From Louboutins to Butterfly Wings: Bethenny Frankel’s Footwear Evolution at the MTV Awards

When Bethenny Frankel—who stands 5 feet 5 inches (165.1 cm) tall and wears a US shoe size 8—accepted the Reality Royalty Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards in Santa Monica, California, she reaffirmed her status as a pillar of the genre, staying true to her long-standing love of high heels, from statement stilettos to the unforgettable tan Christian Louboutin boots she famously wore in 2013.

The moment was a full-circle milestone, presented by her longtime friend, Paris Hilton, who celebrated Frankel’s transition from breakout star to global entrepreneur and philanthropist.

While her speech—a mix of sharp humor and “playing the long game” advice—captured the room, her high-octane fashion choice set a high bar for red-carpet styling. Pairing a vibrant Oscar de la Renta mini dress with symbolic, “Red Peacock” butterfly heels, Frankel delivered a masterclass in monochromatic dressing. This look serves as a definitive example of how to balance a bold silhouette with footwear that acts as a focal point.

Bethenny Frankel accepts the Reality Royalty Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards on June 5, 2022, wearing a red Oscar de la Renta rosette mini dress paired with statement butterfly-back Sophia Webster Chiara heels (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)

The actress and Skinnygirl founder took to the stage to receive her Golden Popcorn, telling Hilton, “You and I are OGs in this genre. And as you know, not everybody fits in the bad bitch genre. It’s a genre.”

She joked about their history together, recalling her time working for the Hilton family: “I took care of Paris when she was barely out of diapers. This is actually the announcement for our new reality show where Paris changes my diapers. It’s called That’s Not Hot.”

Bethenny Frankel jokes about having a new reality show with Paris Hilton, titled That’s Not Hot (Credit: Xavier Collin / ABACA / INSTARimages)

The Real Housewives of New York City star thanked the audience and her family, crediting reality TV for providing a platform to “authentically be myself, be honest about my flaws, and mention it all.”

To conclude, Frankel reminded fans to “play the long game,” noting that while life requires playing checkers every day, the big picture is a chessboard that requires wise moves and reaching for the “shiniest apple” at the top.

The Look: Oscar de la Renta & Sophia Webster

For the event, Frankel showcased a plunging red mini dress from Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2022 collection.

The scarlet sleeveless cocktail dress is crafted from satin and features intricate rosette accents, a low-cut neckline, and a bell-shaped mini skirt.

Bethenny Frankel shows off her cleavage and legs in a red plunging cocktail dress from Oscar de la Renta (Credit: Xavier Collin / ABACA / INSTARimages)

She coordinated the look with diamond drop earrings, a pendant necklace, and a bun coiffed by Philip Carreon. The makeup, by Carlene K, featured glittery rosy eyeshadow and matching lip gloss.

Bethenny Frankel styles her tresses in a messy bun and wears rosy eyeshadow and matching lip gloss (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)

To complete the ensemble, Bethenny chose the Sophia Webster “Chiara” sandals. These heels are part of the brand’s signature butterfly-wing series, this time inspired by the ‘Red Peacock’ butterfly.

You can find current versions of Sophia Webster’s butterfly-back stiletto sandals at Farfetch.

Bethenny Frankel showcases a glossy red pedicure in Sophia Webster’s Chiara stiletto sandals, defined by butterfly-wing heels and delicate ankle straps (Credit: Xavier Collin / ABACA / INSTARimages)

Aside from the iconic butterfly-heel accent, the popular women’s shoe label incorporated the Red Peacock’s eyespot pattern, with a hint of tiger print on the heel counter. The design is finished with a 4-inch stiletto and a delicate ankle strap.

The iconic Chiara sandals are given an update inspired by the Red Peacock butterfly

Bethenny was joined on the red carpet by her daughter, Bryn Hoppy. The pre-teen opted for a contrasting hot pink chiffon strapless mini dress, paired with matching pink lace-up sandals and a coordinating clutch.

Bethenny Frankel poses with her daughter Bryn clad in a hot pink chiffon mini dress and coordinating strappy heels (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)

Sophia Webster’s Butterfly Heels in Celebrity Fashion

From red-carpet statements to playful, sculptural silhouettes, Sophia Webster’s designs have become a go-to choice for celebrities who use footwear as the focal point of their look. Bethenny Frankel’s butterfly-accented Chiara heels join a long list of standout moments where Webster’s signature wings, bold colors, and architectural stilettos elevate modern celebrity style.