Fashion designer Rachel Zoe has offered her first public insights into the recent dissolution of her 26-year marriage to Rodger Berman, delivering an emotional revelation during BravoCon that has captured attention across the entertainment world.
The BravoCon Revelation
The 54-year-old style icon, who is set to join the upcoming fifteenth season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, opened up about her separation in a teaser clip shared during the convention on Friday. In a poignant moment captured on camera, Zoe confided in friend Kathy Hilton about her ongoing struggle to redefine her relationship with her former husband.
"I'm trying to look at [Rodger] as a friend... I'm not there yet," she admitted in the emotional snippet that gave audiences their first glimpse of her personal journey following the marriage breakdown.
A Love Story That Evolved
Zoe drew comparisons to the enduring romance depicted in the classic film The Notebook, highlighting the significant duration of her own relationship. "We were married 26 years, together for 33," she revealed, putting their substantial time together into perspective.
The fashion maven went on to explain how their dynamic shifted significantly after welcoming children into their lives. "We were together for 18 years before we had kids. I think after we had kids... I think it changes, at the end of the day," she reflected.
Zoe's most telling admission came when she summarised the core reason for their separation: "I think we've outgrown each other; we became very different people." The couple share two sons - Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 11 - who remain their primary focus throughout this transition.
New Beginnings On Screen
Rachel Zoe's appearance on BravoCon comes as she prepares to join the RHOBH cast for its December premiere. She announced her involvement with the popular reality series via Instagram during the summer, generating excitement among her followers and Bravo enthusiasts alike.
"Here we go again @bravotv !!!✨ I am officially joining #TheRealHousewivesofBeverlyHills and back with my Bravo family. Let's do this! #RHOBH," she wrote in her announcement post.
This marks a return to reality television for Zoe, who previously starred in her own Bravo series, The Rachel Zoe Project, which enjoyed a successful five-season run from 2008 to 2013.
In a video shared alongside her casting announcement, she expressed her enthusiasm for returning to television: "It's been a while and you've been asking me to come back to television, and I said when the stars align or it makes sense or I have enough to say to share with all of you, and now is the time."
Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is scheduled to premiere on Bravo on December 4, with episodes becoming available for streaming on Peacock the following day.
The End of an Era
Zoe and Berman first announced their separation publicly in September 2024, marking the conclusion of a relationship that began during their university years. The former couple initially met in the early 1990s while both were students at George Washington University.
Their official split announcement conveyed a sense of mutual respect and shared commitment to their family: "After 33 years together and 26 years married, Rodger and I have come to the mutual decision to end our marriage. We are incredibly proud of the loving family we have created and our countless memories together."
The statement emphasised their continued dedication to co-parenting: "Our number one priority has been and will always be our children. We are committed to co-parent our boys and to continue to work together within the many businesses we share."
Zoe formally filed for divorce in July of this year, bringing a legal close to a partnership that had spanned more than three decades and become an established fixture in the fashion and entertainment industries.
