'Real Housewives Of New York City' Star Bethenny Frankel Says Dating After 40 Is 'Empowering'; Spotted Getting Cozy With Rumored New Boyfriend

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Bethenny Frankel has been through a lot since filing for divorce from estranged husband Jason Hoppy in 2013. Although she has previously said she “will never get legally married again,” the 44-year-old hasn’t ruled out dating.

The Skinny Girl Cocktails CEO sat down with Redbook to discuss dating after divorce, specifically in your 40s. This idea is a central theme in her new book “I Suck At Relationships So You Don’t Have To.” She said the entire experience has been “empowering,” even with it’s challenges. Frankel told the magazine her first priority is, and always will be, her 4-year-old daughter Bryn, but she remains open to meeting someone who will love and accept both of them.

“Many women say to me, ‘Do you think having a career makes it harder to meet me? Do you think being a mom makes it harder?’ And I say no, it’s actually amazing because it weeds people out,” she said. “I’m a mom, and that’s the number-one most important thing. If I meet someone, I have a child, and if you don’t want to be with someone who had a child then excuse yourself.”

She added that getting back in the dating game later in life has perks. During her interview she said women in their 40s are able to be more selective when it comes to relationships. Frankel said as they get older, women tend to know exactly what they’re looking for in a mate and “don’t waste any time.”

“In your 20s, you can date a bartender, you can date an architect, you could date someone with seven kids, you can date someone who will never have kids -- it doesn’t matter,” she explained. “But when you get older, you’re in the sweet spot and know exactly what you want so you don’t waste any time.”

Since splitting from her hubby of three years, Frankel has been linked to numerous men. On Thursday she was spotted holding hands with a man by the name of Peter Chalif. According to Radar Online, Chalif is a 41-year-old financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets. Prior to that she was rumored to be romantically involved with a Michael Toppel and Michael Cerussi.

Frankel’s divorce has not yet been finalized. As of April 15, she and her ex were still going back and forth over the Tribeca apartment they once shared. Frankel opened up about the apartment, which she said she worked hard her “whole life to buy,” during a Season 7 episode of “RHONY.” According to reports Frankel refused to sign documents that would legally make Hoppy the sole owner of the apartment.