Melissa Gorga

{{Infobox person

| name = Melissa Gorga

| image = Melissa Gorga at New York Fashion Week 2016.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Gorga at New York Fashion Week in 2016

| birth_name = Melissa Ann Marco

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|3|21}}

| birth_place = Toms River, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality =

| other_names =

| relatives = Teresa Giudice (sister-in-law)

| education = New Jersey City University (BA)

| occupation = Television personality

| years_active = 2011–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Joe Gorga|2004}}

| children = 3

| website =

| signature =

}}

Melissa Ann Gorga ({{née|Marco}}; born March 21, 1979){{cite news| url = http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/two-new-families-bring-more-humor-to-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-1.522831?page=all | title= Two new members join the cast of 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' | work=The Record| location=Bergen County, New Jersey | date=May 15, 2011|accessdate= February 8, 2016| first=Virginia|last=Rohan| quote= The former Melissa Marco, 32, grew up in a "100 percent Italian" family in Toms River...|archivedate=May 11, 2015 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511120303/http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/two-new-families-bring-more-humor-to-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-1.522831?page=all |url-status=live}} 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.

Early life

Gorga was born on March 21, 1979. She is of full Italian descent and grew up in Toms River, New Jersey.D'Onofrio, Mike. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/12/melissa_gorga_real_housewives_on_new_jersey_star_visits_the_liberty_science_center.html "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."{{cite web| url=http://www.bravotv.com/people/melissa-gorga|title=Melissa Gorga |publisher=Bravo TV|accessdate=November 14, 2019}} She attended New Jersey City University and lived in Bayonne, New Jersey, while in college.

Career

Gorga joined Bravo's reality television series The Real Housewives of New Jersey as sister-in-law of Teresa in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20481566,00.html|title=Real Housewives of New Jersey Returns – with New Ladies!|work=People|date=April 13, 2011|accessdate=May 12, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912045047/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20481566,00.html|archivedate=September 12, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Heads to the Shore in Season Four Premiering April 22 at 10PM ET/PT|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/03/22/bravos-the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-heads-to-the-shore-in-season-four-premiering-april-22-at-10pm-et-pt-919510/20120322bravo02/|work=The Futon Critic|accessdate=July 7, 2013|date=March 22, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Takeda|first=Allison|title=See The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Cast Picture From Season Five|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/see-the-real-housewives-of-new-jerseys-cast-picture-from-season-five-201334|work=Us Weekly|date=April 3, 2013|accessdate=May 12, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/real-housewives-of-new-jersey-renewed-teresa-giudice-melissa-gorga-jacqueline-laurita-1201698449/|title='Real Housewives Of New Jersey' Renewed; Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga & Jacqueline Laurita To Return | website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Denise|last=Petski|date=February 8, 2016|accessdate=February 8, 2016}} In 2011, she appeared on the magazine cover of the August issue of Boardwalk Journal.{{Cite web|url=https://boardwalkjournal.wordpress.com/new-jersey-housewife-teresa-giudice-takes-a-swipe-at-the-boardwalk-journal/|title=New Jersey Housewife Teresa Giudice Takes a Swipe at The Boardwalk Journal|last=Says|first=Phyllis Volpe|date=September 2, 2012|website=The Boardwalk Journal Magazine: Atlantic County's Best Source for News, Media and Advertising|language=en|access-date=January 4, 2020}} She has also appeared in pictorials for Paper{{Cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/real-housewives-teresa-giudice-melissa-gorga-2066602951.html|title=Talking Fashion With Teresa Giudice & Melissa Gorga From Real Housewives of NJ|date=October 27, 2016|website=PAPER|language=en|access-date=January 4, 2020}} and Us Weekly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/rhonjs-teresa-giudice-and-melissa-gorga-try-on-the-iconic-baywatch-swimsuit-w207921/|title=RHONJ's Teresa and Melissa Show Off Curves in Iconic 'Baywatch' Suits|date=May 26, 2016|website=Us Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=January 4, 2020}}

