Who is Jenna Lyons, the new 'RHONY' cast member? Everything you need to know about the fashion mogul

Fashion heavyweight Jenna Lyons is joining the ranks of the RHONY season 14 cast.

As many of you have heard through the grapevine at BravoCon, six different New Yorkers are on their way for a new season of the Housewives franchise—in addition to a reboot with the OG members—and it's going to be a different experience for Bravoholics, one that's more inclusive and represents New York's diversity, according to executive producer, Andy Cohen. 

"Our loyal fans have spoken as to what they want to see and what they don’t want to see — and we’ve taken that all into account," he revealed to Variety (opens in new tab) in spring 2022 about the RHONY shakeup. 

"We’re looking for a group of women who are real friends, and who are of diverse backgrounds, races and religions," he added. 

One of those said friends includes Lyons, who's certainly made her mark not just on New York, but the fashion world. Considering she once revealed to Harper's Bazaar (opens in new tab), "I eat a lot of ice cream, chocolate, and cookies and I drink rosé champagne," it's obvious that we're already on board. 

Who is Jenna Lyons?

Lyons first entered the fashion scene as a student at Parsons New School of Design and interned for Donna Karan while there, according to The Business of Fashion (opens in new tab). Upon graduation, she landed a role as a designer at J. Crew, and from there, her success with the company grew. 

She accelerated in the ranks from a junior designer to vice president of women’s design and eventually president of the company.

"Amazing things happen when you're having fun and doing something you love," the fashionista once said. 

She's known not only for her androgynous style, but for taking J. Crew to new heights, be it with partnerships with Prabul Garung or notably having Michelle Obama don the brand's pieces while campaigning alongside her husband. 

But as many shoppers who rely on the store for their work capsule wardrobe and embrace its preppy aesthetic know that J.Crew has also been involved in financial trouble, something that was hard for Lyons upon her 2017 departure from the company. 

"There’s this thing that happens when you are in a company you are charged with, and feel responsible for the team," she told The New Yorker. "When that is the case, and things get bad, you don’t want to go. But then, of course, when things are really great, you don’t want to go, either. How do you find the right time? It is really hard."

She further revealed to Elle (opens in new tab), "For 27 years, I knew what my job entailed and where my paycheck was coming from. This was the complete opposite and it was as scary as it was exciting. It’s the people I work with who got me through."

She admitted in her New Yorker interview that it was hard to reconnect with people professionally following her exit, but ultimately it presented new opportunities. She got a brief taste of reality TV life with one season of her HBO Max show, Stylish with Jenna Lyons. She even had a brief moment working on a boutique hotel in the Bahamas. But from there, she transitioned into the beauty world with her company, the cruelty-free and vegan LoveSeen.

Speaking of "love," the New Yorker and mother of one split from husband, Vincent Mazeau, several years ago and pursued a relationship with Giles & Brother co-founder, Courtney Crangi, something that had leaked to the press. However, it appears she's allegedlly single. 

Now, we'll definitely get a glimpse at her personal and professional life on Bravo. Ready for the next wave of New York Housewives?

Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New York will premiere on Bravo in 2023. A date has yet to be revealed.