FaceTimed me and she said, ‘Mama…I saw you, you did so good!'”

"I did well," Frankel laughed, correcting her daughter's grammar before recalling Bryn's encouraging remarks.

“She said, ‘You did so good.’ She said, ‘You have such a cute tush mama,’ and she said, ‘You look like you’re 30 years old.'”

After calling her daughter's praises "so sweet," Frankel returned her focus to her haters, saying:

“So we know how my daughter would feel.”

Bethenny Frankel stressed that her walk was a lesson in confidence rather than merely glitz, particularly for her daughter and other young girls growing up in a society full of unattainable expectations.

“She’s at an age where kids have hormones and they’re developing and it’s the skin and it’s the bodies and they’re not used to their new bodies and they’re not comfortable in their own skin and other kids can be so cruel.”

She informed that her daughter was not able to attend the event as she was away at school. Bethenny Frankel went on to speak about body positivity and wished her daughter and her friends were present at the event.

“I wish she were there with this group [of friends] because like, the body positivity, and the women like, owning their bodies, was really just beyond like, embodying their bodies, was so amazing and I want that for her.”

Frankel continued to praise her daughter Bryn's body, saying that she has "the most beautiful body." She hopes to share the runway with her:

“I want to be on that runway with her, you know? Like, showing her what that was like.”

Bethenny Frankel shares her daughter Bryn with her ex-husband Jason Hoppy, with whom she was married for 11 years. They were married from 2010 to 2021.

---

Bethenny Frankel's runaway debut: A bold fashion statement

Bethenny Frankel debuted on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway wearing three striking looks. She was seen donning a one-piece leopard print as well as a denim bikini with a cowboy hat, and a pink-and-black polka dot bikini with a transparent sarong which she removed and threw at the audiences.

Fans praised the daring styling, praising her carefree demeanor and capacity to transcend conventional notions of beauty based on age. Online reactions were mostly positive, especially from women who viewed Frankel's stroll as a challenge to constrictive beauty standards, despite some attempts to embarrass her.

Frankel was well-prepared for the runway, as she also shared behind-the-scenes clips that included her equipment, tools, and routines, which made her runway-ready.

---

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.