One thing The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars and sisters-in-law Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga can always agree on is that their children come first.
After a years-long family feud, which sprinkled down to their kids, Teresa, 54, and Melissa, 47, are back on speaking terms after a 2025 reconciliation and celebrating their kids’ successes together.
Teresa — who shares daughters Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana, with ex-husband Joe Giudice — exclusively reveals to Us in her and Melissa’s cover story that some of their children were hesitant about their parents making amends, but she was insistent that, “Mommy knows best” and they needed to trust her.
“Mommies always know best. When Mommies say something, that’s the way to go,” Teresa adds.
Melissa — who shares daughter Antonia and sons Gino and Joey Jr. with her husband, Joe Gorga, Teresa’s brother — jokingly tells Us, “If they would just listen to us all the time, that would be great.”
“No, it’s true though. Moms always know. Whatever we say goes, and we’re always right,” Teresa chimes in.
See what Teresa and Melissa have to say about their children and what they’ve been up to since their family reunited below:
Gia Giudice
Gia Giudice. Courtesy of Gia Giudice/Instagram
Teresa’s eldest daughter, Gia, 25, has made a name for herself as one of the stars of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC after she graduated from Rutgers University in May 2023. She also hosts her own podcast, “Casual Chaos,” and is co-owner of Il Vero Westwood in New Jersey.
Gia’s success, however, isn’t surprising for the Real Housewife.
“She’s very driven. She exceeded my expectations. She’s exactly how I am. That’s how I was at her age,” Teresa says of Gia. “I was a go-getter. I’ve been working since I’m 14.”
Gabriella Giudice
Gabriella Giudice. Courtesy of Gabriella Giudice/Instagram
After studying abroad in Spain, Gabriella, 22, is back in the U.S., Teresa tells Us. “She had an internship,” she says of her daughter’s most recent activities as she continues her senior year at the University of Michigan.
“She has a job next year when she graduates with Deloitte,” Teresa says with pride, noting that the job is already lined up following her May 2027 graduation.
Milania Giudice
Milania Giudice. Courtesy of Milania Giudice/Instagram
Milania, 20, has been making headlines a lot in recent months after her childhood best friend Victoria Zardoya died in July at the age of 20 following an accidental fall at Florida’s Fort Dade ruins.
Months later, Milania’s manager shared that the University of Tampa student was navigating an “incredibly difficult time in her life.” In October, Milania opened up about her recent mental health struggles and shared that she was in a treatment center. “I am only 20 years old and this summer hit me like a bus,” she said.
Teresa tells Us that Milania is doing her best to bounce back after a tough year.
After burying their feud, Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga celebrated Christmas Eve together — with sprinkle and pignoli cookies. “Just over here trying to get a family photo,” Gorga, 46, captioned an Instagram Story on Wednesday, December 24, of her and Giudice, 53, with their loved ones. The family members, which included Giudice’s brother Joe […]
“I don’t even know what she’s feeling. I don’t even know what to say to her because she’s grieving,” Teresa explains, noting that the death of Victoria “felt like I lost another daughter because Victoria was always in my house.”
The reality star adds, “I just ask everyone to please pray for Milania and pray for Victoria’s family because she lost two friends this year,” referring to Victoria and another one of her longtime pals.
“To be 20 years old and lose two dear friends at that age — it’s like — I’m trying my best just to support Milania and be there for her,” Teresa shares.
Audriana Giudice
Audriana Giudice. Courtesy of Audriana Giudice/Instagram
Teresa tells Us that her youngest daughter, Audriana, 17, was initially interested in cosmetology and doing Botox and things of that nature after high school, but now she “doesn’t know” what the future holds.
“She’s like, ‘I don’t know about that. It’s a lot of nursing school. You have to go to school for a lot of years,” she explains. “So she doesn’t know what she wants to do yet. We’re in the process now, SAT scores, all that.”
Antonia Gorga
Antonia Gorga. Courtesy of Antonia Gorga/Instagram
When it comes to Melissa and Joe’s eldest child, she reveals Antonia, 21, was set on getting her nose done when she turned 20 — and as parents, they were fully on board with the rhinoplasty. (Antonia documented the process via Instagram in June.)
“I was very understanding about it,” Melissa explains. “She had mentioned it to me years ago, and I know we live in a different world now because with Instagram and the photos and the phone and the iPhone, you know a lot sooner, like, ‘Oh, well, that could be smaller,’ or that could be whatever.”
While Melissa says her initial reaction was “You’re beautiful. You don’t need it,” she came around and is supportive of Antonia’s choice.
“I just asked that she wait until she was in her 20s. So as soon as she turned 20, she’s like, ‘I’m in my 20s,’” she recalls. “And I was like, ‘OK.’ But I just didn’t want her to do it when she was in her teens. I just wanted her to be in her 20s.”
Antonia turned 21 in August and is in her senior year of college at the University of Delaware. According to her mom, Antonia has a boyfriend.
Gino Gorga
Gino Gorga. Courtesy of Melissa Gorga/Instagram
“Gino just graduated high school. He goes to the University of Joe Gorga,” Melissa says with a laugh, revealing that her second born is working alongside his father after high school.
She reveals that Gino, 19, is “building houses” with Joe. Plus, “he is driving a pickup truck, building houses, in building departments, learning how to flip houses and do real estate.” Melissa notes that Gino has a girlfriend as well.
Joey Gorga Jr.
Joey Gorga Jr. with dad Joe Gorga. Courtesy of Melissa Gorga/Instagram
Melissa calls her youngest child, Joey Jr., 16, an “angel from heaven” who is currently in high school.
“Honestly, Joey’s an amazing football player. He’s killing it this year. He just got Athlete of Bergen County,” she gushes. “He’s a running back. He’s a junior.”
Melissa adds that Joey is “single” and a “partier,” telling Us, “He has fun.”
For more about Teresa and Melissa’s reconciliation and family dynamic, pick up the latest issue of Us, on newsstands now.
