Jill Zarin heads back to 'Housewives' after building business empire: 'It was like I never left' - Fox Business

Jill Zarin has always had business on the brain, and it comes as no surprise she’s almost completely evaded camera crews through the years despite being an original Real Housewife of New York.

She agreed that being back on the Bravo network as the star of Peacock's "The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club" after nearly a decade away from TV screens felt like "home" — in a wild and twisted way.

Zarin became one of the franchise’s most beloved cast members after starring as an original housewife on "The Real Housewives of New York City" from its inception in 2008.

"It’s like I never left," Zarin said of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club, before joking that the cameras weren’t completely shut off over the last few years.

I did BravoCon a few years ago." (Jill Zarin).

A major cast shakeup after season four in 2011 gave Zarin the opportunity to refocus on her career and expand the Zarin brand, which she did to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in sales through multiple endeavors.

A major cast shakeup after RHONY season four in 2011 gave Zarin the opportunity to refocus on her career and expand the Zarin affordable luxury brand.

The pandemic provided Zarin time at home with her family, and she collaborated with her daughter, Creative Director Allyson Shapiro, to launch the Jill & Ally brand based on tie-dyed face masks Ally created for herself that immediately went viral online.

So Zarin signed on to star with former Housewives Brandi Glanville, Vicki Gunvalson, Phaedra Parks, Tamra Judge, Eva Marcille, Taylor Armstrong and Dorinda Medley at Medley’s iconic Blue Stone Manor in the Berkshires.

While rumors swirled of Real Housewives of New York castings, Zarin didn't offer a comment.

And while every Bravo aficionado knows that drama (especially at the Manor) can break any tried-and-true housewife, Zarin was happy to be back with her on-screen family.

While rumors swirled of "Real Housewives of New York" legacy castings, Zarin couldn't offer a comment

She still finds time for philanthropic pursuits and is planning the return of her annual Jill Zarin Luxury Luncheon in The Hamptons in July to benefit the Bobby Zarin Community Trust in honor of her late husband and his battle with thyroid cancer