16 Surprising Facts About The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Melissa may be in the fashion business now with her new boutique, Envy, but did you know Teresa was in fashion before RHONJ, too? At the opening of Envy she told E! she was previously a buyer for Macy's.

When Caroline and Dina, who are sisters, were cast in season one of RHONJ, it was the first time the franchise featured relatives. Because they married brothers, Caroline and Dina also shared Jacqueline as a sister-in-law – at least until Dina got divorced from Tommy.

The Brownstone may be famous from its many appearances on RHONJ, but it was a TV location long before the show. The Sopranos featured scenes shot at The Brownstone in its first season.

Caroline has sworn her family has no Mob connections, but many news outlets have reported otherwise. The Daily Beast, for example, quoted Robert Buccino of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office saying Caroline's father-in-law Tiny "certainly was a player in the scene with organized crime.”

Post-RHONJ, Danielle appeared as a stripper at the New York City club Scores, but shortly after photos of her performance appeared online she quit the job and told People she was "seeking treatment for psychological problems."

Weird, right? Well, not according to Siggy. The RHONJ newbie appeared on AOL to talk about her unique relationship with her ex-husband and explained he became close with her new man because they still have a tight relationship from co-parenting. Hey – if it works, it works.

That's right! Teresa was in the very prison that inspired Orange Is The New Black. She's not the first celebrity inmate, either. Lauryn Hill and Leona Helmsley also served time at Danbury.

Many have pegged Martha Stewart as the inspiration for OITNB's Judy King, who is the target of paparazzi attention while behind bars in the show, but Teresa is convinced the character is based on her. "They made a character that is just like me. They probably read my book," Teresa told The New York Daily News.

Can you believe it? We thought Dina was Jersey through and through, but she's now in Beverly Hills. We have our fingers crossed for a RHOBH crossover.

Back in 2011, Chris Christie fired Albert Manzo from a government position for listing The Brownstone as his home address rather than his real home. "Do you really believe he's sleeping on a cot at the Brownstone in Paterson?" Christie asked at the time.

Caroline's family may seem large on Manzo'd With Children, but the Laurita clan is much, much larger – there are 11 siblings, including Caroline, Dina and Chris.

Joe is serving his time at FCI Fort Dix, the very same jail where RHOA's star Phaedra's estranged husband Apollo is also serving time.

Can we be invited to one of their parties?

Nick and Joe may be busy on tour, but Kevin Jonas is now a contractor in New Jersey – and he helped build Kathy's house!

Of course these two reality TV Jersey girls are friends. Siggy and Sammi host a weekly Podcast where they talk relationships with another TV personality, Clare Galterio.