Melissa Gorga from The Real Housewives of New Jersey has made quite a name for herself since she joined the popular Bravo series. While she is commonly known for her contentious relationship with her sister-in-law and fellow costar, Teresa Giudice, she has come into her own through the years. Melissa has slowly become a staple to the RHONJ franchise, especially now that she has close relationships with all her castmates.
However, fans of RHONJ may know a lot about the reality star from what she exposes on the show, but there are aspects to her many hardcore Bravo fans don't even know. In this article, we will be discussing some facts about Melissa Gorga that many fans may have not known or even forgot. Here is a list of ten little-known facts about Melissa Gorga.
10 She was a Cheerleader
In high school, Melissa was a cheerleader. In her book, Love Italian Style: The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage, Melissa revealed that she tried out for the school team as a freshman but didn't make the cut. She later tried out for the varsity team and was accepted onto the team. It turned out to be a blessing for her as it was unheard of for a freshman to make the varsity team.
9 She's Married to Joe Gorga
Melissa has been married to her husband, Joe Gorga, for almost 15 years, reports Fame10. The couple shares three children together, Antonia, 15, Gino, 13, and Joey, 11. Their families, especially Joe's, were skeptical about their relationship at first, as the engagement took place shortly after they met in Mexico. They were also concerned because Joe had been engaged twice prior to meeting Melissa.
8 Her Father Passed Away
When Melissa was 16-years-old, her father tragically passed away after hitting his car into a tree. In her book, she spoke to her mother about his partying ways and his past infidelities. Despite all this, Melissa loved her father and was crushed by the news of his passing. She was very close to him when she was younger, even referring to herself as a "daddy's girl" before.
7 Was Rich, Poor, Then Rich Again
Melissa and her family were well off while her father was still alive. Before he passed, her family was the first on the block to have a Lincoln Town Car, and both her parents owned Rolex watches. After her father passed away, her family struggled to make ends meet. Most of his money was tied up in undeveloped properties. Her mother was left with no life insurance, no college fund, no nothing. Then she met Joe and lived the lifestyle she once had when her father was around.
6 She’s a Singer
After Joe built an in-house recording studio, Melissa was able to live out her dream of becoming a singer. He even got her a producer to help her create her first album. She came out with five singles in her short singing career, her most popular one being, "On Display." Melissa even got to perform her songs a few times, with many of the performances shown on RHONJ.
5 Started a Fashion Line/Store
Once the singing career didn't work out, Melissa tried her hand at fashion. She began her career by starting a jewelry line for Home Shopping Network called the Melissa Gorga Collection. The line was super affordable as every piece cost under $100. In 2015, Melissa opened up her own boutique, Envy, in Montclair, New Jersey. You can also buy from her Envy online boutique.
4 Went Through a Rebellious Stage
After the death of her father, Melissa went through a short rebellious phase. She began acting out after feeling complete repair and uncontrollable anger. Melissa was shopping one day and found a $19 sweater. Even though she had the money to pay for it, shoplifting was her way of acting out. The reality star put the sweater on and attempted to leave the store with it. She ended up getting caught and was forced to pay a fine.
3 Her Childhood
Melissa grew up in Toms River, New Jersey with her parents and two older sisters. They are 10 and 12 years older than her, with Melissa claiming she was an accident. Shortly after her father's death, Melissa, her mother, and two sisters moved from New Jersey to Florida. She said she was teased in school for her dark skin and thick accent.
2 Medical Scare
At only 7-years-old, Melissa had undergone open-heart surgery for coarctation of the aorta. She shared her scare during an episode of RHONJ, revealing at the time she was only the second person in the world to have heart surgery through the back. She now helps out at the Deborah Hospital, which specializes in heart and lung. This one one of the hospitals that helped her tremendously during her surgery.
1 She Was a Cocktail Waitress
Before Melissa met Joe, she worked as a cocktail waitress at a strip club to help put herself through college. During season four of RHONJ, Teresa Giudice began telling people that Melissa once worked as a stripper. Melissa continuously denied the claim, even having her former manager from the bar help her squash the rumors.