Jill Zarin (née Kamen; born November 30, 1963) is an American television personality. She is best known as an original cast member on the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City, in which she starred from 2008 to 2011.

Jill Zarin
Zarin at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards
Born
Jill Susan Kamen

(1963-11-30) November 30, 1963 (age 61)
Alma materSimmons University (BA)
OccupationTelevision personality
Known for
Spouses
Steven Shapiro
(m. 1987; div. 1998)
Bobby Zarin
(m. 2000; died 2018)
Children1
RelativesLisa Wexler (sister)

Early life and career

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Zarin was born in Woodmere, New York[1][2] to Saul and Gloria Kamen.[3] She graduated from Simmons University in 1985 with a degree in retail management.[4][5]

In 2010, Zarin published the book Secrets of a Jewish Mother with her mother and sister.[6]

Personal life

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Zarin married Steven Shapiro in 1987; they divorced in 1998.[7] Zarin married Bobby Zarin in 2000; he died in 2018 at the age of 71.[8]

She has one daughter, Allyson Shapiro, who was conceived via a sperm donor during her first marriage.[9][10]

As of June 2022, she lives in Boca Raton, Florida.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Jill Zarin". Bravo TV. June 25, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Bessen, Jeff (February 2, 2011). "A 'Real NYC Housewife' in the Five Towns". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Fusaro, Hannah (March 27, 2020). "Jill Zarin Was Allegedly Blackmailed into Telling Ally Shapiro She Was Conceived by a Sperm Donor". Bravo TV. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Jill Zarin '85 Grows Fashion Brand from Handmade Masks". Simmons University. March 9, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "About Jill". Jill & Ally. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Zarin, Jill; Wexler, Lisa; Kamen, Gloria (April 15, 2010). Secrets of a Jewish Mother: Real Advice, Real Stories, Real Love. Dutton Adult. ISBN 978-0525951797.
  7. ^ Fusaro, Hannah (December 12, 2018). "Jill Zarin Just Revealed More Info About Her Mysterious First Husband". Bravo TV. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Respers France, Lisa (January 14, 2018). "Bobby Zarin of 'Real Housewives' dead at 71". CNN. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Strout, Paige (October 24, 2022). "The Emotional Story of How Jill Zarin's Daughter Ally Found Out Her Father Was a Sperm Donor". E! Online. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Handel, Erica (September 2, 2022). "RHONY: How Allyson Shapiro Found Out Her Sperm Donor Was Mixed Up". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Hornik, Susan (June 23, 2022). "Jewish 'Real Housewives' Star Jill Zarin Returns to TV". Hadassah Magazine. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
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