She pursued a music career. Her single "On Display" was released on iTunes on August 13, 2011.[https://music.apple.com/us/album/on-display-single/456290648 "On Display"] at iTunes 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,[https://web.archive.org/web/20120502225747/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-many-times-single/id522896232 "How Many Times"] at iTunes and "Rockstar", released June 10, 2012.[https://music.apple.com/us/album/rockstar-single/534600812 "Rockstar"] at iTunes Her fourth single, "I Just Wanna", was released September 2012. Written by and featuring hip hop singer Santino Noir,{{Cite web |url=http://www.santinonoir.com/ |title=Santino Noir's website |access-date=March 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224035012/http://www.santinonoir.com/ |archive-date=February 24, 2013 |url-status=dead }} it was accompanied by a music video.[https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-just-wanna-feat-santino/559563851 "I Just Wanna"] at iTunes 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/731490/melissa-gorga-talks-teresa-giudice-and-why-she-named-her-new-store-envy-get-the-scoop|title=Melissa Gorga Reveals Why She Named Her New Store Envy—Get the Scoop|website=E! News|first=Lily|last=Harrison|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}

Her book titled "Love, Italian Style: The Secret of My Hot and Happy Marriage" was published by St. Martin's Griffin in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/melissa-gorga-defends-book-rape_n_4009226|title=Melissa Gorga Cannot Believe People Think She Promotes Marital Rape|date=September 28, 2013|website=HuffPost|language=en|access-date=December 15, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://wetpaint.com/melissa-gorga-book-tanks-sales-609091/|title=Melissa Gorga's Controversial Book, Love Italian Style: How's It Doing In Sales?|last=Gajewski|first=Ryan|date=October 8, 2013|website=Wetpaint|language=en-US|access-date=December 15, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/melissa-gorga-says-book-critics-are-wrong|title=Melissa Gorga Says Critics Are Taking Her New Book "Out Of Context"|last=Switcher|first=John|date=September 30, 2013|website=Cosmopolitan|language=en-US|access-date=December 15, 2019}} In 2014, Gorga introduced a jewelry line on HSN.{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-style/news/melissa-gorga-jewelry-line-hsn-2014234|title=Melissa Gorga to Debut Jewelry Line on HSN|last=Tanenbaum|first=Sharon|date=April 23, 2014|work=Us Weekly|accessdate=August 4, 2014}} In late 2015, she opened a clothing boutique called Envy by Melissa Gorga in Montclair, New Jersey, in premises built by her husband, Joe.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/melissa-gorga-opens-new-jersey-boutique|title=Melissa Gorga Put Joe Gorga to Work on Her New Boutique: "I Had a Vision"|date=December 11, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2016}} In January 2017, the store was temporarily closed due to a dispute with her business partner, Jackie Beard Robinson;{{cite web|url=http://people.com/celebrity/rhonj-melissa-gorga-temporary-closes-boutique-following-difference-opinion-business-partner/|title=RHONJ's Melissa Gorga Temporarily Closes Her Boutique Following 'Difference of Opinion' with Business Partner|website=People|first=Natalie|last=Stone|date=January 5, 2017|accessdate=January 5, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/819426/here-s-why-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-s-melissa-gorga-temporarily-closed-envy-boutique|title=Here's Why Real Housewives of New Jersey's Melissa Gorga Temporarily Closed Envy Boutique|website=E! News|first=Mike|last=Vulpo|date=January 3, 2017|accessdate=January 5, 2017}} it re-opened later that month.{{cite web|url=http://www.northjersey.com/story/money/2017/01/24/melissa-gorga-boutique-reopen-saturday/96999388/|title=Melissa Gorga boutique to reopen Saturday|website=NorthJersey.com|first=Joan|last=Veron|date=January 24, 2017|accessdate=January 24, 2017}} In December 2017, Robinson sued Gorga, alleging Gorga falsely accused Robinson of stealing merchandise from Envy.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In May 2017, the Gorgas opened a restaurant in East Hanover, New Jersey with Teresa Giudice named Gorga's Homemade Pasta and Pizza.{{cite web|url=http://people.com/food/rhonj-teresa-giudice-melissa-gorga-joe-gorgas-restaurant-new-jersey/|title='We're Back Together'! Teresa Giudice, Melissa and Joe Gorga Just Opened Up a Restaurant|website=People|first=Shay|last=Spence|date=May 19, 2017|accessdate=May 19, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2017/05/real_housewives_at_restaurant_grand_opening_in_eas.html |title='Real Housewives' stroll the red carpet at restaurant's grand opening|website=NJ.com|first=Rob| last=Jennings| date=May 19, 2017|accessdate=May 19, 2017}} In January 2018, the restaurant closed in search of larger space and new management.{{cite web|url=http://people.com/food/teresa-giudice-joe-gorga-restaurant-to-close/|title=Teresa Giudice and Joe Gorga's N.J. Restaurant to Close After Being Open Less Than a Year|website=People|first=Karen|last=Mizoguchi|date=January 6, 2018|accessdate=January 9, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/joe-gorga-teresa-giudice-new-jersey-restaurant-closing/|title=Joe Gorga and Teresa Giudice's New Jersey Restaurant Is Closing Less Than a Year After Opening|website=US Weekly|first=Leanne|last=Aciz Stanton|date=January 6, 2018|accessdate=January 9, 2018}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/real-housewives-series-on-peacock-all-stars-cast|title=The Real Housewives Are Planning the Ultimate Series on Peacock|website=Bravo|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/ramona-singer-teresa-giudice-more-real-housewives-stars-confirmed-to-appear-in-all-stars-spinoff/|title=Ramona Singer, Teresa Giudice, More Real Housewives Stars Confirmed to Appear in All-Stars Spinoff|website=People|first1=Jodi|last1=Gugelimi|first2=Benjamin|last2=VanHoose|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2021}}

