Tinsley Mortimer Explained

Tinsley Mortimer
Birth Name:Tinsley Randolph Mercer
Birth Date:1975 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Known For:High Society
The Real Housewives of New York City
Alma Mater:Columbia University (BA)
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (MA)
Occupation:Actress, fashion designer
socialite
television personality
blogger
Parents:George Riley Mercer, Jr.
Dale Tatum

Tinsley Randolph Mortimer (née Mercer; born August 11, 1975)[1] [2] is an American socialite and television personality. She is known for starring in the reality television series High Society and The Real Housewives of New York City.

Early life

Mortimer was born Tinsley Randolph Mercer in Richmond, Virginia.[3] [4] [5] Her father was George Riley Mercer Jr., a real-estate investor, and her mother is Dale Tatum Mercer, an interior designer and socialite. She has a younger sister, Dabney Winston Mercer.[6] Her paternal grandfather, George Riley Mercer Sr., founded Mercer Rug Cleansing in 1936.[7] Mortimer is descended from multiple First Families of Virginia.[8] She grew up at Graymont, her family's estate in Richmond.[9]

Mortimer attended St. Catherine's School, a private all-girls Episcopal school in Richmond, and later the Lawrenceville School, a boarding school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where she was a member of the Kirby House.[10] Mortimer was a debutante, having been presented to Richmond society during the Bal du Bois at the Country Club of Virginia.[11] [12]

She went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a freshman in college, but later transferred to Columbia University. At Columbia, she was a member of St. Anthony Hall.[13] [14] She was also a nationally ranked tennis player and played varsity tennis for Columbia.[15] [16] She graduated from Columbia with a bachelor of arts degree in art history, and later obtained her master's degree in decorative arts from the Cooper Hewitt design museum.[17]

Career

Early in her career, Mortimer worked as a beauty assistant at Vogue and an event planner for Harrison & Shriftman.[18] Mortimer had a line of handbags and clothing in Japan for Samantha Thavasa, for which she was featured in an advertising campaign.[19] [20] [21] Her handbag line, "Samantha Thavasa by Tinsley Mortimer", debuted in winter 2006 with its American flagship store in New York City.[22] She was also featured prominently in Samantha Thavasa USA's online promotional materials and in the company's Madison Avenue store, which also carries her handbags. She subsequently formed her own clothing line, Riccime by Tinsley Mortimer, which was sold exclusively in Japan.[23] In 2008, Mortimer became involved in branding and design for a condominium development.[24]

Mortimer has served as Christian Dior’s beauty ambassador and helped to create a lip gloss named Tinsley Pink.[25] She has appeared in several magazine editorials, including Vogue, WWD, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire. In May 2012, she appeared on the cover of Vestal magazine, which also featured an editorial styled by Lo'renzo Hill-White and shot by fashion photographer Kevin Sinclair.[26] [27] She has appeared on the magazine covers of Page Six Magazine,[28] Virginia Living, Avenue,[29] CVLUX,[30] Maniac,[31] and New York.[32]

She made a cameo on the season two premiere episode of Gossip Girl, which aired on September 1, 2008, on The CW.[33] In an interview for Vanity Fair, Gossip Girl's costume designers Eric Daman and Meredith Markworth-Pollack considered New York socialites Tinsley Mortimer and Arden Wohl as a muse when dressing actress Blake Lively and when asked if they were influenced by New York socialites, respectively.[34] Daman and Markworth-Pollack said that "if you put Blair and Serena together, you get Tinsley Mortimer. Tinsley’s hair is always set and she always looks perfect, but she takes risks." On March 10, 2010, Mortimer debuted her own reality television show called High Society, starring Mortimer along with other socialites such as Paul Johnson Calderon and Devorah Rose.[35] The show documented the lives of Mortimer and her friends in New York City, but it was critically panned and cancelled after 8 episodes because of low ratings. The failure of the show was credited with causing Mortimer's subsequent "downfall" as a New York socialite.[36]

