Who Is RHONJ Newcomer Rachel Fuda?
"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" is back for Season 13 and if the trailer is any indication, there will be lots of explosive moments between the castmates. Much of the drama from the previous seasons will spill over, including the tension between Teresa Giudice and her brother Joe Gorga. Season 12 saw them at odds over Gorga feeling like Giudice didn't have his back, especially after Jennifer Aydin threw him and Melissa Gorga out of her house. Giudice was also trying to remain in her "love bubble" with Luis Ruelas, but rumors about his past had her seeing red.
Jackie Goldschneider's eating disorder was also a big topic during Season 12 and fans witnessed her opening up about her struggles. The housewife decided to take a step back this season and took on a friend role to focus on her recovery, per People. That left a spot open for a full-time cast member and Bravo decided the show needed not one, but two new housewives. Enter Rachel Fuda, who already promises to hold her own against the other outspoken ladies. Here's everything to know about the new housewife.
Rachel Fuda is juggling motherhood, a business, and reality television
Rachel Fuda is not your average housewife. According to her Bravo profile, the 31-year-old Long Island native is married to John Fuda, whom she met while bartending at a New Jersey lounge. The couple got married in 2017 and Rachel became a stepmother to John's son, Jaiden, from a previous relationship. The Fudas then had their two daughters, Gianella and Giuliana. As well as being a mom to three kids, Rachel works at Valet King and Fuda Tile with John, which are both family-owned businesses. The new housewife is apparently proud to be a working mom and her cheeky "RHONJ" tagline states, "I'm too busy running a business to care about yours."
The business mogul still makes time for her family and she considers them the most important people in her life. In an Instagram post with the family of five posing on a beach together, Rachel wrote, "What matters most, always & forever." On January 23, she shared a picture of Jaiden and gave him a birthday shout-out. "Happy 16th Birthday @jaidenfuda. I am so proud of the young man you've become. Your future is so bright I can't wait to see what's in store for you. I love being your Mom! I love you hun have the best day xoxo," she captioned. In fact, her stepson's friendship with another housewife's son may have been what got her on the show.
Rachel Fuda is close with Melissa Gorga
The "Real Housewives" producers like to cast as organically as possible, which means newcomers always have to have ties with a cast member, per Bravo. Rachel Fuda is close with not one, but two "RHONJ" Season 13 stars. She happens to be tight with Frank Catania's girlfriend, Brittany Mattessich, whom she met at a gym ten years ago. Fuda also got close to Melissa Gorga after their teenage sons became best friends. However, it looks like Fuda and Gorga's friendship irked Teresa Giudice, causing the new housewife to go head-to-head with the OG. During the trailer, Giudice is seen telling Fuda, "Mind your f***ing business." After an eye roll, Fuda replied, "No, Teresa."
During Page Six's "Virtual Reali-Tea" podcast, Fuda claimed Giudice didn't give their friendship a try because she was friends with Gorga (via Page Six). "So, coming on the show as Melissa's friend ... I personally felt like I was immediately polarized — even without polarizing myself. Just put Melissa next to me and I'm, like, written off automatically, which sucks for me because I would have liked a fair chance to have gotten to know Teresa and maybe flourish our own friendship," Fuda stated. It seems that the cast will be divided this season, with members being either on Team Teresa or Team Melissa, but it looks like Fuda definitely has the chops to hold her own in "RHONJ" Season 13.