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Jenna Lyons recently shed light on her decision to leave The Real Housewives of New York City, a topic she addressed a few months back through a statement on Instagram.

As speculation grows about the cast lineup for the 16th season of the Bravo series, Jenna, 57, shared her experiences as the show’s older, gay cast member. She reflected on her struggles to connect with her co-stars and noted the introduction of “much younger” cast members.

“During the first season, I was the oldest and the only gay person in the group. It wasn’t until the second season, when they introduced another woman closer to my age and also gay [Racquel Chevremont], that I realized how isolated I felt,” Jenna explained in a SiriusXM’s TODAY Show Radio clip released on January 14.

“It wasn’t that the other women made me feel isolated. It was more like… imagine every conversation about sex or dating or relationships, and I just couldn’t relate. I felt completely on the outside,” she elaborated.

Jenna also felt that she and her castmates simply didn’t have much in common.

“With the age gap, like my child is in college, their kids are all young. My career has happened and I’m in a different stage of life. They’re all trying to like, hustle and I’m like, I actually am not in that place in my life. I actually want to do meaningful, careful, thoughtful things that matter to me. I’m just in a different place,” she explained. “So I found that I didn’t have as much connection in the first year.”

After admitting that things were “much easier” and “more fun” during her second season, season 15, Jenna suggested that she wasn’t on board with the cast of season 16, which has not yet been publicly confirmed.

“Three of the people are gone, and the new people that are coming in, they’re much younger,” she claimed. “And I’m like, ‘I don’t think I’m gonna feel great in the situation.’ I don’t want to do something that doesn’t make me happy, and I just was like, ‘I don’t think I’m going to feel good,’ and I don’t need to do it.”

When Jenna confirmed her exit from RHONY last year, she said that although she was offered a “friend” role on season 16, since she preferred her personal life be kept off-screen, she felt that the new group was headed in a different direction.

“I would be the oldest and only openly gay woman on the show and feel like this is an opportunity for a new dynamic to emerge,” she stated. “I have so much respect and gratitude to the Entire BRAVO team who produced the show with grace and care … I am so grateful to [Andy Cohen] for the opportunity and support  … And most importantly to all the fans who have said hi on the street, asked for a photo, supported me here on Instagram.”

“THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!- it’s so incredibly meaningful,” she added. “I will be watching and b*tching from the sidelines with love and outfit judgement.”

The Real Housewives of New York City season 16 is expected to go into production soon.