Teresa Giudice asks for prayers after family friend tragedy
Teresa Giudice opens up about the recent loss of a family friend and asks for prayers as she supports her daughter through this difficult time.
Teresa Giudice is always there for her daughters.
The “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star is opening up about supporting her daughter, Milania Giudice, amid a “difficult” few months.
“I just need prayers,” Teresa Giudice tells USA TODAY.
The reality TV star’s second youngest daughter, who was featured on the Bravo show throughout her childhood, is navigating a recent arrest and grieving the loss of her best friend, Victoria Zardoya.
“I’m praying for the family and I just keep praying for my daughter also. Please pray because it’s very difficult,” says Teresa Giudice, who is set to star in “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th,” the reunion series airing Sunday, Aug. 9, to celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary this year.
Zardoya died on Friday, July 24, at age 20, according to an Instagram post shared by Victoria Silberbusch, a friend of Zardoya’s who was on the excursion. While on a trip to Florida’s Egmont Key, an island off the coast of Tampa, Zardoya “sustained fatal injuries due to a devastating fall while we were all exploring the historic ruins at Fort Dade on Egmont Key.”
Calling the incident a “terrible and tragic accident,” Silberbusch added: “At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level. We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed. We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911…Everyone did everything they possibly could to help. Her injuries from the fall were brutal.”
Following the news, Teresa Giudice and her family members took to social media to share loving tributes to Zardoya.
In an Instagram post featuring a series of childhood photos of her daughter and Zardoya together, Teresa Giudice wrote: “My sweet beautiful Victoria @_victoriazardoya this just doesn’t seem real. You were like a daughter to me and an incredible built in best friend and sister to @milania.ggiudice I watched the two of you grow up into such beautiful young women, and seeing you both follow your dreams at the University of Tampa warmed my heart because I always knew she had you by her side.”
She concluded, “I love you so much sweet angel Heaven gained one of the most beautiful souls, and I know you’ll be watching over all of us. You will be loved, missed, and remembered forever.”
Milania Giudice also honored her best friend with a heartfelt post on her Instagram, calling Zardoya her “my sister” and “my soulmate.” On TikTok, she shared an emotional video of moments with Zardoya, writing, “My sweet girl my best friend.” In another video of the two dancing, she wrote, “I would do anything to be doing this with you right now.”
It’s been a hard time for the 20-year-old, who has faced legal trouble following her May arrest for simple assault purposely or knowingly causing bodily injury (she reportedly entered a plea of not guilty.) But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Teresa Giudice over the years is that family is everything, and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star will always be there to support her girls.
Reflecting on seeing oldest daughter Gia Giudice follow in her reality TV footsteps on Bravo’s “Next Gen NYC,” Teresa Giudice says, “I love seeing Gia on the screen, and I feel like she does it so much better than I do with it. … As a mom, I want her to thrive and she’s killing it, and I’m so proud of her.”
And when it comes to her favorite moments as an OG housewife throughout her 14 seasons on the New Jersey franchise, nothing beats the memories she created on the small screen with her family.
“In Season 2, we went to Italy to my parents’ hometown. And now that they’re not here anymore, I can always look back on that,” she says.
“Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” will premiere on Aug. 9 on Bravo, with episodes airing Sundays. Fans can also stream the next day on Peacock.