Bootleg Betty
Photo: Bette Midler in the new edition of New York Magazine
By By Maggie Duffy, Brooke LaMantia, Zoe Papelis, Jeremy Rellosa, and Chloe Xiang
May 20, 2026
Photo: Bette Midler in the new edition of New York Magazine
Bette Midler appears in the brand?new Spring 2026 issue of New York Magazine as part of a special Look Book–style feature highlighting iconic New Yorkers.
It’s a portrait?driven mini?profile with quotes about her personal style, New York identity, and her current projects.
Do you have anything that you think is highbrow or despicable this week?
I’m going to be very disciplined and keep my big mouth shut. There’s hardly any brilliant, there’s not a lot of highbrow, but I tell you there’s a lot of despicable that has overwhelmed the world.
What would you tell someone who’s never come to Frieze before?
They should keep their eyes and their minds open because it’s very different. Some of it is very hard to take, and a lot of it reflects what we’re living. And if you’re not used to that, if you’re not prepared for that, it can stun you.
