Bethenny Frankel, whose Skinnygirl brand evolved into a multimillion-dollar business and helped cement her status as a savvy entrepreneur, has now turned her attention to fixing what she calls the most broken industry of all: modern dating.
The former Real Housewives of New York City star has launched The Core, a private, application-only dating community designed to dismantle swipe culture and reintroduce what Frankel believes has been lost in the digital dating era.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Mail, Frankel explained that membership vetting is handled by ‘a team which includes top executives who have worked at some of the top dating apps.’
The Core officially launched on December 3 and has already seen explosive interest.
‘We are currently vetting thousands of applications,’ Frankel told The Daily Mail, revealing that the platform has expanded rapidly since launch. ‘The group has grown exponentially since launch on December 3rd and we just opened markets in the Midwest and West Coast.’
Despite the growing buzz around celebrity interest, Frankel was clear that status alone will not secure entry.
Bethenny Frankel has turned her attention to fixing what she calls the most broken industry of all: modern dating (seen in May 2025)
‘Privacy is critical,’ she said, confirming interest from ‘a handful of female celebrities, with one asking to invest capital and join the community to meet someone.’
She added that ‘several public business figures and members of prominent families have also inquired about access,’ but emphasized that power alone is not enough.
‘Fame and money are attractive traits but not our primary entry point. Intention, integrity and transparency are critical,’ the mother-of-one insisted.
Frankel said her decision to overhaul the dating model stemmed from firsthand frustration.
‘I had experienced dating apps and their very obvious tactics to bait, switch and hook people in,’ she explained. ‘The irony is they simply make you not want to participate at all.’
She was even more blunt when addressing the traditional matchmaking industry.
‘Matchmakers have poor intentions,’ Frankel said. ‘Their strategy is gatekeep, fulfill quotas, work for the men, bait the women to pay, then tell the women they’re not worthy.’
She alleged that ‘several celebrities and members have confirmed this demoralizing process whereby they gag order their clients with NDA documents,’ adding that matchmakers ‘take hundreds of thousands of non refundable money then find endless excuses to explain why they’re not dateable.’
In contrast, Frankel stressed that The Core’s success is not measured by keeping users single.
The former Real Housewives of New York City star has launched The Core, a private, application-only dating community designed to dismantle swipe culture
‘The longer someone stays single, the longer a dating app makes money. That’s not the model here,’ she said. ‘If we find you a person, you’re still part of the social network and included in events and other social and experiential benefits. The goal is not to stay or go, it’s to have an enjoyable experience connecting with other like-minded individuals.’
Unlike traditional dating apps or matchmaking services, The Core functions more like a vetted social co-op.
Applications require identifying information and a written statement of intent and acceptance is not guaranteed, even for the ultra-wealthy.
Some billionaires have already been turned away due to concerns over reputation or past dating behavior.
Frankel said she intentionally rejected the swipe-based model altogether.
‘That market has crashed,’ she told The Daily Mail.
‘This is a very expensive undertaking yet the personal intimate touch to create a working model for future tech is what people are craving.’ She added, ‘In an AI world, people are becoming more disconnected but at The Core, we are literally connecting people every day.’
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Mail, Frankel explained that membership vetting is handled by ‘a team which includes top executives who have worked at some of the top dating apps’
She was equally critical of swipe culture’s emotional toll.
‘Swiping is a non satisfying, anxiety producing, distracting process,’ Frankel said. ‘It is something to do once in a while for fun but it’s not a sustainable model for the millions of people who genuinely want to meet their life partner and are intentional and driven to do so.’
Frankel made clear that casual dating is not welcome.
‘No one here is casually dating or looking for a booty call, sugar daddy, or a free meal,’ she said.
Members are also required to remain active or risk losing their place, which is significant given the cost of entry.
The intention is to ensure accountability and reduce the bad behavior that has become normalized in online dating, including ghosting, breadcrumbing and catfishing.’
She also emphasized equality among members, noting that wealth or gender does not dictate treatment.
The Core officially launched on December 3 and has already seen explosive interest; seen in May 2025
‘At The Core, everyone is on an equal playing field,’ Frankel explained. ‘In the same way that we turned away a male billionaire with a “sleazy” reputation, we turned away a woman who said “women don’t pay.”‘
She added pointedly, ‘If a woman can spend $5K on a handbag, she should want to invest that in the most important decision of her life.’
