From the runway to real estate — 3 fashionistas who ditched glam gigs to sell NYC
For richer or broker, Briana Siaca is married to NYC real estate.
But closing multimillion-dollar deals on Gotham’s finest addresses wasn’t her first love. Instead, it’s become the former Miss New York USA’s glitzy second act.
“Pageantry gave me a tough skin, it boosted my confidence and taught me tenacity,” Siaca, 30, a first-year realtor with luxury brokerage the Corcoran Group, told The Post.
“With all those tools,” continued the brunette, “transitioning into New York City real estate just made sense.”
Siaca’s far from the only glamour gal to ditch a life in the limelight for the hustle and bustle of hawking haute homes.
In fact, real estate is fast becoming a choice career change for business belles throughout the US, per a 2023 report from the National Association of Realtors.
Examining industry demographics, researchers found that 62% of the country’s agents are women — most of whom have “had careers in other fields prior to real estate.”
Jessica Markowski, star of the new Netflix series “Owning Manhattan,” told The Post her previous gigs in fashion technology and content creation give her a leg up as a broker with Ryan Serhant’s eponymous firm.
“I really understand the importance of social media branding and marketing in real estate,” said the Brooklynite, 31, who’s currently clinching a $20 million deal in Tribeca.
“I’m a real New Yorker — an achiever with big dreams,” she added. “My past work experiences make me more well-rounded as a Realtor.”
Here’s how NYC’s hottest sellers made the big switch.
From ‘Housewife’ to house honcho
“The Real Housewives of New York City” alum Kelly Bensimon doesn’t consider selling $17 million homes a “second chapter” in her career.
For the model, plugging prime finds comes as second nature.
“I’ve always sold the best of the best,” the reality icon, 56, told The Post. “Whether I’m modeling the clothes, writing books or magazines, or working with the best brokers in the business — I get the deal done.”
After bidding farewell to a regular stint on Bravo in the early 2010s, Bensimon went on to snag several real estate licenses in California, Florida and New York.
As a bigwig with the Douglas Elliman firm, she’s secured well over $100 million in sales, including a $42 million deal she inked on a Charles Street address amid the pandemic.
The mogul mama of two partially credits her success in realty to her on-camera work.
“Modeling gave me an editorial lens, which I use for all of my properties,” said Bensimon of her eye for architectural beauty.
“I love infusing my past into my present.”
Influencing the market
Fancying herself a perfect blend between former boss Kim Kardashian and current boss Serhant, Markowski is a house-selling powerhouse with a unique upper hand.
“Right out of college, I was head of communications for a company called Screenshop [launched by] Kim Kardashian,” said Markowski of the superstar’s since-defunct fashion app.
“It taught me the power of social media, branding, marketing and sales,” added the Greenpoint native and daughter of Polish immigrants.
She reveres the lessons learned at her previous 9-to-5 as the magic that gives her an “advantage” in real estate, which became her full-time job in 2019.
And since joining Serhant in 2022, the savvy siren’s hammered out huge contracts, including deals for a trio of lifts in Tribeca — each ranging in price between $6 to $12 million — a swank Upper East Side town house and a forthcoming development in Greenpoint.
“I was raised to walk into every room and pretend like I own it,” said the “Owning Manhattan” VIP. “That attracts business.”
The crowned closer
Siaca’s always had a taste for big business.
But as a shy teen, the native Long Islander grew up fearing she lacked the self-esteem to dominate the corporate world — until she entered the world of beauty pageants at age 18.
“I competed in Miss New York USA for six years before finally winning in 2021,” Siaca told The Post.
“Each time I lost or was told, ‘No,’ it made me stronger,” she added. “Now, when I’m told, ‘No,’ as a Realtor, I just shrug it off and keep grinding.”
Scoring a series of huge “yeses” has, too, helped curb the pangs of discouragement.
Just 10 days after earning her realty license in August 2023, the bombshell secured employment with Corcoran — founded by “Shark Tank” dynamo Barbara Corcoran. In less than a year, Siaca’s already sold a $3.5 million property.
The titleholder-turned-tycoon said pageantry gave her the power to pour into others.
“As Miss New York USA, I served people all over the state, visiting underprivileged communities and empowering kids to follow their dreams,” said Siaca.
“And in real estate, I get to continue to serve the people of New York — helping them find their dream homes.”