In December 2021, Gorga launched her own interview and lifestyle podcast with PodcastOne titled "On Display"{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuPcDNkWihQ&list=PL88xhQ-tUlW7EOLYna5rcmSKQ-nli1Mmj&index=53| title=Love, Trust…and Lie Detectors (With Joe Gorga) | Melissa Gorga on Display (Episode 1) | website=YouTube | date=December 20, 2021 }} named after her first single.

Personal life

She 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.{{cite news |last1=Schnurr |first1=Samantha |title='RHONJ's Teresa Giudice on Where She Stands With Joe and Melissa Gorga |url=https://www.etonline.com/exclusive/rhonjs-teresa-giudice-talks-sad-reunion-and-where-she-stands-with-joe-and-melissa-gorga-exclusive |access-date=19 September 2024 |work=Entertainment Tonight |date=May 23, 2023}} The Gorgas have 3 children: Antonia (b. 2005), Giacinto "Gino" (b. 2007), and Giuseppe "Joey" (b. 2010). and reside in Montville, New Jersey.Stiansen, Laura Adams. [http://www.bergen.com/people-and-parties/real-housewives-of-new-jersey/jersey-girl-franklin-lakes-real-housewife-melissa-gorga-shines-in-the-spotlight-1.831967 "Jersey Girl; Franklin Lakes Real Housewife Melissa Gorga shines in the spotlight"], (201) magazine, November 2013. Accessed May 11, 2016.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
class="wikitable sortable" \|+Film and television roles
2011–present	The Real Housewives of New Jersey	rowspan="8" \| 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

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ Songs ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" \| Title ! scope="col" style="width:1em;" \| Year
scope="row" \| "On Display" \| 2011
scope="row" \| "How Many Times" \| 2012
scope="row" \| "Rockstar" \| 2012
scope="row" \| "I Just Wanna" {{small\|(featuring Santino Noir)}} \| 2012
scope="row" \| "Never Let Me Go" \| 2013
scope="row" \| Work Done \| Fiber One (featuring: Melissa Gorga, Porsha Williams, Sonja Morgan) \| 2019

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

Songs

! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Title

! scope="col" style="width:1em;" | Year

scope="row" | "On Display"

| 2011

scope="row" | "How Many Times"

| 2012

scope="row" | "Rockstar"

| 2012

scope="row" | "I Just Wanna"
{{small|(featuring Santino Noir)}}

| 2012