The Core offers tiered memberships, including a premium ‘connection membership’ starting at approximately $1,200 for those actively seeking a life partner, as well as a broader community tier beginning at $50 that allows accepted members, including those already in relationships, to attend events and recommend potential matches within their network.
Frankel has stated that some individuals who contribute to society through philanthropy or business may be admitted at a reduced cost or even for free.
The platform launched with around 150 test users, and Frankel has said early members have already formed meaningful romantic connections.
According to Bloomberg, success is measured not by marriage, but by whether participants go on at least three thoughtful dates, followed by post-date ‘accuracy ratings’ that assess alignment, integrity and character.
Frankel said the idea for The Core materialized after hearing about a woman who went on a date that did not work romantically but believed the man would have been perfect for her.
‘We are currently vetting thousands of applications,’ Frankel told The Daily Mail, revealing that the platform has expanded rapidly since launch (seen with her 15-year-old daughter Bryn)
This led her to think about how good people are often discarded too quickly.
The Core enters the market at a time when major dating-app companies such as Bumble and Match Group are grappling with slowing growth and experimenting with AI-powered solutions.
Frankel has rejected the idea that technology alone can fix dating, instead betting on human judgment, accountability and community.
While investors have approached her, she has said she is financing the launch herself for now.
The Core currently employs seven people and has hired a chief operating officer from a major dating platform to oversee operations and data security.
Earlier this month, Frankel sharpened her critique of the dating industry, calling it ‘a multi-billion dollar failing business’ built to keep users frustrated rather than fulfilled.
In a social media video, she accused dating apps of relying on ‘bait and switch’ tactics to keep people scrolling, while alleging that traditional matchmakers prioritize quotas over compatibility.
In a statement shared on The Core’s official Instagram account, the company acknowledged that its rollout accelerated faster than expected following early media attention, noting that the launch occurred while the team was still testing and refining its model
The platform described itself as a self-funded passion project created in direct response to what it called a ‘toxic, ineffective dating landscape’
The Core also emphasized that it does not accept fees unless the team believes it can genuinely help someone form a meaningful connection
Frankel argued that the system is designed to erode confidence and prolong dissatisfaction, saying people are ‘starving for connection, alignment, integrity and trust’ when searching for a life partner.
While appearing on Call Her Daddy, Frankel described The Core as a rules-based, intention-driven membership community, where behavior matters and members can be removed if they are not serious about finding a partner.
Frankel said the idea began as a ‘social experiment’ and quickly exceeded expectations, prompting her to focus on building culture before technology.
While she plans to introduce simple tech later, she said the community is already operating successfully without outside investment and is currently limited to major markets.
While appearing on Call Her Daddy, Frankel said she spent years believing she had ‘aged or priced myself out of the market,’ a message she says women are routinely fed
In a statement shared on The Core’s official Instagram account, the company acknowledged that its rollout accelerated faster than expected following early media attention, noting that the launch occurred while the team was still testing and refining its model.
The platform described itself as a self-funded passion project created in direct response to what it called a ‘toxic, ineffective dating landscape,’ adding that the volume of applications and interest since launch has been ‘outrageous and overwhelming.’
The Core also emphasized that it does not accept fees unless the team believes it can genuinely help someone form a meaningful connection, saying applicants are evaluated based on morals, integrity, intention, contribution to society and a willingness to invest in their future.
According to the post, some members have already formed relationships or gone on multiple successful dates, reinforcing the platform’s belief that dating can work when quality and accountability are prioritized over scale.
The statement added that the process will not be rushed as the team continues to develop its long-term structure, but stressed that its core mission remains unchanged: helping people find a life partner ‘without any compromise in quality or integrity.’
In March, Frankel broke off her engagement with producer Paul Bernon after nearly six years together (pictured together in 2021)
In March, Frankel broke off her engagement with producer Paul Bernon after nearly six years together.
They had met on a dating app back in 2018.
‘I was pretty lucky when I walked in and saw him,’ she told People. ‘He had a twinkle. He came as advertised – better than advertised. He overshot the mark.’
Prior to their relationship, she dated Dennis Shields, a high profile banker, who died at age 51 in 2018.
She was previously married to Jason Hoppy, the father of her 15-year-old daughter Bryn, and Peter Sussman.
