Rowan Henchy grew up in the spotlight as the daughter of famous actress Brooke Shields, but during Next Gen NYC Season 2, Rowan made it clear just how down to earth she and her mother are, as she described their special relationship.owan Henchy grew up in the spotlight as the daughter of famous actress Brooke Shields, but during Next Gen NYC Season 2, Rowan made it clear just how down to earth she and her mother are, as she described their special relationship.
“She’s gonna hate me for saying this, but sometimes I am my mother’s babysitter,” Rowan confessed to producers during Episode 3. “She’s like, ‘Where are my glasses?’ I’m like, ‘They’re on your head.’ ‘Where’s my phone?’ ‘It’s in your hand.’”
Cameras captured Rowan living back at home with her parents in New York City after graduating from Wake Forest University. Rowan admitted, “It’s a dynamic we’re figuring out.”
Still, Rowan added during Next Gen NYC’s July 8 episode, “My relationship with my mom is amazing.”
She detailed the close bond they have as they got ready for an event. “I just love seeing her do her job,” Rowan shared. “Even if it’s just like, we went to the TODAY show. She was cohosting last week, and we had so much fun.”
Rowan gave even more insight into their mother-daughter dynamic while the two struggled to prepare her butternut squash Friendsgiving side dish in Episode 9. “I did not grow up with a mom cooking,” Rowan explained to a producer, before referencing her mom’s “Brooke Don’t Cook” digital video series.
Back in their kitchen, Brooke also revealed that she’d recently met Georgia McCann at a charity event and had nothing but positive things to say about Rowan’s “lovely” castmate. She described Georgia as “so pretty” and “so sweet” and told Rowan that she was “so effusive” while talking about their friendship. “She had a fabulous outfit on too,” Brooke added
Brooke Shields opens up about her relationship with daughter Rowan Henchy
For her part, Brooke opened up about her parenting style during her May 21 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. “I’m actually less of a stage mom than I thought. So I’m not in the uber helicopter, I’m more in the like, ‘Don’t f—k up,’” she explained.
Rowan interviewed her mother for Extra TV on May 6, and Brooke expressed just how much Rowan means to her. “The day you were born, my life became fully, fully real, and you make me the happiest, being a mother. I’m just so proud of who you are,” Brooke emphasized.
She admitted that it was difficult to raise Rowan and her younger sister, Grier, while balancing her acting career. “I thought that I could be equally engaged in both at the same time. But what I found out very early one was if I did one, I’d feel guilty about the other. If I did the other, I was worried about the other,” Brooke shared. “And so I ended up choosing things and jobs that didn’t compromise your school.”
Brooke Shields opens up about her relationship with daughter Rowan Henchy
For her part, Brooke opened up about her parenting style during her May 21 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. “I’m actually less of a stage mom than I thought. So I’m not in the uber helicopter, I’m more in the like, ‘Don’t f—k up,’” she explained.
Rowan interviewed her mother for Extra TV on May 6, and Brooke expressed just how much Rowan means to her. “The day you were born, my life became fully, fully real, and you make me the happiest, being a mother. I’m just so proud of who you are,” Brooke emphasized.
She admitted that it was difficult to raise Rowan and her younger sister, Grier, while balancing her acting career. “I thought that I could be equally engaged in both at the same time. But what I found out very early one was if I did one, I’d feel guilty about the other. If I did the other, I was worried about the other,” Brooke shared. “And so I ended up choosing things and jobs that didn’t compromise your school.”
Still, Brooke made it clear she has no regrets about motherhood. “When I’m on my death bed, I’m not going to remember one thing that I did professionally. I’m gonna be so happy that you love me,” she told Rowan as she teared up. “That’ll be what does me in.”
What to Know About Next Gen NYC Season 2
Next Gen NYC Season 2 is officially underway, and the New York City-based friend group is facing more pressure than ever. New episodes air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo and stream the next day on Peacock.
