Jules Wainstein

Jules Wainstein
Born	Julianne Wainstein
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality
Known for	The Real Housewives of New York City (Season 8)

Julianne "Jules" Wainstein is an American television personality who came to public attention as a cast member on the eighth season of The Real Housewives of New York City, which aired on Bravo in 2016. Wainstein, who is of both Asian and Jewish descent, was the first cast member of the franchise to represent a mixed cultural background, a fact that featured prominently in her storyline during the season. During her time on the show, Wainstein was noted for her candid discussion of her personal struggles, including her history with an eating disorder, which she addressed openly on camera. Her tenure on the series coincided with a turbulent period in her personal life, including the dissolution of her marriage to Michael Wainstein. Following her single season on The Real Housewives of New York City, Jules Wainstein remained a subject of media coverage due to ongoing personal and legal matters. She later relocated to Florida, joining a number of former RHONY cast members who moved to the state.

Career

The Real Housewives of New York City

Wainstein joined the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City for its eighth season, which premiered on Bravo in April 2016. She was introduced as a new full-time housewife alongside returning cast members including Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Bethenny Frankel, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan, and Carole Radziwill.

Prior to the season premiere, Wainstein's casting generated media interest in part because of her mixed cultural heritage. A profile in Tablet Magazine described her as being "of both Asian and Jewish descent" and examined how she had incorporated her Jewish identity into her public persona. The article noted that Wainstein had used her status as a Member of the Tribe (a colloquial term for Jewish people) in various ways during her introduction to the reality television audience.

During Season 8, one of Wainstein's most prominent storylines involved her decision to speak publicly about her history with an eating disorder. In a blog post published on the Bravo website in May 2016, Wainstein expressed that she was ultimately glad she had opened up about her struggles on the show, though she acknowledged regretting certain specific statements she had made during the episode in which the topic was discussed. Her willingness to address the subject on a major television platform drew attention from viewers and media outlets, with coverage focusing on the personal nature of her revelations.

Wainstein also navigated interpersonal dynamics with other cast members throughout the season. In a June 2016 blog post on the Bravo website, she referenced fellow cast member Dorinda Medley's advice, writing that it was "time for me to grow a pair...of calzones," indicating her intention to become more assertive in her interactions with the group. In the same post, she stated, "I have one moral authority, and he isn't on a reality show," suggesting tensions between her personal values and the demands of appearing on a reality television series.

Wainstein did not return for the ninth season of The Real Housewives of New York City. Her departure after a single season placed her among a number of housewives across the franchise who served for only one season. The series itself underwent a significant overhaul years later, with a complete cast revamp beginning with Season 14 in 2023.

Post-Reality Television

Following her departure from The Real Housewives of New York City, Wainstein continued to make public appearances. In September 2016, she attended the National Geographic Channel world premiere event, where she spoke with media about her life after the show and her family. In the interview, Wainstein discussed her experience on the series and described her story on the show as "inspirational," referencing the personal struggles she had shared with the audience during the season.

Wainstein was subsequently included in various retrospective media features about former RHONY cast members. A Us Weekly feature titled "Former 'Real Housewives of New York City' Stars: Where Are They Now?" profiled Wainstein alongside other former cast members, tracing the trajectories of women who had appeared on the long-running series since its first season in 2008.

Personal Life

During her time on The Real Housewives of New York City, Wainstein was married to Michael Wainstein. The couple's marriage became a subject of public discussion during and after Season 8, as their relationship deteriorated. The couple had children together, and the subsequent divorce proceedings became a protracted legal matter that attracted media attention.

In February 2020, Wainstein was arrested in Florida and charged with battery after allegedly attacking her estranged husband, Michael, in front of their children. According to People magazine, she was booked on a charge of battery following the incident, which took place on a Sunday. The arrest was widely covered in entertainment and tabloid media. A 2025 Just Jared article compiling Real Housewives franchise cast members who had been arrested or faced legal troubles included Wainstein's 2020 arrest in its overview.

Wainstein relocated to Florida at some point following her time on the show. As of 2025, she was identified as one of several former RHONY cast members who had moved to the state, joining fellow alumnae including Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, and others.

Wainstein's cultural background was a notable aspect of her public identity. She is of both Asian and Jewish descent, and her mixed heritage was discussed in media profiles during her time on the show.

Eating Disorder

One of the most discussed aspects of Wainstein's appearance on The Real Housewives of New York City was her decision to speak about her history with an eating disorder. During Season 8, she addressed the topic on camera, making it a central element of her storyline. In her Bravo blog, Wainstein reflected on her decision to be open about the issue, expressing satisfaction that she had shared her experience while also acknowledging that she had made at least one statement during the relevant episode that she regretted. The disclosure was covered in entertainment media and contributed to broader public conversations about eating disorders and mental health among reality television personalities.

Recognition

Wainstein's primary recognition stems from her appearance on the eighth season of The Real Housewives of New York City, one of the longest-running and most prominent installments of the Real Housewives franchise. While she appeared for only one season, her casting was notable for bringing a mixed Asian and Jewish cultural perspective to the series, which had not previously featured a cast member with that background.

Her openness about her eating disorder on national television was recognized in media coverage as a significant moment of personal disclosure within the reality television genre. The Knockturnal described her story on the show as "inspirational" in a September 2016 interview.

Wainstein has continued to appear in retrospective coverage of the Real Housewives franchise. As of 2025, she was included in multiple "where are they now" features published by outlets including Us Weekly and Yahoo Entertainment, which tracked the post-show lives of former RHONY cast members.

Legacy

Wainstein's tenure on The Real Housewives of New York City was brief, spanning a single season, but her time on the show contributed to the series' ongoing narrative during a period considered by many viewers to be among the show's most eventful eras. Season 8 of RHONY featured significant storylines among its ensemble cast, and Wainstein's personal revelations about her eating disorder and the unraveling of her marriage added to the season's dramatic content.

Her presence on the show also represented a moment of increased cultural diversity within the RHONY cast. As a woman of Asian and Jewish heritage, Wainstein brought a background that had not previously been represented among the series' housewives, a fact that was noted by media outlets at the time of her casting.

The broader trajectory of Wainstein's public life after the show — including her relocation to Florida and her legal difficulties — mirrors a pattern observed among several former Real Housewives cast members across multiple franchise cities, whose post-show lives have often continued to generate media coverage. The 2023 complete recast of RHONY with Season 14 marked a definitive end to the era of the show in which Wainstein appeared, further situating her tenure within a specific chapter of the franchise's history.