Kelsey Swanson is already bringing plenty of intrigue to The Real Housewives of Rhode Island — and her relationship is getting people talking.
The former Miss Rhode Island winner, who now works as a makeup artist, has been in a long-term relationship with a wealthy Rhode Island businessman — who also happens to be 23 years older than her.
Despite the age gap, Kelsey made it clear she doesn’t see it as an issue.
“He’s very handsome. This isn’t some, like, I’m dating an old, disgusting man,” she said. “He is very attractive. He takes care of himself. He’s active. He’s, like, 25 at heart.”
The two have reportedly been together for about a decade after meeting in an unexpected place — a tanning salon, according to Swoon. It has yet to be announced who her boyfriend actually is.”
“I met him through visiting [my best friend],” Kelsey explained. “There was a little smoothie/protein shake bar inside the tanning salon… he would go there and get one, and I would go there and get one.”
Their connection quickly escalated after reconnecting at a party.
“I think we made out for two hours straight, and the rest was history,” she said. “Maybe two months later, he was like, ‘Wanna go to London? Wanna go to Spain?’ And I’m like, ‘Sure!’ Been together ever since.”
But their relationship hasn’t been without questions — especially from her co-stars.
In the season premiere, fellow cast member Rosie DiMare suggested Kelsey may be in a non-traditional setup, questioning whether her boyfriend had other girlfriends.
Kelsey addressed the speculation directly, denying that label.
“I feel like that’s such a dramatic term for my relationship,” she said. “I think there were times where we had a don’t ask, don’t tell relationship… it was a weird dynamic.”
Another layer to the relationship? Her boyfriend is a father — and his children are close in age to Kelsey.
“He has kids that are three years younger than me,” she revealed, adding that she’s built a positive relationship with them over time.
“We are totally fine. As they got older and I got older, it just grew normal.”
According to Reddit, Kelsey is dating John Caprio. John is the son of Frank Caprio. Frank Caprio was a longtime judge from Providence, Rhode Island, best known for presiding over the city’s Municipal Court. He gained national attention through the viral courtroom series Caught in Providence, where clips of his compassionate and often lenient rulings racked up millions of views online.
Caprio built a reputation for showing empathy toward defendants, often reducing or dismissing fines for people facing financial hardship, which made him a widely recognized and well-liked public figure far beyond Rhode Island. He was also active in local politics and public service for decades, making his name especially well-known in Providence.
Frank Caprio has since sadly passed away. Prior to his passing, Frank shared a photo with him and his son John writing, “Sharing special moments with my son John, a bond that only grows stronger with time. Life is beautiful when you have family by your side. Cherishing every second with you.”
