Jenna Lyons cried while talking about her late mother and revealed that she’s always had a crush on her new girlfriend during The Real Housewives Of New York City reunion on Sunday on Bravo.
The 55-year-old fashion designer opened up about her personal life during the season 14 reunion hosted by RHONY executive producer Andy Cohen, 55.
Jenna shared that she started filming the rebooted series about four weeks after the death of her mother.
She recalled spending time with castmate Jessel Taank and her mother and how it made her mourn again.
Jenna also spoke about the healing session the castmates took part in and telling her seven-year-old self and teenage self that she was okay.
Emotional moment: Jenna Lyons cried while talking about her late mother during The Real Housewives Of New York City reunion on Sunday on Bravo
‘I remember thinking about how I felt when I was young, I just felt so lost and alone. So I didn’t really have that person,’ said Jenna who previously shared that she had a hard time connecting with her piano teacher mother who suffered from Asperger’s syndrome.
Jenna raised her glasses and wiped away tears while recalling her tough childhood.
Jessel, 43, said she assumed that Jenna had a ‘hard exterior’, but she changed her mind after seeing Jenna interact with her mother.
Andy asked Jenna, who is the former executive creative director and president of retailer J. Crew, if her success in the last 20 years was recognized by her mother.
‘It did. And I also have, like, a lot of tenderness from my mom. She knew that she couldn’t find it. She was in pain ’cause she couldn’t connect. She’s like, ”I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what the right thing is to say. I don’t know how to soothe you. I don’t…” She knew that she couldn’t get to the other side,’ Jenna said.
Jenna earlier recalled telling her 17-year-old son Beckett that she was proud of him and remembering that she never heard those words from her own mother.
Brynn Whitfield, 36, asked Jenna if it felt ‘weird ‘giving her son the affection she never received.
‘It is. It’s like a healing process in a way that I can’t explain ’cause it’s like, I was so scared that I wouldn’t be a good mom,’ Jenna said.
Teenage son: Jenna earlier recalled telling her 17-year-old son Beckett that she was proud of him and remembering that she never heard those words from her own mother
Together again: Ubah Hassan, Brynn Whitfield, Jessel Taank, Erin Lichy, Jenna and Sai De Silva gathered for the season 14 reunion
Tough childhood: Jenna raised her glasses and wiped away tears while recalling her tough childhood
Good question: Brynn Whitfield, 36, asked Jenna if it felt ‘weird ‘giving her son the affection she never received
Brynn then admitted that she also has fears about being a good mom.
‘But you shouldn’t worry. Jenna just told you. It’s a healing process,’ Ubah Hassan, 40, told Brynn.
Jenna said that her father was still alive.
‘My father was very tender and very warm with the other family that he had, and so being around it was very hard, ’cause, like, I could see what was going on,’ Jenna said.
On the bright side, Jenna shared that she started seeing her new girlfriend as the show was ending.
‘We’ve known each other for years because we both were in the same industry. And I’ve always had a crush on her,’ said Jenna, who made her relationship with photographer Cass Bird official in July on Instagram.
Jenna said all of her castmates have had a chance to meet her as well as her son Beckett.
‘How does Beckett get along with her?,’ Andy asked.
New girlfriend: On the bright side, Jenna shared that she started seeing her new girlfriend Cass Bird as the show was ending
‘He’s obsessed with her, more than he is with me,’ Jenna said.
Jenna earlier said that feeling unseen as a child influenced her career choice.
‘What made me want to pursue a career in fashion was because I didn’t feel good. And when I started to find clothing, all of a sudden, I felt better in my skin, like, it was powerful. So it got me over that hump of feeling kind of, like, the not cool, ugly duckling kid. And, yeah, it was an incredible experience for me,’ Jenna said.
Jenna made reunion show history as the first housewife to wear jeans, according to Andy.
‘First time, you’re a trailblazer,’ Andy said.
‘JFL,’ Brynn chanted.
Reunion trailblazer: Jenna made reunion show history as the first housewife to wear jeans, according to Andy
‘Jenna F***ing Lyons did it again,’ Andy said.
‘I have to represent,’ Jenna quipped.
The Real Housewives Of New York City will return next week on Bravo with the second and final part of the season 14 reunion.
The season premiered in July and featured an entirely new cast as all of the women from season 13 were replaced with new cast members