Mortimer wrote a novel titled Southern Charm, which follows Minty Davenport from South Carolina to New York, where she is the victim of rumors.[37] It was published by Simon & Schuster in April 2013.[38] Mortimer also wrote chapter in the book The Park Avenue Diet, which outlines recommendations on improving one's conversation and social skills, written by Manhattan diet doctor Stuart Fischer.[39] She has been a contributor for Town & Country magazine since 2017.[40] In 2017, Mortimer joined the cast of Bravo's reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City for the show's ninth season.[41]

In 2014, she launched Home Collection manufactured by Pop Culture Living, an e-commerce site featuring curated collections of home accessories.[42] She currently has her own line of housewares products sold at Bed Bath & Beyond and Wayfair.[43] The collection includes dinnerware, decorative glasses, barware and ice buckets. In June 2019, Mortimer launched a new collaboration of false eyelashes with the beauty brand Winky Lux titled "XXO Tinsley for Winky Lux."[44] She designed the product packaging herself.[45] In September 2019, Mortimer walked the runway for Garo Sparo's fashion show at New York Fashion Week.[46] In October 2019, Mortimer announced that she has partnered up with RuMe to launch a Resort 2020 Collection, which consists of travel, fashion, and beauty accessories.[47] [48] [49]

List of fashion and beauty collections by Tinsley Mortimer!Year!Title!Brand!Notes
2006–2012"Samantha Thavasa by Tinsley Mortimer"Samantha ThavasaHandbag collection[50] [51]
2007–2010"Riccime by Tinsley Mortimer"RiccimeClothing line[52]
2014"Tinsley Mortimer Collection"Pop Culture LivingHome goods line
2019"XXO Tinsley for Winky Lux"Winky LuxEyelashes line
2019"Tinsley by RuMe"RuMe[53] Bag and accessories line[54]
2021"Tinsley x Jennifer Zeuner"[55] Jennifer Zeuner Jewelry[56] Jewelry collection[57]

Advocacy

In July 2020, Mortimer appeared in a pro-adoption billboard "Buy Shoes, Not Dogs" for PETA.[58] The billboard was located in Chicago, Illinois, and Mortimer also appeared in a video, where she encouraged people to adopt dogs from shelters.[59] Mortimer has adopted her two dogs called Strawberry and Shortcake.

Personal life

Mortimer met Robert Livingston "Topper" Mortimer (son of John Jay Mortimer) at Lawrenceville School and eloped when they were both 18. However, their parents forced them to annul the marriage. On May 4, 2002, they remarried in Richmond, Virginia.[60] The Mortimers divorced in 2010. Her ex-husband married British fashion designer Tabitha Simmons in 2018.[61]

On July 23, 2010, Mortimer was featured with her mother Dale on the Dr. Phil show discussing her divorce and her differences with her mother.[62]

Her father died on March 26, 2015, in Providence, Rhode Island.[63]

On February 11, 2017, Mortimer was introduced to Chicago-based Coupon Cabin CEO Scott Kluth by her Real Housewives of New York City castmate Carole Radziwill.[64] The pair then entered an on-and-off long distance relationship between New York and Chicago, and as of October 2018, the couple had separated.[65] Mortimer and Kluth were engaged in November 2019 and ended their engagement in March 2021.[66] [67]

In November 2023, Mortimer married businessman Robert Bovard. [68] [69]

Legal issues

In April 2016, Mortimer was arrested for trespassing on her former boyfriend Alexander "Nico" Fanjul’s property in Palm Beach, Florida.[70] [71] The charges were later dismissed.[72]

