Melissa Gorga

**Melissa Ann Gorga** (nee Marco; born March 21, 1979) is an American television personality, author, singer, designer and businesswoman. She is best known for starring in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

## Early Life

Gorga was born in Montville, New Jersey to parents Anthony John and Donna Marco. She has two older sisters, Lysa Marco-Simpson and Kim Marco Pirella. Her father died in a car accident when she was seventeen years old.

She attended New Jersey City University and received a Bachelor of Arts.

## Career

Gorga worked as a cocktail waitress in a strip club whilst in college. It was later claimed that she had been a stripper which she denied.

In 2011, Gorga appeared on the magazine cover of the August issue of Boardwalk Journal. She has also appeared in pictorials for Paper and Us Weekly.

She also pursued a music career. Her single "On Display" was released on iTunes on August 13, 2011. 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" and "Rockstar". Her fourth single, "I Just Wanna" was released in September 2012 which was written by and featured hip-hop singer Santino Noir. 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.

Her book titled "Love, Italian Style: The Secret of My Hot and Happy Marriage" was published by St. Martin's Griffin in 2013. In 2014, Gorga introduced a jewellery line on HSN. In late 2015, she opened a clothing boutique called Envy by Melissa Gorga in Montclair, New Jersey, in premises build by her husband, Joe. In January 2017, the store was temporarily closed due to a dispute with her business partner, Jackie Beard Robinson; it re-opened later that month. In December 2017, Robinson sued Gorga, alleging Gorga falsely accused her of stealing merchandise from Envy.

In May 2017, she and her husband opened a restaurant in East Hanover, New Jersey with Teresa Giudice named Gorga's Homemade Pasta & Pizza. The restaurant closed in January 2018 as it was in search of larger space and new management.

### The Real Housewives of New Jersey

In 2011, Melissa joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series for the third season after appearing as a 'guest' in the second. She has appeared in every season since.

#### **RHONJ Taglines**

* Season 3 - "I live a life that most girls only dream of."
* Season 4 - "I never throw the first punch but I'm always a knockout."
* Season 5 - "Sexy life, loyal wife. Take a page from my book."
* Season 6 - "I've learned to forgive and never regret."
* Season 7 - "I always act like a lady but now I think like a boss."
* Season 8 - "The only life I envy is my own."
* Season 9 - "Don't try to bully me, 'cos I'm a boss."
* Season 10 - "Mirror, mirror on the wall, I don't think I look 40 at all."
* Season 11 - "I can tell your green with envy and honey, green is not your colour."

## Personal Life

### Marriages and Children

Gorga has been married once. She married businessman Giuseppe "Joe" Gorga on August 20, 2004 and together they have three children: Antonia (born August 12, 2005), Gino (born September 12, 2007) and Joey (born April 17, 2010).

## Family

**Husbands and Partners**

* Joe Gorga (Husband; 2004-present)

**Children**

* Antonia Gorga
* Gino Gorga
* Joey Gorga

**Parents**

* Anthony John Marco
* Donna Marco

**Siblings**

* Lysa Marco-Simpson
* Kim Marco Pirella

## Discography

 2012
 2013
 2019

## Bibliography

* Love Italian Style: The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage - (September 17, 2013)