Kelly Bensimon is hot off Miami’s Swim Week, where she stunned in a two-piece bikini as she opened Melissa Odabash’s 25th anniversary show. Now, the 57-year-old model and former Bravo star is sharing all her secrets to getting beach-body ready at any age — and says July is definitely not too late to start.
>Whether she’s strutting the runway, sunbathing in the Hamptons or surviving a trip to “Scary Island,” the real estate agent isn’t shy about baring it all — and when it comes to dieting, she’s tried it all too. But she still swears by her 3-day “Supermodel Reset,” first shared in her 2010 book, I Can Make You Hot.
“It’s just three days,” she says. “Not a lifetime. Give your insides a break. A bikini body looks great when it’s not bloated.”
So, what exactly is the diet? She shared: “It’s just three days of no alcohol, no sugar, minimal carbs, no caffeine, eating fruits, vegetables, and lots of chamomile tea. When you start to eat clean, get good rest, and hydrate, your body starts to recalibrate.
Bensimon says she “feels better than ever” at 57 and credits that to amping up a certain food group.
“I’ve amped up my protein,” she told Us. “Women need protein, especially if you’re in perimenopause or menopause. One reason people have brain fog is because they don’t have enough protein.”
Kelly Bensimon Courtesy of Kelly Bensimon
She eats meals like chicken and broccoli because they’re balanced, colorful and filling, but her food intake is not the only thing that helps Bensimon rock a two-piece with confidence. She’s a lifelong runner and encourages people to find a cardio partner.
“I love all these running clubs. People are hanging out — they’re running, they’re drinking afterwards. I love that,” she explained. “I eat well, I move well, and then I sleep well. So it’s very simple. The math has to math. If you don’t eat well and you’re not moving and you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t be like, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened to me?’”
While she recommends people take some time off from alcohol (she’s been on a break from it since Memorial Day Weekend), she isn’t a total buzzkill when it comes to summer cocktails. Her solution?
“I love a piscine (which means pool in French) — it’s a giant wine glass filled with ice and topped with wine. It’s chic, light, and low on calories.”
Her other go-to: tequila with lemon and ice.
Bensimon’s wellness mantra is as cheeky as it is motivating: “Carbies don’t make Barbies. And living well is the best revenge.”