Gia Giudice Is Back on Bravo—and This Time She’s the Star

What do you enjoy about influencing?

It’s exciting. As much as people have this perception that influencers don’t do much, I’ve been in the city every single day this week. I am in the city basically every single day Monday through Friday. It’s not easy. It’s a lot of back and forth. You’re constantly on your feet. You’re constantly on the go. But it’s exciting.

I think I like the thrill. If I was sitting at a desk, I know myself, I would doze off, I would get bored. It is just not my cup of tea and not everyone can handle a desk job. I really can’t. I get super bored. But this, I like it because I constantly don’t know what I’m doing the next day. I don’t know what’s happening next. I could find out about a job the day before, but I like being on my toes and I like when my schedule’s completely booked. When I’m not doing anything, I dunno what to do with myself.

What do you think draws people to your account?

I think with the show [RHONJ] ending, the fans are still really intrigued about my family’s life, what we’re doing, especially when we go see my dad, because that’s been a missing piece that Housewives doesn’t capture. My dad was such an authentic personality on reality TV that everyone still loves. Also my traveling, “get ready with me” videos, what products I’m using, my fashion tips.

You were on Bravo for most of your life, but have not been on for the past few years. How did you first hear about Next Gen NYC and why’d you decide to return to reality TV?

Brooks [Marks]. He’s very connected to a lot of people on the cast organically and introduced me to a lot of people on the cast. I was obviously familiar with the Bravo kids—Brooks, Ariana, and Riley—but I didn’t know anyone else. He introduced me to everybody.

…I thought it would also be a really great opportunity and something fun to do. And once I got to know the cast a lot better. I love all of them. They’re all amazing, and we had a really good season. I think at first anyone is going to be nervous, but it turned out to be something really great.

How did your mom feel when she found out, and will she be on the show?

She was super happy. Yeah she will be on, very little though. I think a couple FaceTimes, maybe one or two in person cameos.

Did she give you advice on stepping into this role or was she like, you’re a pro?

A little bit of both. I think no matter what you learn from yourself every season. Even from not being a main character on Housewives, I would look at myself and say, “oh, I’m never doing that again.” I think you learn each season how to improve and how you want to grow, what you want to do if you don’t want to do that. That’s just kind of the beauty of reality TV, you see yourself in a really raw form. My mom said, “be mindful of what you do. Perceive yourself on tv, how you are, and how you would want people to view you, because you can’t really change that after people get a first impression.”