Snooki

Nicole Elizabeth LaValle (née Polizzi; born November 23, 1987), best known by her nickname Snooki, is an American reality television personality.

She is best known for being a cast member of the MTV reality show Jersey Shore and starring in Snooki & JWoww and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

Upon appearing on Jersey Shore in 2009, Snooki gained popularity, leading to numerous talk show appearances, web and television series participation and hosting, and a large social media following.

She reportedly earned $150,000 per Jersey Shore episode by the last season.

One reported measure of her appeal was that she was one of the most popular celebrity Halloween costumes of 2010.

At the height of the show's popularity, Snooki was reportedly earning $150,000 per episode.

While shooting in Seaside Heights, Snooki was punched in the face by New York City school gym teacher Brad Ferro.

The punch, while shown in previews, was blacked out during showings of the episode.

Videos of the punch went viral on YouTube and were featured in many news media.

After the punch was made public, Snooki's appearance fees increased from $2,000 per event to $10,000 per event.

She also appeared as the guest hostess for WWE Raw in 2011 and competed at WrestleMania XXVII that same year.

Polizzi was born in Santiago, Chile.

She was adopted when she was six months old and was raised by Italian-American parents, Andy and Helen Polizzi.

Polizzi has taken two DNA tests to determine her genetic background.

In 2011, Snooki and her Jersey Shore costar, Jennifer Farley, signed a contract to star in a spin-off show, Snooki & JWoww, which premiered on MTV in June 2012.

The first season followed Snooki and Farley moving in together, and they describe their show like a modern-day Laverne & Shirley.

495 Productions filmed the first season over the course of six weeks, at a former two-story firehouse located near Grove and Mercer Streets in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The March 2012 confirmation of Snooki's pregnancy raised speculation as to how the creative direction of her spin-off would be affected, as she would be unable to engage in the "hard-partying, booze-swilling" antics that had previously garnered high ratings for MTV.

The second season relocated to the stars' actual permanent residences and began airing on January 8, 2013.

This season had an expanded one-hour episode format.

On September 4, 2013, it was announced on Good Morning America that Snooki would compete on the 17th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with newcomer Sasha Farber.

They were eliminated on October 28, 2013, coming in 8th place despite receiving good scores and comments from the judges.

In 2014, the first DNA test stated that she had European, Asian and Jewish ancestry.

The show chronicled her days in pregnancy and early years in motherhood and ran for four seasons before concluding in February 2015.

Since November 2015, Snooki has starred with Farley on the web series Snooki & JWoww: Moms With Attitude produced by AwesomenessTV.

In early 2016, Snooki starred with her husband on the f.y.i. series Nicole & Jionni's Shore Flip.

On January 28, 2016, it was announced that she would be a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice.

The show wrapped its second season in late 2017.

Five years later, in January 2019, she took another DNA test which stated that she is of Native Chilean and European descent.

Polizzi’s father is a volunteer firefighter and auto-salvage supervisor, and her mother is an office manager.

Polizzi received her nickname, Snooki, in middle school, when her friends named her after "Snookie", a male character in Save the Last Dance, because she was the first of her friends to kiss a boy.

She grew up and attended school in Marlboro, New York, where she was a cheerleader.

During high school, she suffered from an eating disorder, at one point weighing 80 lb.

Snooki attended Marlboro High School in Marlboro.

After graduating, she attended Brookdale Community College in Middletown Township, New Jersey, where she studied to become a veterinary technician.

MTV first introduced Snooki in Is She Really Going Out with Him?, a show that focused on women dating obnoxious or arrogant men.

Snooki and her boyfriend, Justin, appeared in episode 14, "Jerz Pud".

Snooki became part of the reality TV series Jersey Shore after being scouted by the casting director, Josh Allouche, an employee of Doron Ofir Casting.

The New York Times identified her as "the breakout member of the cast".

According to The New York Times, her actions on the show have caused her to be the target of public disdain while having a "strange appeal".