Couple were axed from the series in 2011 after four seasons

She insists she is 'so happy' with their quiet life

He admits it's been a 'massive change' for sons Francois and Johan

She was one of the controversial stars of The Real Housewives of New York before being unceremoniously fired in 2011 after four successful seasons.

But these days, Alex McCord and her Australian husband Simon Van Kempen are living a much quieter life away from the spotlight, trading in the bright lights of the Big Apple for Byron Bay.

During a rare public appearance on morning show Sunrise this week, the 42-year-old insisted she's much happier away from the reality series, stating: 'All the women who stayed on the show have lost their marriages and their family.'

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'All the women who stayed on the show have lost their marriages and their family:' Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen opened up about their post-RHONY life in Australia to Sunrise this week

New life: Alex now lives with her husband and two sons now live in Byron Bay

She boldly added: 'Why would you ever give up your children and your husband for crazy women?'

Alex, who was previously fixated on climbing the social ladder in New York and even once declared she didn't 'ever want to live in the suburbs', now insists she's content in a small town.

'We’re now five minutes from all of Simon’s family,' she explained, adding that his siblings also relocated from around the globe to move back to where they grew up in recent years.

'I’m so happy we’re here,' Alex says.

Alex now lives worlds away from the bright lights of New York City in a stunning two-story rural home with a pool and picturesque views of the Australian countryside.

She resides there with husband Simon and their two children, Francois and Johan.

'So happy': The couple and sons , pictured in 2014, have swapped high rises for the country life

Home sweet home: The couple now live in a two-story rural home with a pool

Life Down Under: Simon says it's been a 'massive change' for sons Francois and Johan

Simon said it's been a 'massive change' for their sons, but he's happy they are now surrounded by extended family.

The former model is now studying psychology, while Simon runs his own law firm in Tweed Heads. (Alex says her experience on the show is good 'fodder' for her studies.)

They recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary.

All of Alex's season one co-stars who didn't end up being fired after the season four cast overhaul have gone on to get divorced.

Countess Luann de Lesseps divorced her husband, Count Alexandre de Lesseps, in 2009 after he allegedly had an affair with an Ethiopian princess, Kemeria Abajobir Abajifar.

Bethenny Frankel was next, finalizing her divorce to Jason Hoppy in 2013, and Ramona Singer divorced her husband of of two decades last year after he was caught having an affair with a personal trainer.

Marriage curse: The 42-year-old (far right) found fame in 2008 as one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of New York with Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin, LuAnn de Lesseps and Bethenny Frankel. Alex and Jill are the only two to have avoided divorce

'It's not very glam in real life. Anyone who has had that life would understand,' Alex says of her former life in New York City

However, Jill Zarin, who was fired in 2011 alongside Alex, is still happily married to her longtime husband Bobby.

Alex opened up about her former life in New York's high society in an interview with Australia's Gold Coast Bulletin last year.

'The funny thing is when I look back and remember the parties and events, and they look so glamorous but they never are,' she confessed.

The star added: 'It's not very glam in real life. Anyone who has had that life would understand.'

The eighth season of Real Housewives of New York is currently airing now.

Reality is tough: Bethenny Frankel's relationship with Jason Hoppy also ended up in divorce, but the Skinnygirl mogul still decided to return to the reality series after a three-season absence last year