Reality TV has put many in the spotlight, and while some fall into oblivion after a moment, others build a lasting career… Nicole Polizzi alias Snooki belongs to the second category. She gained fame as one of the actresses of the reality TV show Jersey Shore, after which she appeared on the best talk shows in the country before she started a career as a TV presenter and wrestler, which was short-lived.
Snooki’s influence on reality TV remains strong with the lead roles in Snooki & JWoww: “Moms With Attitude” and “Jersey Shore”: Family Vacation. Let’s take a short walk from the beginning of her career to her breakthrough as a star while touching on the most important aspects of her personal life.
Snooki (Nicole Polizzi) Bio
Nicole Elizabeth Polizzi was born on November 23, 1987, in Santiago, Chile. At the age of only 6 months, she was adopted by her Italian-American parents Andy Polizzi and Helen Polizzi. She learned that her biological parents had put her up for adoption because they could not afford to raise her. Although she was born in Chile, Snooki has no Chilean genetic roots. A DNA test she performed revealed that she is of mixed descent, which includes Roma, Ibero-Americans, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Jews.
ALSO READ: Georges St Pierre Biography, Wife, Height, Age, Net Worth
Her adoptive parents brought her back to New Jersey, where she grew up at Marlboro High School New York and was part of the cheerleading team. She earned the name Snookie in her middle school days. Her friends had named her after a male character from the 1991 teen dance movie “Save the Last Dance” because she was the first of them to kiss a boy.
After high school, Snooki wanted to become a veterinary technician and began studying at community college. However, she would end up on reality TV. She first appeared on the MTV show Is She Really Going Out With Him? before falling under the radar of the casting directors of Jersey Shore. She became the show’s breakout star, and the rest is history.
Snooki Net Worth
Snooki has made a lot of money on television. Her salary per episode on Jersey Shore went from $5,000 per episode to $22,000 per episode to $30,000 and then $150,000 per episode for the last season of the series.
She was able to monetize her fame in several other ways, including writing books ranging from easy to great success, establishing a fashion line called SnookiLove, and hosting her own shows. Snooki once made a huge profit from selling her 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT on eBay. She had bought it for $60,000 but sold it in 2013 for $75,000.
In 2012, she received $32,000 from Rutgers University to talk to students about what comes with celebrity status. Snooki’s net worth is estimated at $4 million.
Family – Husband and Kids
Snooki is married to Jionni LaValle, a former colleague of Jersey Shore. They got engaged in 2012 and were married on November 29, 2014, and before they were married the couple had already had children. Their first child, a boy named Lorenzo Dominic LaValle, was born on August 26, 2012, while their second child, a daughter named Giovanna Marie LaValle, was born on September 26, 2014. Her children, who also appear in the spin-off Family Vacation of Jersey Shore, have become mini reality TV stars themselves.
Snooki’s husband Jionni LaValle, unlike her, is not a fan of reality TV. After he refused to shoot the spin-off Family Vacation, rumors began to circulate that a divorce was imminent, but LaValle quickly put things right.
Jionni LaValle, who was born on March 20, 1987, in East Hanover, New Jersey, prefers to stick to running his business. A successful entrepreneur, he owns ATM stores throughout America. LaValle was able to start his business with the financial help of his family, which includes three siblings named Joe, James, and Janelle. In addition to his ATM businesses, LaValle is co-owner of a fashion line called NJ Fatman. His net worth is estimated at $200,000.
ALSO READ: Melissa Gilbert Biography, Spouse or Husband, Children, and Net Worth
Snooki Weight Loss
As a media personality, Snooki needs her body to always be in top shape. There is no compromise on good looks, and too much weight is almost taboo. After she had her first child in August 2012, she gained a lot of weight.
Body shammers were coming at her, but Snooki was out for revenge with a new body. With workouts and diets, Snooki achieved her goal of a slim body. Uncharacteristically for Snooki, she documented her progress through social media and later began posting videos on her website with training instructions. She told People Magazine about her training routine and said she went to the gym four times a week.
By March 2013 she had lost 46 pounds and was on the cover of USA Magazine. She would continue to lose 4 pounds to lose a total of 50 pounds. Snooki now weighs around 96 pounds and has turned 180 degrees from her wild partying and binge drinking.
