At long last, The Real Housewives of New York is returning for its eleventh season. There's plenty of drama in store—and a new addition, Barbara Kavovit, is here to ensure that the cast's dynamic doesn't get stale.
Here, five things to know about Kavovit, a successful businesswoman and a very promising reality show star.
She isn't new to the RHONY world.
Bronx-born Kavovit has "already known many of these women for ages," a source told People. Kavovit herself confirmed this when speaking to Us Weekly, noting that "I actually have known Lu[ann de Lesseps] for a while now. We met at a playground... [Luann is] a great girl and I know Dorinda [Medley] as well."
Kavovit's relationships with the housewives have already hit a rough patch.
At an event back in season nine, Kavovit had an off-camera conversation with Carole Radziwill that was picked up by Radziwill's mic—and Kavovit's words didn't exactly endear her to Luann de Lesseps. Kavovit seemed dubious about de Lesseps's decision to go forward with her engagement to Tom D’Agostino, Jr. amid rumors that he'd been unfaithful.
"I think she has something to prove," Kavovit said. "She’d rather go through with it and get divorced than call it off."
Kavovit went to court in an attempt to stop the audio from airing, but her case was thrown out, per Page Six. For their part, De Lesseps and D’Agostino have since divorced.
She's quite the businesswoman.
Kavovit is the CEO and founder of Evergreen Construction, which specializes in creating high-end spaces. She's also behind DIYVA, a line of construction tools and kits marketed to women.
Kavovit isn't afraid to speak out about the challenges of working the male-dominated industry—and advocate for more women to join it.
"Male chauvinistic people that are in this business, they still exist," she told Marie Claire. "Because they've been handed down through their grandparents to their fathers, and now the sons are in it. And the mentality still exists of that construction is no place for a woman. But I'm here to tell them that it is, and I'm taking projects away from them."
For those struggling to get ahead, Kavovit suggests seeking out other women in the field, or joining groups focused on bolstering women and minorities. "Find a mentor that believes in you, that is going to take the time to help teach you," she said. "And if you can't find that person, I mean, nowadays there's certainly organizations out there that you can find."
Her first novel is coming out soon.
Heels of Steel tells the tale of a woman (the very well-named Bridget Steele) trying to build the biggest skyscraper in Manhattan, despite facing fierce opposition from her male peers. The book is coming out in June, but is already available for pre-order.
Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle’s staff to Queen Elizabeth’s monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