Season 2 of Next Gen NYC follows returning cast members Ariana Biermann, Riley Burruss, Emira D’Spain, Brooks Marks, Ava Dash, Gia Giudice, Georgia McCann, Charlie Zakkour, Shai Fruchter, and Hudson McLeroy, along with new additions Rowan Henchy, Liam Obergfoll, and Kendall White.
As for what’s to come, Next Gen NYC fans can expect to see Ariana caught in a complicated love triangle involving Charlie, Liam, and her ex-boyfriend Hudson; Georgia feuding with both Charlie and Riley; and Brooks once again getting pulled into more friend-group drama. Add in messy breakups, shifting alliances, career moves, and plenty of tension, and Season 2 is shaping up to be the one one for the books.
Want even more Next Gen NYC? Watch the Next Gen NYC After Show. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 10/9c on BravoTV.com and on YouTube, with episodes available on Peacock the following day.
Brooke Shields weighs in on Rowan Henchy’s career ambitions
Rowan received a degree in communications, with a minor in journalism, as she graduated from Wake Forest in the spring of 2025.
Brooke Shields reveals her advice for Rowan Henchy joining Next Gen NYC Season 2
Although she’s new to the Next Gen NYC Season 2 cast, Brooke shared during WWHL that she has no concerns about Rowan’s ability to be on reality television.
“She’s been in the public eye since she was in utero,” she pointed out. She proceeded to share her advice: “I said, ‘Look, don’t be the girl throwing up. Be the one holding the hair back of the girl throwing up.’”
During an appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle on May 20, she shared more advice she gave to Rowan. “I said, ‘Look, don’t be a f—k up. Don’t! Be the voice of reason. You’re going to be fine,’” she recalled.During an appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle on May 20, she shared more advice she gave to Rowan. “I said, ‘Look, don’t be a f—k up. Don’t! Be the voice of reason. You’re going to be fine,’” she recalled.
Although Brooke admitted she had some apprehension about Rowan joining the show, she said she’s actually seen some positive effects. “It’s given her a lot of confidence in a way, that it’s so nice to see,” she revealed.
Who is Chris Henchy?
In addition to being responsible for some notable Hollywood hits (more on that below), Chris Henchy is Brooke’s husband and Rowan and Grier’s father.
Married since 2001, Brooke and Chris often publicly gush about their romance. “To this day, I believe that I fell in love with Chris the day we met in 1999,” Brooke wrote in her 2005 memoir, Down Came the Rain: My Journey With Postpartum Depression. “But I would never tell him that!”
In a 2023 interview with People, she raved about her husband, “He made me laugh, and he continuously makes me laugh and doesn’t take anything too seriously, so I don’t go down those rabbit holes the way I used to…He brings me back out and says, ‘We’ll figure it out.’ So, he’s good at leveling me.”
What does Chris Henchy do for a living?
Chris is a “writer, comedian, director, and producer,” Rowan explained during Next Gen NYC’s July 8 episode.
He has worked on a variety of TV shows and films, including Entourage, Land of the Lost, The Campaign, Daddy’s Home, The Other Guys, Eastbound & Down, and more.
Inside Rowan Henchy’s dynamic with dad Chris Henchy
As Rowan explained during the episode, her dad has inspired her career path. “I’m in the middle of writing my first feature film,” she shared. “I think it comes from my father.”
In 2009, Brooke published a children’s book It’s the Best Day Ever, Dad!, which was based on Chris’ special bond with his daughters.
Bravo Fan Fest 2026: What to Know
Bravo Fan Fest is back! This year, the exclusive one-day event takes place on Saturday, October 24 in Charleston, South Carolina. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen will also be taping shows leading up to the event, on Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 23.
Tickets for Bravo Fan Fest Charleston and for the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen tapings have sold out. Sign up for Bravo Insider for free to receive information about select Bravo Fan Fest fan opportunities. You can get even more Bravo Fan Fest news by texting “BFF2026” to 917-809-2240. Message and data rates may apply.
Check out a preview of the drama to come on Next Gen NYC Season 2 in the trailer.
