Melissa Ann Gorga (née Marco; born March 21, 1979)[1] is an American television personality. She is a cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, joining the show in its third season in 2011.
Melissa Gorga | |
---|---|
Born | Melissa Ann Marco March 21, 1979 Toms River, New Jersey, U.S. |
Education | New Jersey City University (BA) |
Occupation | Television personality |
Years active | 2011–present |
Spouse |
Joe Gorga (m. 2004) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Teresa Giudice (sister-in-law) |
Website | www |
Early life
editGorga was born on March 21, 1979. She is of full Italian descent and grew up in Toms River, New Jersey.[2][3] She attended New Jersey City University and lived in Bayonne, New Jersey, while in college.
Career
editGorga joined Bravo's reality television series The Real Housewives of New Jersey as a friend of Teresa in 2011.[4][5][6][7] In 2011, she appeared on the magazine cover of the August issue of Boardwalk Journal.[8] She has also appeared in pictorials for Paper[9] and Us Weekly.[10]
She pursued a music career. Her single "On Display" was released on iTunes on August 13, 2011.[11] Other singles were previewed on several season-four episodes, and Gorga issued a four-song EP. As of July 5, 2012, she has released two additional singles on iTunes: "How Many Times", released April 29, 2012,[12] and "Rockstar", released June 10, 2012.[13] Her fourth single, "I Just Wanna", was released September 2012. Written by and featuring hip hop singer Santino Noir,[14] it was accompanied by a music video.[15] In January 2016, Gorga told E! News she wouldn't be continuing her music career, but expressed interest to returning to music in the future.[16]
Her book titled "Love, Italian Style: The Secret of My Hot and Happy Marriage" was published by St. Martin's Griffin in 2013.[17][18][19] In 2014, Gorga introduced a jewelry line on HSN.[3][20] In late 2015, she opened a clothing boutique called Envy by Melissa Gorga in Montclair, New Jersey, in premises built by her husband, Joe.[21] In January 2017, the store was temporarily closed due to a dispute with her business partner, Jackie Beard Robinson;[22][23] it re-opened later that month.[24] In December 2017, Robinson sued Gorga, alleging Gorga falsely accused Robinson of stealing merchandise from Envy.[citation needed]
In May 2017, the Gorgas opened a restaurant in East Hanover, New Jersey with Teresa Giudice named Gorga's Homemade Pasta and Pizza.[25][26] In January 2018, the restaurant closed in search of larger space and new management.[27][28]
Gorga starred in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, a spin-off featuring various women from The Real Housewives franchise that premiered on Peacock in November 2021.[29][30]
In December 2021, Gorga launched her own interview and lifestyle podcast with PodcastOne titled "On Display"[31] named after her first single.
Personal life
editShe is married to Giuseppe "Joe" Gorga, who also appears on The Real Housewives of New Jersey and is the brother of cast member Teresa Giudice.[32] The Gorgas have 3 children: Antonia (b. 2005), Giacinto "Gino" (b. 2007), and Giuseppe "Joey" (b. 2010).[3] and reside in Montville, New Jersey.[33]
Filmography
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011–present | The Real Housewives of New Jersey | Herself | Series regular; 151 episodes |
2012–24 | Watch What Happens Live! | Guest; 17 episodes | |
2015 | Teresa Checks In | 3 episodes | |
2015 | Manzo'd with Children | Episode: "Do You Take, the Manzo Family?" | |
2018 | Lip Sync Battle | Episode: "Ramona Singer vs. Melissa Gorga" | |
2019 | The Real Housewives of Atlanta | Episode: "The Float Goes On" | |
2020 | The Real Housewives of New York City | Episode: “Not So Model Behavior” | |
2021 | The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip | Season 1; 7 episodes |
Discography
editTitle | Year |
---|---|
"On Display" | 2011 |
"How Many Times" | 2012 |
"Rockstar" | 2012 |
"I Just Wanna" (featuring Santino Noir) |
2012 |
"Never Let Me Go" | 2013 |
Work Done | Fiber One (featuring: Melissa Gorga, Porsha Williams, Sonja Morgan) | 2019 |
Published works
edit- Love Italian Style: The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage, St. Martin's Press, 2013. ISBN 978-1250041487
References
edit- ^ Rohan, Virginia (May 15, 2011). "Two new members join the cast of 'Real Housewives of New Jersey'". The Record. Bergen County, New Jersey. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
The former Melissa Marco, 32, grew up in a "100 percent Italian" family in Toms River...
