The latest to hit Bravo’s “Real Housewives” family are the girls from the Garden State. The first season of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” is set to air on May 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (PST). Can’t wait to meet the new housewives? Here’s a sneak peak at who they are.
Welcome to Franklin Lakes, New Jersey!
Caroline Manzo
Age: 50
Occupation: Entrepreneur, Businesses: Opus Properties, a real estate firm, and 4 My Mom, a children’s accessory line
Husband: Albert Manzo
Married for: 25 + years
Children: Albie, 22; Lauren, 20; Christopher, 19
Caroline can be described as a modern day superwoman. She’s successful in all aspects of life from family, friends, to business. She describes her family as “an old fashioned Italian family.” She’s been married to her husband Albert for 25 years and is a mother of three. Her children are Albert, 22; Lauren, 20; and Christopher, 19.
Life didn’t start out in riches for Caroline and Albert. Admittedly she states, “I did not marry a wealthy man.” In the last 25 years Albert and his brother Tommy’s (Dina’s Husband) business has taken off. The brothers own and run The Brownstone a catering and event hosting facility in Paterson, New Jersey. The Brownstone has been part of the Manzo family for the past 30 years and has turned into the premier hosting facility for events in New Jersey.
Caroline believes a person needs to be both street smart and book smart in order to do well in life and she has made sure this value was instilled in her children. Albert, the oldest of the three children, is currently in law school. Lauren works side-by-side with her brother, Christopher, and her father at The Brownstone. Her duties lie mostly with brides and making sure they have everything they need. Christopher has dreams outside The Brownstone and hopes to run his own service-based business someday. What that service may be spans from car washes to Gentlemen’s Clubs.
In her busy life Caroline still finds time to give back to those in need. She sits on the board of Project Ladybug, a foundation started by her sister Dina to help children with cancer, and is affiliated with The Carolyn Gable Expect A Miracle Foundation which helps single mothers.
This season is full of family relationships. Caroline, her sister Dina, and her sister-in-law Jacqueline are all part of the Housewives cast. Getting confused? Here are the facts to help you out:
• Caroline and Dina are sisters who are married to brothers
• Albert (Caroline’s Husband) and Tommy (Dina’s Husband) are brothers
• Jacqueline is married to Chris (Caroline and Dina’s Brother)
Extra Links
The Brownstone
http://www.thebrownstone.com/home.html
4 My Mom
http://4mymom.com/
Project Ladybug
http://projectladybug.org/Welcome.html
The Carolyn Gable Expect A Miracle Foundation
http://www.expectamiraclefoundation.org/
Dina Manzo
Age: 38
Occupation: Event Planner and Interior Designer
Husband: Tommy Manzo
Married for: 4 years
Children: Alexia, 14 (From a pervious marriage)
Dina is no newcomer to reality TV. Do you remember from where? Dina, her husband Tommy, along with the rest of the family were on VH1’s “My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding”. This wedding was definitely huge tipping the scales at 600 plus guests and the check at the end was well over a million dollars. She’s back on reality TV with Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
Before this fabulous life you see on TV Dina struggled just like every other American woman. When her divorced happened Dina was left with nothing and moved into her sister’s spare bedroom with her daughter and started a new. From there Dina continued her Interior Design business and started as an Event Planner. She currently runs her office out of The Brownstone. Dina shows the nation how the American Dream can happen. She picked up her life after her divorce and went from rags to riches.
Dina is a well-rounded woman. She not only takes care of her family, runs her own business, and watches after her teenage daughter, Lexi; She puts her business skills and connections to work with her charity, Project Ladybug. Project Ladybug, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping children with cancer. Dina hopes someday Project Ladybug will grow large enough to open Ladybug houses, a place that families can call home while their children are receiving treatment.
As mentioned before Dina is not alone on the show her sister, Caroline, and her sister-in-law, Jacqueline, are also part of the cast.
Extra Links
Project Ladybug
http://projectladybug.org/Welcome.html
The Brownstone
http://www.thebrownstone.com/home.html
My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding
http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/my_big_fat_fabulous_wedding/122360/episode.jhtml
Jacqueline Laurita
Occupation: Stay-at-home Mom
Husband: Christopher Laurita
Married for: 13+ years
Children: Ashley, 17 (from a previous marriage); CJ, 6
Jacqueline is a West Coast transplant originally from Las Vegas, Nevada she moved to New Jersey for her husband Chris (Caroline and Dina’s brother). Being from the West Coast Jacqueline admits she originally believed “New Jersey was the armpit of the earth” but has since come to call New Jersey home. Formally a cosmetologist she is now a stay-at-home mom with her two kids Ashley, 17 and CJ, 6. Her husband Chris owns several wholesale apparel businesses, which allows them to live a comfortable life in which she is very grateful for.
Due to her laid back west coast nature Jacqueline is looked to as a peacekeeper between friends. She has a huge heart and tries to see the good in people.
Teresa Giudice
Occupation: Stay-at-home Mom
Husband: Joe Giudice
Married for: 8 years
Children: Gia, Gabriella, Milania
Teresa is a tried and true Jersey girl. She was born and raised in Jersey with her brother and her Italian Catholic parents. During her childhood years in Paterson, New Jersey Teresa grew up with now husband Joe Giudice. The childhood sweethearts have been married for 8 years and have three daughters. Teresa is currently a stay-at-home mom but hopes to put her degree in Fashion Marketing to use in the future.
Joe owns a successful construction business and is currently in the process of building the family dream house. Décor wise Teresa is looking for a French Chateau look.
Danielle Staub
Age: 45
Occupation: Stay-at-home Mom
Husband: Divorced
Children: Christine, 14; Jillian, 10
Danielle is this season’s damsel in distress. She is hopping to find her Prince Charming so she can once again be a princess. According to Danielle her husband was the 20th man to propose to her. She took the leap and unfortunately her marriage fell apart. Now divorced and on the prowl she is looking for a man to love and to come and save her and her daughters from finical despair. Unlike the old days with her Black American Express Card, which she prides herself on being one of the first people in New Jersey to have one and getting one before Madonna, Danielle does not have finical freedom and soon the effects will take a toll on her and her daughter’s lives.
Danielle is jumping head first into the online dating scene and during the preview of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” we see her primping to go on a date with a man she doesn’t even know the name of. She only knows him by his online screen name “Gucci Model.” Along with her online dating activities Danielle’s time is divided among her daughters and religious pursuits. Her daughter’s are her best friends and Danielle makes sure she is heavily involved in their lives. Religiously Danielle is a devout Catholic woman who attends Mass regularly and is involved with the local parish.
This Jersey Girl has plenty more to throw at us on the first season of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
