New Faces, Old Feuds & a Fairy-Tale Wedding
They’re baaaack! The Garden State ladies promise an action-packed season of the franchise fave
The long-awaited return of The Real Housewives of New Jersey is finally here, and fans won’t be disappointed. “Every year, we say this is the biggest season,” says Dolores Catania, “but this season really is by far the biggest.” There’s no shortage of shakeups: Rookie castmates Danielle Cabral, 37, and Rachel Fuda, 31, join the mix (and one of them makes an enemy of Margaret Josephs, 55!), while Jennifer Aydin, 45, deals with marital issues, Dolores, 52, enjoys a new romance, and Teresa Giudice plans her nuptials to Louis Ruelas in the midst of a reignited feud with brother Joe Gorga and sister-in-law Melissa, both 43. “Anyone who has watched the show for the past 13 seasons knows who brings the most drama,” says Teresa, 50. Here, the Bravo stars talk to In Touch’s Katie Bruno about jumping in, having fun and evolving.
What can we expect this season?
Teresa: What stands out is definitely the buildup to my wedding. Margaret: Unlike last year, I’m not the center of it. I’m like the cherry on top of the drama sundae.
Rachel: We had some fun times, which was a pleasant surprise.
Melissa: We haven’t added new girls for a while, and I’m excited for the fans to see the new dynamic. As for me, you’ll see a new Melissa. I want to be around positive people.
Jennifer: If I think it, I say it. There’s no holding back.
Teresa, Melissa and Joe weren’t at your wedding in August. Have you resolved anything?
Teresa: It’s resolved in the sense that I have already moved on from it. But if you mean resolved in the sense of making up, then no.
And how is newlywed life?
Teresa: Amazing. It feels like we are still on our honeymoon.
Dolores, do you think you’ll marry Paul “Paulie” Connell?
Dolores: We are loving our time together and know that if it’s meant to be, we’ll get there. Stay tuned.
Margaret and Jennifer, where do you stand with your relationship?
Margaret: There are a lot of qualities about Jennifer that I admire, but at the end of the day, the way we approach relationships couldn’t be more diametrically opposed.
Jennifer: I’m not the type of person to dictate how people should behave. Margaret is different.
How have you changed since joining the show?
Margaret: My face! [Laughs] I’ve always stood up for what’s right. I’ve just gotten more passionate about it. Dolores: I’ve become a better version of myself.
Teresa: I’m more self-aware, and obviously I’ve matured a great deal. Melissa: I am a lot more confident. It’s become much easier for me to own how I feel.
Jennifer: My personality hasn’t changed. Aesthetically, I’ve changed a lot. I’ve lost weight and had a nose job.
Danielle and Rachel, what was it like being the newbies?
Danielle: I thought I was going to join the group and everyone was going to love me. I quickly learned that was wishful thinking. When you’re a threat, you become a problem.
Rachel: As a viewer, I questioned whether the drama was real. I can tell you now, yes, it is! ◼