Rachel Zoe returns to television on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills while navigating a major personal change. The fashion stylist and entrepreneur ended her 26-year marriage to Rodger Berman and is now sharing details about the difficult decision, her life as a single mother, and her fresh start on the popular Bravo show.
The Decision to End a 26-Year Marriage
Rachel Zoe says her choice to divorce Rodger Berman came down to their children. The couple shares two sons, Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 11. Zoe explained that staying in an unhappy situation was not helpful for their family.
“I started to feel like this may not be the most advantageous situation for our children,” she said. “For me for the last 14 years, literally every breath I take is for my kids. So every decision I make, every lens that I look through is through a lens of my children.”
Zoe does not see the marriage as a failure. She stated that about three-quarters of their 26 years together were “amazing”. However, she believes she should have acted sooner. “I think if you ask any woman who has left a situation, they would probably say that they probably should have done it sooner,” she shared. The official separation was announced in September 2024, and Zoe filed for divorce in July 2025.
Navigating a Complicated Split and Co-Parenting
The separation has been challenging, especially with the news of Rodger Berman’s new relationship. During the December 4 premiere of RHOBH Season 15, Zoe revealed that Berman has been with his girlfriend, Bree Jacoby, for about a year. She told the cameras their sons knew about the relationship before she did.
Zoe is focused on co-parenting but admits the dynamic is hard. “I think that they wonder why he sometimes does or says things he says, why he acts the way he does, why there’s time spent with his girlfriend versus his kids,” she said about their sons. She told producers she is “trying” to see Berman as a friend but confessed, “we’re not there yet”.
Their lives remain deeply connected through business. Berman has been the co-CEO of Rachel Zoe, Inc. and manages their shared ventures. A source suggested that joining RHOBH gives Zoe a major project that is entirely her own as she builds her independent life.
A New Chapter on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Rachel Zoe is not new to Bravo. She first starred in The Rachel Zoe Project, which aired from 2008 to 2013. Her return to television on RHOBH comes at what she calls a “transformative” time in her life.
The show’s executive producer, Andy Cohen, who also worked on her original series, said she is a “perfect fit” for the current cast. He noted she already knows several housewives, including Kyle Richards and Kathy Hilton. Cohen believes viewers will see the Rachel they love, but in a completely different life situation.
Zoe joined the show as a replacement for Garcelle Beauvais, who left to focus on her family and other projects. The current season also features returning housewives like Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Sutton Stracke, and Bozoma Saint John.
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Embracing Freedom and a Fresh Start
Now single, Rachel Zoe is exploring dating but has set her own rules. She told E! News at BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas that she will not use dating apps. “I’m not swiping,” she said. “It’s happening or it’s not. I’m meeting you and this feels right, or it doesn’t. That’s my vibe”.
She describes this period as an era of “freedom”. In a birthday message posted in September, she reflected on the past year. “I feel today like the happiest strongest and most free I have ever been,” she wrote.
Fans got a first look at her new life on the RHOBH premiere. She also attended The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala on December 3, where she spoke about her first season on the show.
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