Jacqueline Laurita

The Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s Jacqueline Laurita was born on April 26, 1970. She is a former makeup artist from Las Vegas who moved to New Jersey after meeting husband Chris Laurita, brother of former cast members Caroline and Dina Manzo. Throughout the first season of the show, the stay-at-home mom had a difficult time balancing her relationships with former friend Danielle Staub and her sisters-in-law.

Following the airing of the first season, Laurita and Staub’s friendship dissolved publicly and the two became enemies. Laurita had trouble with her daughter, Ashley (who she has from a previous marriage), when Ashley began threatening Staub through Facebook and text messages. Ashley was later fined for an incident, which aired on the second season, in which she pulled Staub’s weave.

The show also followed Laurita’s struggle to conceive after several miscarriages. By the first season’s reunion show, she was pregnant and gave birth to son Nicholas shortly after. She and her husband also share son Christopher Laurita, Jr.

Laurita has opened up publicly about struggling with parenting her son Nicholas, who was diagnosed with autism. She is an ambassador to many non-profit Autism organizations. Laurita’s family life has been a constant story arc on RHONJ. 

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The television personality has also co-authored two books, Get It! A Beauty, Style and Wellness Guide To Getting Your ‘It’ Together and Defy Expectations, which she wrote with husband Chris and is set to be released in 2016.