The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Difference between revisions

{{Main|Teresa Giudice}}

(Season 1 – present)

 

Teresa Giudice (née Gorga) (born May 18, 1972) was born and raised in New Jersey. Her parents immigrated from Italy and raised Teresa and her brother Giuseppe, also known as Joe, in an Italian Catholic home. She grew up in [[Paterson, New Jersey]] where she met her husband of more than ten years, Joe. Teresa has four daughters—Gia (born on January 8, 2001), Gabriella (born on October 4, 2004), Milania (born on February 2, 2006) and baby Audriana (born on September 14, 2009).<ref>{{cite web|title=New Jersey Housewives’ Teresa Giudice Delivers Baby!|url=http://www.realitytea.com/2009/09/15/new-jersey-housewives-teresa-giudice-delivers-baby/|accessdate=November 27, 2012}}</ref>

 

(Season 1&nbsp;– present)

 

Caroline Manzo (née Laurita) (born August 23, 1961) has been married for over 27 years to Albert Manzo, co-owner of The Brownstone, an event and catering facility in [[Paterson, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Caroline Manzo&nbsp;— Biography|url=http://carolinemanzo.com/biography.html|accessdate=November 28, 2012}}</ref> Albert Manzo's brother, Tommy Manzo, is the second husband of Manzo's sister and former cast mate, Dina Manzo, making the two sisters by both marriage and blood.

===Jacqueline Laurita===

(Season 1&nbsp;– present)

 

Jacqueline Laurita (née Grippe) born April 26, 1970 is a stay-at-home mother married to Chris Laurita, brother of Caroline and [[Dina Manzo]]. Together, Jacqueline and Chris have two sons: Christopher "C.J." Laurita, Jr. (born in 2002) and Nicholas Laurita (born June 11, 2009). Jacqueline also has a daughter, Ashlee Holmes (born '''Ashley''' on December 1, 1990), from a previous marriage. After several miscarriages and fertility problems, which she discussed on the show, Laurita gave birth to Nicholas shortly after the Season 1 Reunion show. In 2012, Laurita revealed that Nicholas had been diagnosed with autism.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bauer|first=Zoe|title=Celebrities With Autistic Children|url=http://omg.yahoo.com/news/celebrities-autistic-children-171500943.html?_esi=1|work=Yahoo OMG!|accessdate=18 April 2013}}</ref>

 

(Season 3&nbsp;– present)

 

Melissa Gorga (''née'' Marco, born March 21, 1979) is married to Giuseppe (Joe) Gorga, who is the younger brother of Teresa Giudice. Melissa and Joe have three children: Antonia, Gino, and Joey. Melissa, who in the past has worked as a teacher, has parlayed her fame from ''Real Housewives'' into a music career. Her single, "On Display", was released on [[iTunes]] dance chart selections on August 13, 2011<ref>{{cite web|date=August 13, 2011|work=itunes.apple.com|copyright=AGJ Entertainment|title=On Display|artist=Gorga, Melissa|url=http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rockstar/id534600812?i=534600815}}</ref> to mixed critical reviews. Gorga has stated that she continues to work on her music and has released several new singles, which have been previewed on several Season 4 episodes, as well as a four-track [[Extended play|EP]]. As of July 5, 2012, she has released two additional singles on iTunes: "How Many Times", released Apr 29, 2012,<ref>{{cite web|work=itunes.apple.com|date=April 29, 2012|copyright=AGJ Entertainment|title=How Many Times|artist=Gorga, Melissa|url=http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-many-times-single/id522896232}}</ref> and "Rockstar", released June 10, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 10, 2012|work=itunes.apple.com|copyright=AGJ Entertainment|title=Rockstar|artist=Gorga, Melissa|url=http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rockstar/id534600812?i=534600815}}</ref>

 

(Season 3&nbsp;– present)

 

Katherina "Kathy" Wakile (née Pierri, born October 4, 1965) currently resides in [[Wayne, New Jersey]] with her husband of 21 years, Richard "Richie" Wakile, and their two children, Victoria (born 1994) and Joseph (born 1996). Her family is very close to that of her cousin Joe Gorga (Teresa Guidice's brother) and his wife, fellow Housewife Melissa Gorga. Unlike her cousin or her other castmates, she is the only one not married to an Italian-American husband. Kathy is passionate about food and one day plans to open up her own restaurant or catering business. Kathy has several arguments with her cousin Teresa throughout season three of the show and is often dragged into feuds between Teresa and her sister-in-law Melissa. Kathy has introduced several new [[Kathy_Wakile#Product_lines|product lines]] since joining the show. Additionally, she and Victoria frequently participate in events that raise awareness for brain cancer, an illness they take close to heart, as Victoria needed an operation to remove a benign [[brain tumor]]. This incident was discussed on ''[[Real Housewives of New Jersey]]''.

 

(Season 1&nbsp;– Season 2)

 

Claudine "Dina" Manzo<ref>[http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990_pdf_archive/010/010897759/010897759_200812_990EZ.pdf "Project Ladybug 2008 990 tax return"]. (PDF) .</ref> (née Laurita) (born March 7, 1972) is a mother and [[interior decorator]], and the founder of the non-profit organization, Project Ladybug.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3398681/ Internet Movie Database: Dina Manzo]</ref> She and her family live in the affluent town of [[Franklin Lakes, New Jersey]]. She married her second husband, Tommy Manzo, co-owner of the event and catering facility The Brownstone, in 2005. Tommy's elder brother and business partner, Albert Manzo, is the husband of Dina's older sister and cast mate, Caroline, making the two also sisters-in-law. Their wedding was featured on the [[VH1]] television show ''My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding.''<ref>http://www.vh1.com/video/my-big-fat-fabulous-wedding/full-episodes/my-big-fat-fabulous-wedding-dina-and-tommy/1562895/playlist.jhtml</ref> In February 2013, Dina announced that she and Tommy had separated in October 2012.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news|journal=Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/dina-manzo-separates-_n_2616854.html|date=February 4, 2013|title=Dina Manzo Separates From Husband: 34 Other 'Real Housewives' Who Have Divorced}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|journal=New York Daily News|title=Dina Manzo, former 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star, separated from husband of seven years: The reality star announced the October split from husband Tommy on Twitter to her 297,000 followers|author= Rachel Maresca |date=Saturday, February 2, 2013, 2:23 PM}}</ref>

 

(Seasons 1&nbsp;– 2)

 

Danielle Staub (born July 29, 1962) is divorced and a single mother of two daughters, Christine Staub (born in 1994) and Jillian Staub (born in 1998). She was the only cast member who entered filming as a relative stranger to the group, being friends with only Jacqueline once filming began.