Kristen Taekman was always a bit of a mystery on The Real Housewives of New York City. She arrived in Season 6 as the "pretty one," a high-fashion model who seemed almost too polished for the gritty, wine-throwing chaos of the Manhattan elite. Most fans remember her for that infamous "Who are you to get me wet?" moment after Ramona Singer tossed a wine glass at her face in the Berkshires. But then, just as suddenly as she arrived, she was gone.
Why?
It wasn't just about the ratings. It wasn't even entirely about the cameras. Honestly, if you look back at the timeline, Kristen's exit was a perfect storm of casting shifts and a massive, very public family scandal that almost nobody saw coming.
The Reality of Kristen Taekman on RHONY
When Kristen joined in 2014, she was the breath of fresh air the show desperately needed. She was young, she was living in a cool Tribeca loft, and she wasn't afraid to call out the "legacy" cast members. You've got to admit, watching a rookie take first chair at her very first reunion is almost unheard of in the Bravo universe. She held her own against Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill, but the dynamics shifted hard in Season 7.
The return of Bethenny Frankel basically sucked the oxygen out of the room.
Kristen found herself sidelined. She went from being a central protagonist to someone who was barely getting ten minutes of screen time per episode. Fans on Reddit and Twitter (now X) have long argued that she was "too normal" for the show. In a 2016 interview with Reality Tea, Kristen herself admitted she didn't quite fit the mold of the "crazy" housewife. She wasn't willing to manufacture drama for a paycheck.
She wanted to be a mom and a business owner. Simple as that.
That Ashley Madison Scandal
We have to talk about Josh Taekman. During the filming and airing of her final seasons, Kristen's husband was caught up in the massive Ashley Madison data breach. It was a mess.
Reports surfaced that Josh had a paid account on the site—a platform specifically designed for people looking to have extramarital affairs. While Josh initially claimed he and some friends signed up as a "joke," the records showed multiple transactions and a very active profile. For a woman whose brand was built on being "the pretty, perfect wife," this was a devastating blow.
Most people assumed the couple would head straight for divorce court. They didn't.
Instead of playing out the trauma on Season 8, Kristen chose to walk away. She decided that her marriage was worth more than a Bravo contract. They packed up their lives in New York City and headed west.
Where is Kristen Taekman Now?
Fast forward to 2026, and Kristen is living a completely different life in Los Angeles. The family swapped the gray streets of Manhattan for the sun-drenched suburbs of Southern California, and according to Kristen, it's the best thing they ever did.
They’re still married.
It’s been over a decade since the scandal, and they seem more stable than ever. Their children, Cash and Kingsley, are basically grown up now—it's wild to think they were just toddlers when we first saw them on our screens. Kristen has kept her hand in the fashion world, continuing her modeling career and running her lifestyle blog, Last Night's Look.
The Big Return
If you thought you'd never see her on TV again, you probably missed The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy. Kristen was a late addition to the cast after Tinsley Mortimer backed out, and she absolutely delivered.
Watching her in St. Barts was a revelation. She was:
- Confident and unbothered by the "OG" energy.
- Open about her past struggles with Josh without being a victim.
- Serving high-fashion looks that put the other ladies to shame.
She proved that she wasn't just "the pretty one" anymore. She was a woman who had survived the reality TV meat grinder and came out the other side with her dignity intact.
What We Can Learn from Kristen’s Journey
Kristen Taekman’s story is a rare one in the Housewives franchise. Usually, these shows end in bankruptcy or a messy, televised divorce. She chose a different path. She chose privacy when it mattered most.
If you're looking to follow her current moves, keep an eye on her social media. She’s heavily involved in charity work with Smile Train, an organization that provides corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates. It’s a cause she’s been passionate about since her early days on Bravo.
If you want to catch up on her best moments, Season 6 of The Real Housewives of New York City remains her peak "rookie" performance. You can find the entire back catalog on Peacock. It’s worth a rewatch just to see how much the "SkinnyGirl" era changed the trajectory of the show—and how Kristen managed to stay standing through it all.
Check out her blog Last Night's Look for her latest fashion picks, or follow her Instagram for a glimpse into that quiet, California lifestyle she fought so hard to build.