July 6, 2012  2:30 pm   

           Ramona Singer… 

Ramona Singer, who has been on “The Real Housewives of New York” since its first season, is an astute businesswoman and fashion icon. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a B.S. in business and has gone on to pursue numerous entrepreneurial ventures, including her Tru Renewal skincare line, Ramona PinotGrigio and her Ramona Singer Jewelry on HSN.   A Hamptonsafficionado known for her unfiltered, candid comments on the show, Ramona talks about her life and goals on and off the screen with Dan’s Papers.

Q: Ramona, how did you decide to become a Housewife?

A: My good girlfriend, Dr. Sharon Giese, called me and said, “I don’t know if you are interested in this, but they are doing a show called “Manhattan Moms” So I thought to myself, ‘It’s July, which is the dead time in my business. My daughter always said she wants to be an actress. Maybe I will just apply for the fun and experience of it.’ Who knew that five years later, I would still be on the show!

Q: So what’s the BEST thing about being on the show?

A: The best thing about being on the show is that it’s gotten my creative juices going. I started with True Faith Jewelry and now I have an HSNjewelry line, Tru Renewal skin care and Ramona Pinot Grigio.

Q: So we are at the beginning of the season…I have to ask, did you shoot in the Hamptons?

A: We shot all over! There were trips to London, South Beach and StBarts. We also shot in the Hamptons. I love the Hamptons!

Q: Are the Hamptons where you go when you want to chill?

A: It is my place to get away, relax and regroup. It is one of the greatest places in the world.

Q: So what’s new with the wines?

A: It has been a phenomenal success! Stores will carry ten PinotGrigios and mine is in the top three! Herbert and Rist on Job’s Lanehe’s carrying my wine! One of the best parts is that the last note is smooth which is always a complaint people have about wine.

Q: Do you have a red wine on the horizon?

A: I’m working on a red wine. I know on the show, I only drink PinotGrigio but I really do enjoy red wines as well.

Q: So how close is the Ramona on TV to the Ramona in real life?

A: You know everyone talks about editing, editing, editing. There are a ton of sides to me! They are going to show the altercations with some of my cast mates and you know what? It’s fine, I own it. I don’t talk behind anybody’s back, what you see from me is what you get. I definitely say what everybody else is thinking and I stay true to who I am.

Q: So what have you not done that you would like to do?

A: Right now my most important goal in my life is getting my daughter into a college that she will be really happy in. I believe the most important thing in life is to be happy, so we want to find the right fit for her.

Q: So these new housewives who are coming on this season what is your impression?

A: These three newbies all came on simultaneously and I embraced them all equally. Just like real life, the dynamics are different. So Heather and I butt heads immediately and Aviva was attempting to be my BFF. We took this trip to St Barts and all of a sudden Aviva became possessed and I did not know who she was and now we are not really on great terms because of that. Carol is sort of more about peace, love, flower power she really doesn’t like to have altercations with anyone.

Q: Will you still have time to play tennis this summer?

A: I’m learning that in life you have to find time for everything and you cannot get obsessed with one thing so that is what I’m trying to do this year. I have my businesses but I also need time to take care of me,Ramona.

NOTE:  IF Aviva becomes “possessed” on the trip to St. Barts, that in itself may make up for the very B-O-R-I-N-G start of the RHONY season!!