Deena Nicole Cortese

Reality TV star Deena Cortese shot to fame as one of the hard-partying cast members of pop-culture phenomenon "Jersey Shore" (MTV, 2009-2012). Born in New Egypt, NJ, to Italian-American parents, Cortese studied at Brookdale Community College, and initially planned for a career as a dental assistant before long-time friend Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi introduced her to MTV bosses. Cortese, who had failed an audition for the first season of hedonistic reality show "Jersey Shore" (MTV, 2009-2012), was then invited to join its third in 2010 as a replacement for the confrontational Angelina Pivarnick. Cortese made an instant impression on the show, and continued to establish herself as a party girl throughout her four-season stint. Following the show's cancelation, Cortese guested four times on spin-off "Snooki & JWOWW" (MTV, 2012-15), appeared on numerous chat shows including "The Wendy Williams Show" (Syndication, 2008-) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (ABC, 2003-), and opened up about her battles with OCD and anxiety while sitting alongside future husband Christopher Buckner on relationship counseling show "Couples Therapy" (VH1, 2012-15). Cortese then spent some time away from the spotlight, in which she worked at a doggy daycare center, before reconvening with her former cast mates in reunion show "Jersey Shore Family Vacation" (MTV, 2018-).