Kelly Bensimon Interview - Kelly Killoren Bensimon

We know New York City "housewife" Kelly Bensimon for her killer body, reality TV stardom, and awesome confidence (oh, and uh, jelly beans?). Pretty soon, we may be throwing best-selling author into the mix, but who are we to tell the future? With Bensimon’s upcoming April 28 book release I Can Make You Hot: The Supermodel Diet, we were pretty lucky she flew down to Miami to party with us for Bâoli Vita’s first “Secret Garden” brunch with fellow New Yorker Tinsley Mortimer. Before the champagne started to flow, we chatted with Kelly on the secret to her hotness, her upcoming book, and her idea of a good time in the Magic City.

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What do you love about today’s party theme?

"The Secret Garden is a great novel and this is a really fun event. I love brunch spots in Miami, it’s fun and it’s very New York. New York people are obsessed with brunch, they love brunch more than any other meal."

When you’re visiting Miami, where are your favorite places to go?

"Obviously the beach! I’m obsessed with running on the beach and just hanging out. Today I went in the ocean and I couldn’t believe the water on my body. I was just having an incredible moment. I also love Eden Roc, it’s beautiful and really well done. I spend a lot of time at Fontainebleau, they hosted my Playboy party and LIV is an awesome nightclub. I love the W Hotel, I’ve had a lot of fun there. I’m also a big steak fanatic, so Prime 112 is my kind of place. I grew up going to Palm Beach, I didn’t grow up coming here, but I was thinking today: If I ever get old I want to be here. This is the place to be. It’s fun and totally different."

What do you most enjoy about hosting events like this?

"First of all, I get to hang out with Tinsley and I love her, we have so much fun together. It’s just a great opportunity to have fun with my friends and spend a couple hours with people that are just having a good time."

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What are you hoping for readers to take away from your new book?

"My book is called I Can Make You Hot, it's by St. Martin's Press, and it comes out April 28. One of the most important things about being hot is having confidence, and confidence doesn’t come from putting on a dress, confidence doesn’t come from knowing someone, confidence comes from learning and feeling good about yourself. If you feel good about yourself, you’re going to be happy, and that’s what makes you really hot. Happy people are really hot."

What are you wearing today?

"I’m wearing Azzedine Alaïa and my clutch is RK Collection by local designer Rachel Appel."

Photography by Ayman Shurafa