Filmography

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007The MannyHerselfUncredited
2008Gossip GirlEpisodes: "The Serena Also Rises", "Summer, Kind of Wonderful"
2009–2011The Fashion ShowHerself / Judge16 episodes
2010Dr. PhilHerselfEpisode: "Meddling Moms"
2010America's Next Top ModelEpisode: "New York Women"
2010High SocietyMain role, creator and executive producer; 8 episodes
2017–2020The Real Housewives of New York CityMain cast member (seasons 9–12); 75 episodes
2019The Other TwoEpisode: "Chase Goes to a Premiere"
2023Queenmaker: The Making of an It GirlHulu original documentary[73]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Tinsley Mortimer. Us Weekly. August 10, 2020. June 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200630155838/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/tinsley-mortimer/. live. ...Tinsley Mortimer was born on August 11, 1976..
  2. News: She's Back, Branding Irons in Hand. Lauren . Lipton. The New York Times . March 13, 2012. August 10, 2020. November 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191113071000/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/fashion/the-return-of-tinsley-mortimer-branding-irons-in-hand.html. live. Ms. Mortimer, 35 [as of March 13, 2012]....
  3. News: Weddings; Tinsley Mercer, Topper Mortimer. May 5, 2002. The New York Times.
  4. News: Tinsley's Turbulent Year. Ray A.. Smith. February 27, 2010. The Wall Street Journal.
  5. Tinz & Topp in Tears. New York. August 12, 2009. Spencer. Morgan. November 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191104085530/http://nymag.com/fashion/09/fall/58334/. live. ...a Virginia-born debutante.... The story of Tinsley Randolph Mercer begins in Richmond, Virginia....
  6. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer Is Here to Remind You She Was on a Reality Show Before RHONY. July 13, 2019. Bravo.
  7. Web site: About. https://web.archive.org/web/20100119072224/http://www.mercerrugcleansing.com/about.nxg. dead. Mercer Rug Cleansing. January 19, 2010.
  8. Web site: Obit . richmond.com. March 29, 2015 . 2020-10-15.
  9. News: Why Is the Blond Smiling? (Published 2007). Eric. Konigsberg. The New York Times . October 21, 2007. NYTimes.com.
  10. Web site: Richmond Native, NYC Socialite Tinsley Mortimer Releases Debut Novel. Jennifer Pullinger. Richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. April 30, 2012 .
  11. Web site: October 20, 2015. Tinsley Mortimer Rebrands Her Socialite Status. August 9, 2020. DuJour.
  12. Web site: CRITIC. MELISSA RUGGIERI MUSIC. Tinsley Mortimer shows how reality can bite in 'High Society'. August 9, 2020. Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 4, 2010 .
  13. Web site: 2008-03-10 . Attention, Tinsley Mortimer: Your Frat Is Looking For You . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080310190427/http://gawker.com/news/how-your-hegemony-gets-made/attention-tinsley-mortimer-your-frat-is-looking-for-you-273131.php . March 10, 2008 . 2022-03-07 . Gawker.
  14. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer: Talk of the Town . 2022-06-10 . CVLUX Magazine . November 2015 . en-US.
  15. Web site: Columbia Daily Spectator 20 September 1996 — Columbia Spectator. August 9, 2020. spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu.
  16. Web site: Times-Dispatch. BILL McKELWAY Richmond. From the RTD Archives: Richmond socialites' father loses when gossip turns to blood sport. August 9, 2020. Richmond Times-Dispatch. July 21, 2006 .
  17. News: High Society: Tinsley Mortimer's new reality show is like a hideously deformed Edith Wharton story. Troy Patterson. Slate.com. March 10, 2010. June 5, 2019.
  18. News: The Dramatic Life Story Of The Newest "RHONY" Star. September 20, 2018.
  19. Friedman, Molly. Tinsley Mortimer Exported to Japan, New York Magazine, October 8, 2006. Accessed March 2, 2010.
  20. Brydson, Nicole. Hamptons!, The Observer, September 11, 2007. Accessed March 2, 2010.
  21. Web site: Staff . W. W. D. . 2006-11-06 . Samantha Thavasa, the Brand, Hits N.Y. . 2023-01-27 . WWD . en-US.
