Dorinda Medley on Life After Marriage: 'I Love My Freedom'

Dorinda Medley is entering a new chapter of her life, and it doesn't include a wedding ring.

The 61-year-old told Us Weekly she has no interest in getting married again. "I don't want to be married," she said in Us' annual Reality Stars of the Year issue, which features the cast of E!'s upcoming series on the cover.

Medley explained she already has what she calls a "gay husband" or "gubbi" in her life, so she's not looking to tie the knot. "I've done it twice. I think that's plenty for me," she added. "I really love my freedom … and I'm happy. But, you know, you never say never."

She was married to Ralph Lynch from 1995 to 2005, and the former couple share daughter Hannah, now 33. She later married the late Richard Medley. Viewers of The Real Housewives of New York City also followed her seven-year relationship with John Mahdessian, which ended in 2019.

A New 'Golden' Chapter

Medley is now embarking on a new adventure with fellow RHONY alums on The Golden Life, which follows Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer and Kelly Bensimon as they swap Manhattan for Palm Beach, Florida.

"We're all at a point in our lives where we just have this incredible freedom to try new things," the two-time Traitors star told Us. She said the call to join the show came from a place of "yes."

She described filming with her longtime friends as being "back in a sorority," with close quarters and sunshine as a backdrop. "It's just such a different way of life than I live, sort of, in New York City and at Blue Stone Manor," she said. "So I threw my hat in the ring and I said, 'Let's go for it.'"

Strength and Sensitivity

After more than a decade on reality TV, Medley is known for her sharp tongue and her ability to tell a costar to "clip" when needed. But she said fans don't always see her vulnerable side.

"What people don't know about me … I am a warrior. I am a survivor, but I'm very sensitive," she told Us. "If I really get hurt, I retreat."

She acknowledged the pressure on women to appear tough but doesn't see her strength as a flaw. "I think I don't have a lot of gray in my life, because I think gray is where we slip up," the self-described fiery Sagittarius said. "Decisiveness is something that really, I think, helps me to get things done."

"People know if they're going to come for me, you know, do it right," she added. "I'm not usually the one that starts it, but I'm not afraid to end it if I have to."

What's Next

Beyond the show, Medley is exploring new ventures as an aspiring DJ and actor. Her second book, I Know a Thing or Two About a Thing or Two, is set for release in November.

Her pride in her daughter is clear: Hannah is pursuing a PhD at Harvard. "She's obviously a grown woman now, but I still find myself tending to call her for permission," Medley said, laughing. "'Do you think it's a good idea to become a DJ? Would you read my chapter of my new book?'"

As for her golden years, Medley told Us, "You just don't let things bother you the way you used to. … I feel so good that my daughter has done so well and that I just have this peace."

"I always say, 'I don't want to wait until I'm too old to enjoy my life,'" she added.

The Golden Life premieres on E! Tuesday, October 20, at 10 p.m. ET with a special 90-minute episode.

• Bravo
• Dorinda Medley
• E!
• Real Housewives of New York City
• reality TV
• The Golden Life