“Miami isn’t for everyone – especially not her” – RHOM’s Alexia Nepola throws icy shade at Bethenny Frankel’s Florida move as insiders claim she’s ‘rattled’ by Bethenny’s rising influence in Miami and desperate to keep her off the show

“We don’t need anyone else. Especially those who come here just to be seen.”

As one of the self-proclaimed “Queens of Miami” on The Real Housewives of Miami, Alexia Nepola doesn’t seem too keen on sharing the spotlight — especially not with someone as high-profile as Bethenny Frankel. In a recent interview with US Weekly, Alexia offered some subtly sharp — and arguably provocative — comments when asked about Bethenny’s permanent move to Florida, and whether there might be room for the RHONY alum in the RHOM cast.

“We don’t need anyone else,” Alexia said bluntly. “She’s not Miami. Miami isn’t for everyone, especially not her.”

What seemed like a throwaway remark quickly sent shockwaves through the Bravo fanbase. Not only because of the bluntness, but because the target was Bethenny Frankel — arguably one of the most successful and influential figures ever to emerge from the Real Housewives universe. She’s a mogul, a brand, and a force — the kind of woman who could easily dominate a city… or a cast.

According to Alexia, just showing up in Miami doesn’t automatically mean you belong on Real Housewives of Miami. “When you’re going to be on a show like this, you have to have roots here. You have to belong to this city,” she explained.

Her comments come just weeks after Bethenny and her daughter, Bryn, officially established their primary residence in Florida. While Bethenny has said the move was about mental health and a fresh start for her family, many insiders believe the reality icon has her eye on something else: a return to television, this time in the South.

Ironically, Bethenny’s name has been lighting up Miami — not because of RHOM, but because of her headline-grabbing walk in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show. While not a single RHOM cast member made an appearance, Bethenny became one of the most talked-about celebrities at the event, thanks to her energy, her signature strut, and a now-viral moment where she dropped to the floor in a “roar crawl” to Burna Boy’s “TaTaTa.”

A source tells DailyMail+ that Bethenny’s sudden visibility in Miami has rattled some members of the RHOM cast, especially Alexia. “She’s been the dominant figure on RHOM for a few seasons now. But with one runway walk, Bethenny stole the spotlight — and she didn’t even have to be on the show.”

Insiders say Alexia even sent a group text to the RHOM cast behind the scenes, making it clear that she doesn’t support bringing Bethenny into the mix. “She feels the show should celebrate women who actually belong to Miami, not someone who’s just here to grab screen time,” the source said.

Bethenny, for her part, hasn’t responded publicly, but fans noticed she “liked” several Instagram comments supporting her return to Bravo — one of which read: “Bethenny doesn’t need RHOM. RHOM needs Bethenny.”

Meanwhile, producers at Bravo reportedly haven’t ruled out the possibility of Bethenny appearing in a future project tied to Miami. “She’s a star. And whether Alexia likes it or not, if Bethenny wants back in — Bravo will listen,” said a network insider.

For now, though, the battle lines are drawn. Alexia has marked her territory. And Bethenny — without saying a word — is already making waves in Miami.

And in a city where the egos are bigger than the skyline, one thing is certain: the queens will clash.