Countess Lu Ann de Lesseps On 'Class With Countess,' Good Manners, Obama

I would define class as somebody who is well-mannered, respectful of themselves as well as other people. Someone who treats people with kindness and again respect.

There’s always things you look back on. Just because I’m a Countess doesn’t mean I’m perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. Sometimes I would forget to be more complimentary and courteous toward people.

I would love to. I would love to help women on dating and pulling themselves together. Definitely helping women strategizing on how to get the right man for her. I’ve actually been approached to do a show like The Bachelor. There’s interest in it because it’s not just about dating, it’s about saying the right thing, being dressed appropriately, did he hold the door, so I think it would make for a more interesting dating show.

Oh, many times I’ve had to bite my tongue. Many times. I think you see it because I’ll roll my eyes, I’ll look a certain way, it’s the suggestion. Oh, when Ramona tells me that my husband’s is old [laughs] in front of my children. And it took a lot on my part to not get angry. To come out with that in front of my daughter, I just thought that was terrible and I think everybody else did, too. Well, I’d hate to single any of them out, but I think I just did!

The obnoxious chewing of gum. [laughs] That you see over and over again, even on the red carpet.

Well, you know, it’s part of our world and I saw the whole section on text etiquette, but there’s a place and a time for everything, including the cell phones. [laughs] I miss phone booths, don’t you? Where you had to go and close yourself in and have a conversation that not everybody else has to overhear.

Don’t drop your phone onto the table as soon as you walk in for lunch. You shouldn’t be having a conversation in the elevator. Treating your bus or your train like your office and basically not being respectful of other people’s space. So those are my text pet-peeves.

No, I think today it would be acceptable to send an email. It’s better than nothing. If you’re not going to send a note, then at least you can send an email. Actually, a phone call isn’t bad either. So it doesn’t always have to be a thank you note. I think so because the world we live in a lot of invitations are done by email. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying thank you by email, but again it’s nicer to do it in person or by a note.

Obama. Because the way he speaks to you is engaging. He is not putting on airs. The way he carries himself. And, you know, he’s an upstanding man and citizen. He is engaging when he speaks to you, humble, sympathetic, and all of these things I think are based on civility.

I think by not letting the gentlemen pick them up, meeting them places. Well, I think that a gentleman should know that a lady doesn’t show up alone to a restaurant or a bar and if he wants to take her to lunch, go and get her. If you don’t ask, you’ll never get. With most women, you don’t expect that or know enough to ask a gentleman. I say to my own daughter, yeah, you can’t go and meet your friends. They come and get you. In the city, a young girl walking around at that age. And I think it’s appropriate for her to show up with an escort because it makes a huge difference.

Who says reality can’t be classy? Just because there are some bad reality shows out there, basically the drama is hit the girl in the face for ratings. I believe that people do want to see good behavior as well as bad behavior, and I think there’s room to set an example for that.

Money can’t buy you class, which coincidentally is the title of my new dance single due out in March.