Snooki

**Nicole Elizabeth** "**Snooki**" **LaValle** (née **Polizzi**; born November 23, 1987) is an American reality television personality, television host, author, professional wrestler, and dancer. She is best known for being a cast member of the MTV reality show _Jersey Shore_ and starring in _Snooki & Jwoww_ and _Jersey Shore: Family Vacation_. She earned $150,000 per _Jersey Shore_ episode by the last season.

She also appeared as the guest hostess for _WWE Raw_ in 2011 and competed at WrestleMania XXVII that year.

## Early life and education

Polizzi was born in Santiago, Chile. She was adopted when she was six months old and was raised by Italian-American parents, Andy and Helen Polizzi. Polizzi’s father is a volunteer firefighter and auto-salvage supervisor, and her mother is an office manager.

Polizzi was given her nickname, Snooki, in middle school, her friends named her after "Snookie", a male character in _Save the Last Dance_, because she was the first of her friends to kiss a boy. She grew up and went to school in Marlboro, New York, where she was a cheerleader. During high school, she suffered from an eating disorder and weighed .

Snooki went to Marlboro High School in Marlboro. After graduating, she went to Brookdale Community College in Middletown Township, New Jersey, where she studied to become a veterinary technician.

## Health

In February 2026, Snooki announced that she was diagnosed with stage-1 cervical cancer.

## Filmography

|Year|Title|Role|Notes|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|2009|_Is She Really Going Out with Him?_|Herself|Episode 14: "Jerz Pud"|
|2009–12|_Jersey Shore_|Herself|Main cast, 6 seasons|
|2010|_When I Was 17_|Herself|Season 1, Ep. 10|
|2010|_Cake Boss_|Herself|Season 3, Ep. 21: "Snookie, Super Anthony & a Ship"|
|2011|_WWE Raw/WrestleMania 27_|Herself|3 episodes: Mar 14, Mar 28, Dec 12 1 match at WrestleMania: Apr 3|
|2011|_Silent Library_|Herself|Episode "Jersey Shore"|
|2012–15|_Snooki & Jwoww_|Herself|Main cast, 4 seasons|
|2012|_The Three Stooges_|Herself|Cameo|
|2012|_MTV's Club New Year's Eve 2013_|Herself|Hosted with JWoww & Jeff Dye|
|2013|_Movie 43_|Herself|Cameo|
|2013|_MTV's ChallengeMania: Road to Rivals II_|Co-host|Hosted with Kenny Santucci|
|2013|_Dancing with the Stars_|Contestant|Season 17|
|2014|_Supernatural_|Herself|Episode: "Blade Runners"|
|2015–17|_Snooki & Jwoww: Moms with Attitude_|Herself|web series|
|2016|_Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry_|Herself|Season 1, Episode 2|
|2016|_Nicole & Jionni's Shore Flip_|Herself|Main cast|
|2016|_Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry_|Herself|Season 2, Episode 1|
|2017|_The New Celebrity Apprentice_|Contestant|Season 8; finished in 13th place|
|2018–present|_Jersey Shore: Family Vacation_|Herself|Main (seasons 1-3, 5–), Recurring (season 4)|
|2018|_Celebrity Fear Factor_|Contestant||
|2018–19|_How Far Is Tattoo Far?_|Host|2 seasons|
|2019|_Hollywood Medium whit Tyler Henry_|Herself|Season 4, Episode 5|
|2020|_Ridiculousness_|Herself|Season 16, Episode 28|
|2020|_Celebrity Family Feud_|Herself|Season 7, Episode 4|
|2021|_Floribama Shore_|Herself|Season 4, Episode 14 & 15, Hosted with JWoww|
|2021|_Cribs_|Herself|Guest|
|2021–22|_Messyness_|Host|Main|
|2023|_All Star Shore_|Narrator|Season 2|
|2024|_Last Week Tonight with John Oliver_|Herself|Guest, Season 11, Episode 5|

## Awards and nominations

|Year|Award|Category|Result|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|2010|Teen Choice Awards|"Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star"||
|2011|Teen Choice Awards|"Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star"||
|2011|WWE Slammy Awards|"A-Lister of the Year"||
|2013|Razzie Awards|"Worst Screen Couple" <small>(shared with any combination of two cast members from _Jersey Shore_)</small>||

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Snooki
- **image**: Snooki in Chicago adj.jpg
- **caption**: Snooki in 2011
- **birth name**: Nicole Elizabeth Polizzi
- **birth place**: Santiago, Chile
- **nationality**: American
- **alma mater**: Brookdale Community College
- **years active**: 2009–present
- **children**: 3