Dorinda Medley

Background

After all Dorinda Medley has been through, she had to be tough to come out strong. Born on December 13, 1964 in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Medley is the daughter of John and Diane Cinkala. Her father is a Polish immigrant, therefore, she is of Italian-Polish descent along with her three siblings. She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and worked in the showrooms of Liz Claireborne, New York for an undisclosed short period. While working there, She met her first husband, Ralph Lynch, and followed him to London to start a family and eventually her own cashmere company, DCL Cashmere. Many high-profile London clients like Princess Diana and Joan Collins became acquaintances, and soon, she left her mark on London society. 10 years in London brought her a daughter, Hannah, a divorce, and a wish to return to New York to figure out life in the city as a single mom.

After relocating to New York, she pursued a career in showbiz and appeared as a guest on Bravo T.V.’s “Real Housewives of New York City” in the fourth season. In 2014, she became a full cast member and became a renowned character on the show for six seasons. However, she did not return to the season that premiered in August 2021. Fortunately, she is set to be a cast member on “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” season two. Medley married Dr. Richard Medley, a renowned Washington power broker and noted speechwriter for congressman and vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, in 2005. Together they worked on fund-raising for charitable causes with the likes of Bishop Desmond Tutu, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Secretary Madeleine Albright, and President Bill and Secretary Hillary Clinton. She suffered a tragic loss when her husband, Dr. Medley died in 2011. Before his death, he had bought the Great Barrington Estate for her since she had always dreamt of owning a house. Medley and Hannah found strength in each other and in their loved ones to the radical changes of losing a husband, friend, companion, and father figure. Through perseverance and support from her close friends, she climbed right back to the top of New York society, eventually meeting boyfriend John Mahdessian, owner of New York’s legendary couture restoration house Madame Paulette. The couple began seeing each other in early 2012 but broke up after seven years of dating.

Medley devotes her time and energy to her family and friends, religion, social events, and her passion for pop culture. Ali Forney Center, Born This Way Foundation, Prevention, Joy.J Initiative, Ronald McDonald House, NYLovesKids.org, and Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation are among her favorite charitable organizations that she donates to. The reality star is also an author; she wrote the book “Make it Nice” which was published in August 2021 and is sold on Amazon. The book explores her personal life struggles and how she thrived to make things look nice despite the circumstances.