Gia Giudice has been on reality television for the greater part of her life, so it’s not surprising that she can easily sniff out manufactured drama.
Now entering her second season of Next Gen NYC, Gia is ready to share a more vulnerable part of her life with the audience. “I really let my guard down,” the Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 4 winner told DECIDER, teasing that fans will get an inside look at some major life changes — from moving out of her childhood home and into her own apartment, to managing her growing career as a podcaster and influencer.
While Gia may be focused on navigating her newfound independence this season, the Next Gen NYC drama somehow reaches far beyond its core cast. Her mom, Teresa Giudice, gets caught in the crossfire after fellow nepo baby Ava Dash claims the Real Housewives of New Jersey legend unfollowed her on Instagram, which, according to Gia, couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I don’t know why you would even bring that up. I think it’s a little embarrassing,” Gia said, before adding, “I do not think that’s something that my mother would ever intentionally do, and there was just no [malicious] intention behind it. So, I thought the whole thing was very weird and calculated, in my opinion. I just didn’t see the point of it. The plane wasn’t landing.”
In case you were wondering, the two women are currently following each other on the social media platform, with Gia explaining that Dash felt “a little foolish” for even making it an issue on their show. “The second I told my mom about it, she was like, ‘Oh, my God, what?’ She had no idea,” Gia said. “My mom barely knows how to work technology, so it was just so crazy.”
When Gia stopped by DECIDER’s studio, she spoke more about the Next Gen NYC Season 2 premiere, how she felt about Ariana Biermann and Hudson McLeroy‘s short-lived breakup, and how things are going between Teresa and Melissa Gorga as they film The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 15. Check out the full interview below.
DECIDER: I’m so excited to talk to you all about Next Gen NYC Season 2. Last season, you went on Watch What Happens Live and said you felt like you came off as harsh and aggressive in the show. Did you feel the same about this season?
GIA GIUDICE: No, I’m actually super excited for Season 2 and I guess I’ll be even more excited once I really see it. But going into Season 2, I really let my guard down, and I just let everyone come in, if that makes sense. I really opened up about my journey moving out of my house. You’re really going to see a lot of my work life and what I do for work. You’re going to see a lot of Casual Chaos, things that I do with brands. I’m super excited for you guys to really see what I do on a day to day basis, because I feel like that really wasn’t shown in Season 1. You’re going to see a lot more in depth into my relationship with my boyfriend, Christian. I’m excited. I think overall, you guys are just really going to get deeper into who I am as a person, and I can’t wait for you guys to see that.
You mentioned that you moved out. You and Christian decided not to move in together yet. Do you see that on the horizon?
For sure, yeah. This whole chapter of my life, it was really me initiating that I wanted to move out, and he saw that, and he wanted me to do that independently for myself, which was, honestly, I think the best thing for me and our relationship. I think it was just a very good move because it let me be who I am and grow independently and create what I wanted to create in my space. When the time is right for us, which I would assume would probably be within this year, then we’ll either see if my place is great for us, or find somewhere else that fits us better.
Speaking of relationships, Ariana and Hudson are the talk of the town in this first episode. I wasn’t surprised to see fans questioning if their breakup was for the show, but I was surprised to see some of your castmates questioning that. Did that thought ever cross your mind?
No. Just because I know Ariana and she is such a genuine person. I think the breakup between her and Hudson was needed. Every relationship, when they get too comfortable, you kind of need to get uncomfortable to find your way back to each other, if that’s in the cards. I think that’s exactly what went on between Ariana and Hudson. She just needed to kind of gain her independence back and feel hot again. She’s just a girl.
I loved the moment between you and Ariana in the confessional when she was joking about the rumors that you came between her and Hudson.
Hilarious
Where do you think those came from?
I have no idea. There’s obviously crazy tabloids and rumors and speculations out all the time.
Fans were quick to notice that Georgia McCann is doing the After Show alone. Is there a specific reason for that? How is she with the group this season?
Georgia honestly caused, I think, a lot of unintentional drama. She stirred the pot a little bit. But I don’t think [the After Show] was on purpose. I honestly think that was just like a scheduling conflict.
I’m also excited to see Rowan Henchy come in this season, daughter of Brooke Shields. What was she like? And were you a fan of Brooke before?
I mean, yeah. I knew her for being Hannah Montana’s mom. Obviously, [Rowan’s] mom is incredible and Rowan just brings such a positive energy to the group. She has a very humorous personality, so she brings a lot of humor into the group. She is not one for confrontation. She’s more of the voice of reason with a twist of laughter. She’s awesome, great energy, and she’s a great addition.
We see a little bit of drama unfold between you and Ava in this first episode. Come to find out, she’s mad at you for saying she lied about your mom unfollowing her. Did you ever think that your mom would be getting pulled into the Next Gen NYC drama?
Never in a million years. I just think it’s such a far-fetched thing, and I don’t know why you would even bring that up. I think it’s a little embarrassing. I was just very obviously taken aback because one, I do not think that’s something that my mother would ever intentionally do, and there was just no [malicious] intention behind it. So, I thought the whole thing was very weird and calculated, in my opinion. I just didn’t see the point of it. The plane wasn’t landing. It just wasn’t landing.
I personally don’t know if my friend’s parents are following me.
I mean, I’m not checking if any of my friends’ parents are following me.
You don’t know if Damon Dash is following you?
I don’t. I really don’t [laughs].
How are things now? Because I did look and I did see that they’re both following each other now.
Great. I think Ava felt a little foolish for doing that and obviously came to realize what a beautiful person my mom is. My mom obviously had no bad blood with Ava. There was nothing going on. The second I told my mom about it, she was like, “Oh, my God, what?” She had no idea. My mom barely knows how to work technology, so it was just so crazy. Now they follow each other. They’re all good. I don’t see any unfollowings happening.
Speaking of your mom, she’s obviously back filming Real Housewives of New Jersey as we speak. How are she and Melissa handling going into this season? How are they planning to keep that peace?
I think they’re really going into the season as a united front. I think there really is just nothing to fight about anymore, without really bringing up the past, and that’s something that they’re not doing. The only way that they were able to make this [reconciliation] worth it and last was to let go of the past. And that goes for all of us. Going into Real Housewives of New Jersey, I think fans are going to be so excited and happy to see their relationship. It really is so beautiful. Also, a lot of the new ladies are incredible and I think they really are happy to see my mom and aunt back together. Nobody’s trying to mess anything up. Which I think is very refreshing.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Next Gen NYC airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.