  22. News: CVLUX Magazine #LUXlife — Talk Of The Town: Tinsley Mortimer's Storage & Home Collection . en-US . CVLUX Magazine #LUXlife . 2023-01-27.
  23. Web site: About Tinsley – Tinsley Mortimer. www.tinsleymortimer.com. September 20, 2018.
  24. Barbanel, Josh. A Socialite Dons a New Title, The New York Times, March 23, 2008. Accessed March 2, 2010.
  25. News: The Dramatic Life Story Of The Newest "RHONY" Star. September 20, 2018.
  26. Web site: Socialite-Turned-Model Editorials t vestal. TrendHunter.com.
  27. Web site: Cover of Vestal Magazine with Tinsley Mortimer, June 2012 (ID:13756) Magazines The FMD. FashionModelDirectory.com. The FMD-. The FMD - FashionModelDirectory.com. April 21, 2019.
  28. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer...why is she famous again? Besides the rough business of consuming and burning calo. Moe. Jezebel. March 31, 2008 . April 21, 2019.
  29. Web site: Cover of Avenue with Tinsley Mortimer, March 2009 (ID:6755) Magazines The FMD. FashionModelDirectory.com. The FMD-. The FMD - FashionModelDirectory.com. April 21, 2019.
  30. Web site: Talk Of The Town: Tinsley Mortimer's Bar Collection. CVLUX. November 2, 2015 . April 21, 2019.
  31. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer our Cover Girl. June 17, 2010. April Hubal Photography. April 21, 2019.
  32. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer - New York Magazine Cover Girl. April 21, 2019.
  33. Web site: Beauty Tips From a Real Life Gossip Girl. April 6, 2009. Cosmopolitan.
  34. Web site: March 1, 2011. Welcome Back, Gossip Girl VF Daily Vanity Fair. . July 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20110301202401/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/04/welcome-back-go.html. March 1, 2011.
  35. Web site: Robert. Seidman. TV by the Numbers. February 8, 2010. October 4, 2014. The CW Announces Midseason Debuts of "High Society" and "Fly Girls" . https://web.archive.org/web/20141021082326/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/02/08/the-cw-announces-midseason-debuts-of-high-society-and-fly-girls/41449/. dead. October 21, 2014.
  36. News: Inside the Downfall of Tinsley Mortimer. Sam Dangremond, Bennett Marcus. Town & Country Magazine. March 2016. June 5, 2019.
  37. http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/tinsley-by-the-book-5368892 Tinsley Mortimer Pens Debut Novel
  38. Lipton, Lauren. She's Back, Branding Irons in Hand, New York Times', March 13, 2012. Accessed March 17, 2012.
  39. Web site: New Uptown and Downtown Diet Plans Make Great His and Hers Treats. The Cut. March 31, 2008 .
  40. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer Contributor. Town & Country. April 21, 2019.
  41. Web site: How Will Tinsley Mortimer Fit into a New Season of RHONY — and Which Housewife Is She Replacing?. PEOPLE.com.
  42. Web site: E-commerce venture Pop Culture Living launches Home Accents Today. www.homeaccentstoday.com. December 3, 2014 . September 20, 2018.
  43. Web site: Licensed Products Tinsley Mortimer. www.tinsleymortimer.com. September 20, 2018.
  44. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer's New Beauty Collaboration Winks at Her Famous RHONY Tagline. June 13, 2019. Bravo. November 25, 2019.
  45. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer Bats Her Lashes at Her Beauty Mogul Future. McCarthy. Lauren. W. June 12, 2019 . November 25, 2019.
  46. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer Hit the Catwalk as a Cosmic Queen in Garo Sparo's Fashion Show. September 11, 2019. Bravo. December 14, 2019.
  47. Web site: Brighten your day. Be Eco-Friendly. Shop RuMe.. MyRuMe.com. December 14, 2019.
  48. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer Launched a Fashion Project Inspired by Her Dogs. October 7, 2019. Bravo. December 14, 2019.
  49. Web site: @tinsleymortimer on Instagram: "It's here! The Tinsley by RuMe Resort 2020 collection has officially launched! Always on the go like me? These bags will fit all your…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B5I3Ewsj0Gh . December 24, 2021 . registration. Instagram. December 14, 2019.
