Bravo has announced that socialite Sonja Morgan and event planner Jennifer Gilbert will both join The Real Housewives of New York City's cast for its upcoming third season.

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Morgan -- who has worked as a manager and consultant at various New York City restaurants -- is being billed by Bravo as "a fixture of New York City society, running in social circles that include European royalty and top-notch designers." 

She is a single-mother of a 9-year-old daughter.

Gilbert owns and runs Save the DateR -- a corporate and social event planning company -- and also serves as the co-owner of Portamee, a baby carrier company. She is a graduate of MIT University's "Birthing of Giants" program and was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young at the age of 29. 

Gilbert and her husband have been married for seven years and have three children together.

While Bravo renewed The Real Housewives of New York City for a third season in July, it began casting for additional housewives because all the women -- except Kelly Bensimon, who had joined the show for its second season -- were still unsigned. The reason for the hold-out was reportedly money.

However Bravo subsequently began production on The Real Housewives of New York City in August with Bensimon, Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer all onboard, reportedly settling the contract dispute.

Earlier this month, Bravo announced it was developing a new reality series starring Frankel that will follow the former The Apprentice: Martha Stewart runner-up as she focuses on her love life and career as a natural foods chef.

While Life & Style subsequently reported Frankel was being replaced midway through The Real Housewives of New York City's third season by Morgan, Frankel denied it.

The Real Housewives of New York City is currently slated to debut next year.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
Christopher Rocchio is an entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and has covered the reality TV genre for several years.