Jill Zarin
Explore the life, career, and public persona of Jill Zarin — from Real Housewives of New York City fame to business ventures, personal trials, and her voice in media.
Introduction
Jill Zarin (née Jill Susan Kamen) is an American reality television personality, entrepreneur, author, and occasional actress. She first gained widespread fame as one of the original cast members on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY) from 2008 to 2011. Over time, she has expanded her brand into fashion, home goods, media, and philanthropy. Her public persona is a blend of candor, resilience, and business ambition.
Early Life and Background
Jill Zarin was born on November 30, 1963, in Woodmere, Long Island, New York. Lisa Wexler.
She attended Lawrence High School and thereafter enrolled at Simmons College (now Simmons University) in Boston, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in retail management in 1985.
Before her reality TV fame, Jill was involved in the textile and home décor business. Her background in retail and fabrics formed part of her foundation for later entrepreneurial ventures.
Rise to Public Prominence: RHONY and Reality Fame
In 2008, Jill Zarin became one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of New York City on the Bravo network, which follows the lives and social dynamics of affluent women in New York City.
Her role on RHONY elevated her public profile, enabling her to expand into brand licensing, design, media appearances, and other ventures.
After leaving RHONY, she continued to remain relevant in the reality TV sphere, appearing on spin-offs and reunion series such as The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
Business Ventures, Media, and Authorship
Fashion, Home Goods & Brand Development
Jill has built and scaled several business brands, particularly in home décor, jewelry, and shapewear:
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She founded Skweez Couture, a shapewear, hosiery, and legging line.
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She operates Jill Zarin Jewelry and Jill Zarin Home — jewelry and home décor lines marketed through catalog, retail, or television channels.
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She also works as a marketing consultant for her family’s business, Zarin Textiles Warehouse and Home Decorating.
These ventures leverage her name, style sensibility, and audience reach from her TV exposure.
Authorship
In 2010, Jill co-authored a book titled Secrets of a Jewish Mother: Real Advice, Real Stories, Real Love, with her mother, Gloria Kamen, and sister, Lisa Wexler.
The book was translated into multiple languages and stirred some controversy (e.g. regarding a positive review allegedly posted under a pseudonym).
Media & Acting
Although primarily known for reality television, Jill has made occasional forays into acting and guest appearances:
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She appeared in an episode of White Collar (2009).
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She also starred in the TV movie Night of the Wild (2015).
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Beyond acting, she has made many media appearances — talk shows, reality guest spots, and public events.
Her public image is often tied to her candidness, her fashion and home taste, and her willingness to bring her personal life into view.
Personal Life & Challenges
Marriages, Family & Children
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In 1987, Jill married Steven Shapiro; they divorced in 1998. During that marriage, Jill conceived her daughter Allyson Shapiro via sperm donation.
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In 2000, she married Bobby Zarin, a businessman in the textiles and garment industry.
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Bobby Zarin passed away in January 2018 after a battle with cancer.
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Jill also has stepchildren from Bobby Zarin’s side: Jonathan Zarin, Jennifer Zarin, and David Zarin.
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After Bobby’s death, Jill has been publicly linked with Gary Brody.
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As of June 2022, she was residing in Boca Raton, Florida.
Her daughter, Allyson, later discovered information about her biological father and has spoken publicly about identity, leading to considerable media interest.
Health, Public Image & Cosmetic Procedures
Jill has been open about her cosmetic work and self-care routines. In 2024, she publicly revealed that she underwent a dual plane lower facelift, neck lift, chin implant, and fat transfer to restore volume to her face, temples, earlobes, and hands.
Jill has framed these procedures as consistent with her transparency, saying that she “lives openly and freely” and that she believes honesty about cosmetic work aligns with being a reality TV personality.
In past years, she also used non-surgical “liquid facelifts” (injectables) every six months.
Public Persona, Style & Values
Jill Zarin’s public identity is closely tied to authenticity, candor, and emotional openness. On RHONY, she often positioned herself as someone with a grounded aesthetic and a strong sense of style and taste.
Her values appear to center on family, faith, and self-improvement. She has embraced her Jewish identity openly (as evident through her book), and she often weaves advice, relationships, and emotional resilience into her public narrative.
She also engages in philanthropic and charitable efforts. For instance, she hosts the Hamptons Luxury Luncheon annually to benefit cancer research, in memory of Bobby Zarin.
Her willingness to discuss personal struggles (identity, grief, cosmetic changes) makes her a figure of openness in a genre sometimes characterized by image control.
Memorable Quotes & Statements
While Jill Zarin isn’t known for a canon of famous quotations in the same way as authors or philosophers, a few notable statements and themes have emerged in her public life:
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On her cosmetic approach and honesty:
“I live my life openly and freely … I think it’s important for people who do reality shows to be honest.”
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On embracing transformation: she has shared that the most painful part of her recent cosmetic work was the liposuction from her leg used in fat transfer to her hands — underscoring the physical and emotional weight of such decisions.
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From the realm of advice and family (via Secrets of a Jewish Mother), she advocates combining tradition, personal voice, and caring for relationships — although the book’s tone is collaborative with her mother and sister rather than purely hers.