Getting to Know the Cast of Real Housewives of New Jersey

The Real Housewives of New Jersey are their own women. The cast has changed from season to season, and there are some noticeable reoccurring cast members and some who have disappeared and come back for another round. Some don’t learn the first time, some simply cannot hold it together, and some have changed the way the world viewed them as they decided they’d come back and make a go of it once again. We were excited to see Jacqueline Laurita back this season. Her family is so lovable and she’s always seemed like so much fun.

Imagine our surprise when a few weeks ago she baited Teresa in what we thought she might be an opportunity to make her look bad in front of her fans yet again, but it backfired on her. Teresa kept her cool, excused herself from the situation and left Jacqueline looking like a jerk who stood around with a smirk acting as if she did nothing wrong. We were more than a little disappointed. All the ladies in the cast are old faces, but they are two new ones and we thought we’d get to know each one a little better.

Teresa Giudice

She’s a single mother for about 41-months after being released from nearly a year in prison only 8 months ago. She and her husband, Joe Giudice, were found guilty of multiple counts of fraud and tax issues and many other things more than two years ago, and their family is paying the price. She’s the backbone of the group who has had issues with everyone, but she seems to have overcome her issues in prison and while we still see a little of the old Tre in there somewhere, we are seeing a much calmer, much more zen, much more open-minded Teresa these days. She’s got to hold it together for her four little girls while their dad is in prison, after all.

Melissa Gorga

Probably one of our favorite housewives thanks in large part to her hilarious husband, Joe Gorga, she makes us laugh. She’s young, she’s a good mom, she’s opening up her own business, and she’s married to the most hilarious husband of the group; and she’s usually the voice of reason these days. She doesn’t choose sides, but she always puts family first. She’s got three little kids, and she wants them to know their family and she wants to work through their issues with their extended family so that they can be a real family again.

Kathy Wakile

We haven’t seen much of her yet this season, but we wish she’d come cook for all of us. She’s fantastic in the kitchen, her husband is hilarious and they seem to be unable to get along with their cousin Teresa. However, she seems hurt by this and wants to work through it no matter how hard it is. She has a daughter in college and one son who is about to grow up, and she’s feeling the empty nest getting to her.

Jacqueline Laurita

She was one of the original wives to be cast, and then she left. She has a young son with Autism, a husband with financial issues, family who doesn’t speak to her, an unwed pregnant daughter she only recently began getting along with, and she seems to have come back unfriendly, bitter and looking to cause problems with the ladies. We are disappointed to see her like this, as she was always one of the calmer and much more likable housewives. Whatever she’s going through, she’s taking out on everyone else.

Dolores Catania

She’s new, and she’s bold. She seems to be the kind of wife that gets along with everyone, and she seems to have no problem with anyone. She has a weird relationship with her ex, he finances everything she does, but she’s opening up a gym of her own. She’s got to kids who are a little bit older, and she seems to really value her friendships and wants to make them worse. We like her so far, and that’s saying something compared to most new wives.

Siggy Flicker

She’s an author, a relationship expert, and a mom who doesn’t want her kids to make excuses. She grounds them, takes their stuff away and she makes them accountable for their behavior when it’s out of line. School comes first, her kids need to do what she says, and she seems to have a very open and honest way about her. She loves her kids, but she struggles to understand them at times. She’s an open book as far as what she’s feeling, but she’s not really rude about it. We like her a lot.