Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star DJ Pauly D is a father to a daughter named Amabella. Originally, the reality TV star wasn’t aware that he had a daughter until his baby mama, Amanda Markert pursued him for child support and began legal proceeding against the DJ. The two reportedly met in Las Vegas and did not meet again until things got ugly.
Although Pauly might not have the best relationship with his baby mama, his relationship with his daughter seems very strong. The MTV star doesn’t usually post on social media about his life as a father, but in several interviews, he’s gushed about the similarities between him and her as well as the joys of fatherhood. Pauly’s even described it as one of the “most amazing experiences” he’s had in life.
14 Pauly D Didn’t Know He Was A Dad Until His Daughter Was 5 Months Old
Pauly didn’t find out he was a father until Amabella was five months old in October 2013. When news broke out from his baby mama, the MTV star released an official statement to the press in October 2013. "I am excited to embark on this new part of my life,” he told Us Weekly.
13 He Became A Dad After A One Night Stand
The DJ reportedly met his baby mama in Las Vegas where he was performing at a night club. Amanda was just in town for a short time since she was from Atlantic City, New Jersey. He also alluded to the one-night hookup when he told Us Weekly, “Sometimes in life things aren't planned and they may even scare you at first, but they end up being a blessing, that is how I feel about having a daughter.”
12 He Was Nervous When He First Met Amabella
Since Pauly didn’t know about his daughter for five months and had to wait for legal proceedings to get visitation, he admitted to being nervous to see her. “I didn't know what to expect, and then you know, it's almost like I knew what to do. I felt comfortable holding her,” he said of their first encounter. “It was an exciting feeling [and] all the nervousness went away.”
11 The DJ Reportedly Wanted His Baby Mama To Have An Abortion
Pauly’s baby mama, Amanda, shared text messaged with TMZ in October 2013 that indicated the MTV reality star wanted her to have an abortion. The outlet reported that Pauly offered to pay all of the medical expenses. Another source told TMZ, Amanda took the money but still decided to have their baby.
10 He Wanted Full Custody
Once Pauly found out he was a father, he proceeded to seek full custody of Amabella. He also wanted the hearing to be in Las Vegas where he lived at the time. Details of the custody battle remain unclear, but Amanda’s posts about Amabella on Instagram seem to indicate that she has primary custody.
9 Pauly D Lives On The Opposite Coast Of Amabella
Pauly primarily lives in Las Vegas where he has a residency at Drais Nightclub. Aside from filming Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, the DJ doesn’t spend most of his year on the East Coast. His daughter, on the other hand, goes to school in New Jersey where her mother, Amanda, lives.
8 He Called Being A Father One Of The Most Amazing Experiences In His Life
The MTV star climbed to fame as a reality star and as a club DJ. In addition to his success, he told the women competing for his love on the show Double Shot At Love, “Having kids is one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life.” He added, “It’s the first time I ever loved somebody more than myself. That girl is my everything.”
7 Pauly D Bought His Daughter A DJ Set
Pauly performs at some of the biggest clubs and parties in America and he’s passing down his skill as a DJ to his daughter. In a chat with People he revealed, “I got her a DJ room. She’s scratching records already.” He also described Amabella as his “little mini-me” when talking about his daughter’s hobbies.
6 He Spoils Amabella With A Lot Of Gifts
In addition to gifting Amabella a DJ room, he spoils her with several other gifts. Pauly has an impressive car collection and made sure his daughter has the same. “She gets whatever she wants,” Pauly told People. “She has a matching toy Lamborghini truck [and] a Mercedes Benz G63 toy truck.”
5 He's Very Careful About Who He's Introduced Her To
Amabella holds a special place in Pauly’s heart. Because of his fame, he’s very selective about who he introduces her to. “I’m even more picky when I pick women to actually meet her or my mother,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I put my standards up a lot higher now.” Only one of his ex-girlfriends has met his daughter.
4 Aubrey O’Day Is The Only Girlfriend Who’s Met Amabella
Pauly and former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day dated from 2016 to 2017 after they met on the show Famously Single. While they were still dating, he told TooFab, “No one has ever met my daughter yet, she was the first one to meet her. That's what I was looking for, so I'm really glad I went on the show to meet her” adding that it was a “huge deal.”
3 His Daughter Knows He's Famous
The DJ’s been candid with Amabella about his fame from reality television, although she doesn’t know any of the raunchy details. “She knows I’m a DJ, she knows I have these huge crowds, and I am a big influence and she knows what an influence is, she calls me famous when I go to the airport,” he told Us Weekly. Although he’s also told her he uses his fame and influence to bring awareness to different charities and cases.
2 He's Described Her A Prank War Champion
Pauly is known as the “Prank War Champion” on Jersey Shore because of all of his ridiculous pranks on his castmates. Amabella has not only picked up her dad’s love of being a DJ and expensive cars, but she also enjoys pranking her Pauly. “She does pranks on me. She hid my phone, and she’ll keep the prank going for like an hour,” he told People.
1 Angelina Pivarnick Criticized Him For Not Posting His Daughter On Social Media
Pauly D doesn’t post about his daughter too often on social media, except for the occasional birthday post. In contrast, Amabella’s mother posts about their daughter frequently. Pauly’s co-star Angelina Pivarnick once told reporters, “That’s just something I don’t get…I’d be posting left and right about her. It just boggles my mind.” At the time, Pauly’s daughter was only a few months old.
Sources: Us Weekly, TMZ, Page Six, People, Entertainment Tonight