  50. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer Explains the Japanese Handbag Market . 2023-01-27 . The Cut . May 2008 . en-us.
  51. Web site: Fabulous . Ms . Tinsley Mortimer's Socialite Style - Samantha Thavasa Handbags Fall 2010 . 2023-01-27 . en.
  52. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer at the Milly by Michelle Smith Spring 2011 Fashion Show . 2023-01-27 . Livingly . en.
  53. Web site: Rekstis . Emily . 2019-11-18 . Tinsley Mortimer's Packing Secret Weapon Is Perfect for Holiday Travel . 2023-01-27 . Us Weekly . en-US.
  54. Web site: Tinsley by RuMe . 2023-01-27 . Chelsea Du Bois Portfolio . en-US.
  55. Web site: j e n n i f e r z e u n e r on Instagram: "MDW is here!! Perfect time to shop our tinsley x #jenniferzeuner collab and save 20% off your entire purchase ☀️ code: MD20" . 2023-01-27 . Instagram . en.
  56. Web site: tinsleymortimer on Instagram: "Hey fam! I'm sooo excited to officially share that my jewelry collection with @jenniferzeunerjewelry is now LIVE to shop! I've been working on this collection with the Jennifer Zeuner team for over a year and can't believe it's officially launching today! For years you have asked about my hoops and now I have a collection for you all! I'm obsessed with all three styles of hoops! I love my necklaces and anklet too! Please check them out and if you have any questions drop them below and I can help! Link in bio to shop! XXO TINSLEY " . 2023-01-27 . Instagram . en.
  57. Web site: 2021-05-24 . Tinsley Mortimer's Latest Venture Answers a Question Fans Have Been Asking "for Years" . 2023-01-27 . Bravo TV Official Site . en-US.
  58. Web site: July 30, 2020. Tinsley Mortimer Appears on New PETA Billboard: 'Buy Shoes, Not Dogs'. August 6, 2020. PETA.
  59. Web site: April 23, 2020. Bravo TV's Tinsley Mortimer Promotes Dog Adoption. August 6, 2020. PETA.
  60. Konigsberg, Eric. Why Is the Blond Smiling?, The New York Times, October 21, 2007; Accessed September 27, 2009
  61. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer's Ex-Husband Topper Mortimer Got Remarried: See Inside the High-Fashion Wedding. June 12, 2018. Bravo TV Official Site.
  62. http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1447/ Meddling Moms
  63. http://www.richmond.com/obituaries/mercer-george/article_a87b7e70-559f-584b-8ae0-0b9a93ddc037.html Mercer, George
  64. News: RHONY's Tinsley Mortimer Still Dating Coupon Cabin CEO Scott Kluth: 'We're Almost Soul Mates'. PEOPLE.com. February 13, 2018.
  65. Web site: RHONY's Tinsley Mortimer Reportedly Splits from CouponCabin CEO Scott Kluth. Corinthios. Aurelie. People. October 24, 2017. March 21, 2018.
  66. Web site: CouponCabin CEO, 'Real Housewives' star get engaged in Chicago. November 25, 2019. Swartz. Tracy. The Chicago Tribune.
  67. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer and Scott Kluth End Engagement: 'An Incredibly Difficult Decision,' He Says. March 18, 2021. Guglielmi. Jodi. People.
  68. Web site: Who Is Tinsley Mortimer's Husband? All About Robert Bovard . November 13, 2023. Weaver. Emily. People Magazine.
  69. News: Hasan . Sadiba . 2023-11-24 . A New York City Socialite Returns to Her Southern Roots . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-11-26 . 0362-4331.
  70. Web site: Tinsley Mortimer, former Richmonder & NYC socialite, on 'Real Housewives of New York'. Staff reports. Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 14, 2017 .
  71. Tinsley Mortimer Looks Ahead. September 22, 2016. Harper's BAZAAR.
  72. News: Tinsley Mortimer Finalizes Deal with Ex to Have Case Dismissed After Trespassing Arrest: 'She Can Finally Move On with Her Life,' Source Says. People.
  73. Vognar . Chris . 2023-05-17 . The Secret Life of Paris Hilton and Tinsley Mortimer's Gossip Blogger . 2023-12-29 . Rolling Stone . en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tinsley Mortimer".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.