- ^ D'Onofrio, Mike. "Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga visits Liberty Science Center", The Jersey Journal, December 13, 2014. Accessed November 22, 2017. "Gorga grew up in Toms River. While attending New Jersey City University, where she graduated from on 2003, she lived in Bayonne."
- ^ a b c "Melissa Gorga". Bravo TV. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ "Real Housewives of New Jersey Returns – with New Ladies!". People. April 13, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ "Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Heads to the Shore in Season Four Premiering April 22 at 10PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. March 22, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Takeda, Allison (April 3, 2013). "See The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Cast Picture From Season Five". Us Weekly. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 8, 2016). "'Real Housewives Of New Jersey' Renewed; Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga & Jacqueline Laurita To Return". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- ^ Says, Phyllis Volpe (September 2, 2012). "New Jersey Housewife Teresa Giudice Takes a Swipe at The Boardwalk Journal". The Boardwalk Journal Magazine: Atlantic County's Best Source for News, Media and Advertising. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "Talking Fashion With Teresa Giudice & Melissa Gorga From Real Housewives of NJ". PAPER. October 27, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "RHONJ's Teresa and Melissa Show Off Curves in Iconic 'Baywatch' Suits". Us Weekly. May 26, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "On Display" at iTunes
- ^ "How Many Times" at iTunes
- ^ "Rockstar" at iTunes
- ^ "Santino Noir's website". Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "I Just Wanna" at iTunes
- ^ Harrison, Lily (January 14, 2016). "Melissa Gorga Reveals Why She Named Her New Store Envy—Get the Scoop". E! News. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ "Melissa Gorga Cannot Believe People Think She Promotes Marital Rape". HuffPost. September 28, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ Gajewski, Ryan (October 8, 2013). "Melissa Gorga's Controversial Book, Love Italian Style: How's It Doing In Sales?". Wetpaint. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ Switcher, John (September 30, 2013). "Melissa Gorga Says Critics Are Taking Her New Book "Out Of Context"". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ Tanenbaum, Sharon (April 23, 2014). "Melissa Gorga to Debut Jewelry Line on HSN". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ "Melissa Gorga Put Joe Gorga to Work on Her New Boutique: "I Had a Vision"". December 11, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Stone, Natalie (January 5, 2017). "RHONJ's Melissa Gorga Temporarily Closes Her Boutique Following 'Difference of Opinion' with Business Partner". People. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ Vulpo, Mike (January 3, 2017). "Here's Why Real Housewives of New Jersey's Melissa Gorga Temporarily Closed Envy Boutique". E! News. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ Veron, Joan (January 24, 2017). "Melissa Gorga boutique to reopen Saturday". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ Spence, Shay (May 19, 2017). "'We're Back Together'! Teresa Giudice, Melissa and Joe Gorga Just Opened Up a Restaurant". People. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ Jennings, Rob (May 19, 2017). "'Real Housewives' stroll the red carpet at restaurant's grand opening". NJ.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ Mizoguchi, Karen (January 6, 2018). "Teresa Giudice and Joe Gorga's N.J. Restaurant to Close After Being Open Less Than a Year". People. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ Aciz Stanton, Leanne (January 6, 2018). "Joe Gorga and Teresa Giudice's New Jersey Restaurant Is Closing Less Than a Year After Opening". US Weekly. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (April 26, 2021). "The Real Housewives Are Planning the Ultimate Series on Peacock". Bravo. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ Gugelimi, Jodi; VanHoose, Benjamin (April 26, 2021). "Ramona Singer, Teresa Giudice, More Real Housewives Stars Confirmed to Appear in All-Stars Spinoff". People. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ "Love, Trust…and Lie Detectors (With Joe Gorga) | Melissa Gorga on Display (Episode 1)". YouTube. December 20, 2021.
- ^ Schnurr, Samantha (May 23, 2023). "'RHONJ's Teresa Giudice on Where She Stands With Joe and Melissa Gorga". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Stiansen, Laura Adams. "Jersey Girl; Franklin Lakes Real Housewife Melissa Gorga shines in the spotlight", (201) magazine, November 2013. Accessed May 11, 2016.