The Untold Truth Of Mob Wives' Drita D'Avanzo
From the first episode of Mob Wives up until its finale, Drita D'Avanzo has always made it clear that she's not one to mess with. The 44-year-old did not grow up in the mafia, but instead, married into it when she wed husband Lee D'Avanzo, an associate of the Colombo and Bonanno crime family, in 2000. In the years since their nuptials, the couple welcomed two daughters. However, throughout the seasons of Mob Wives, Lee can only be heard on the phone — except for his appearance during the series finale, of course.
The hot-headed, Albanian reality star quickly became a fan favorite because of her brutal honesty and her catchphrases that she coined as #Dritaisms. Yet, despite her fandom, Drita's castmates were steadfast in ousting her from the show. Her unresolved issues with her co-stars — especially Karen Gravano — ultimately played a role in the show's abrupt ending. Between the on-and-off camera drama and the passing of Angela "Big Ang" Raiola, Mob Wives had finally run its course.
But, since the series ended in 2016, Drita's off-camera life hasn't exactly diverged from what we saw on TV. From run-ins with the law to working on a memoir, Drita is the one mob wife you will not stop seeing any time soon. Here is the untold truth of Drita D'Avanzo.
Drita D'Avanzo created her own line of beauty products
Since Mob Wives' end, Drita D'Avanzo has invested her time and energy in the beauty industry. According to the New York Times, she worked as a makeup artist for multiple high-end cosmetic brands. In addition, she launched her own line of beauty products called Lady Boss Cosmetics. Her products are currently for sale in more than 10 countries. While D'Avanzo's line focuses heavily on makeup and other related goods, the Lady Boss also sells crystallized luxury clutches, apparel, and even personalized autographs and videos. In a 2016 interview with MaximoTV, D'Avanzo said she's glad that she launched her business during the show's run, as it was originally intended to be her back up plan.
"I'm just happy I did [launch Lady Boss], like, being on the show, just in case the show didn't work." D'Avanzo said. As of 2020, her beauty line is undergoing rebranding with a new website on the way. In the meantime, she showcases her makeup skills on her Instagram account with tutorials. "I did this on my own," she told Vibe in 2013. "There was a time when I was a single mom and I had nothing. Love comes and goes, but you build a career yourself." There's nothing better than turning a negative into a positive!
Drita D'Avanzo is working on her rap career
Drita D'Avanzo wears many hats, as she's a mother, wife, and reality TV star. And now, D'Avanzo can add up-and-coming rap star to that list, too. D'Avanzo revealed her budding career as a rapper on the second season of Mob Wives when she was working on a verse for French Montana's "Everything's A Go." In 2016, she collaborated with Ron Montana on a song titled "Big ANGel" in memory of co-star Angela "Big Ang" Raiola.
By December 2018, D'Avanzo made her rap debut with her single "Slap A B****h." Remaining true to her brand with her rap moniker "Lady Boss," D'Avanzo flaunted her rap skills and reminded everyone that she's still the same hot-head we grew to love on Mob Wives. In the same month, D'Avanzo dropped a freestyle to Nicki Minaj's "Good Form" on her Instagram that captured the attention of many who didn't know she could rhyme. D'Avanzo also took to Instagram in May 2020 to share her "Snitchnine" freestyle directed at controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine. Her freestyle received praise from her fans, including rapper Lil Cease. Although there's no word about when D'Avanzo is going to release a full project, she continues to occasionally drop freestyles on social media.
Drita D'Avanzo's relationship with law enforcement still isn't great
What you see of Drita D'Avanzo on Mob Wives is exactly what you get off-camera. D'Avanzo's had a few run-ins with the law since the end of the series. In 2016, she was arrested on Staten Island after punching a woman in the face and fleeing the scene. She was hit with a misdemeanor assault charge, which was later dropped.
In December 2019, both D'Avanzo and her husband were arrested during an NYPD raid of their home, where police allegedly found weapons and a large amount of drugs. According to authorities, medications such as Xanax and hydrocodone, as well as large quantities of marijuana and two loaded firearms, were seized from the couple's home. The couple was ultimately charged with 17 felony and misdemeanor counts, including criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of marijuana.
D'Avanzo was cleared of all charges in February 2020 by Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. According to a statement from McMahon's office, prosecutors decided to drop all charges "in the best interest of justice." D'Avanzo's husband, Lee, pleaded guilty to federal gun charges in March 2020 and, as of August 2020, he's serving 64 months in prison. D'Avanzo, however, shared her good news on Instagram shortly after finding out. To celebrate her victory, she shared a freestyle called "Charges Dropped." Now that's how a mob wife does it!